The geographic distributions of eastern and western Lasionycteris noctivagans populations suggest they could be geneticially isolated from each other, but this has rarely been assessed using genetic data. Here, we evaluate this possibility by sequencing the complete mitochondrial genome of four silver-haired bats from eastern and western populations. The three usable mitogenomes were closely associated with other Vespertilionid bats and the phylogenetic tree revealed the two western individuals grouping together to form their own clade. Our results support the idea that small but significant genetic differences exist between eastern and western populations of these bats.

Sequenced using Illumina NOVOseq, PE 150

Only three of the datasets were able to be successfully assembled into complete genomes, but all four are provdied for a complete record. The one labeled 'RI' did not have sufficient coverage.