Dispersal and alternative breeding site fidelity strategies in an amphibian

Abstract

Dispersal (i.e. movement from a natal or breeding site to another breeding site) is a central process in ecology and evolution as it affects the eco‐evolutionary dynamics of spatially structured populations. Dispersal evolution is regulated by the balance between costs and benefits, which is influenced by the individual phenotype (i.e. phenotype‐dependent dispersal) and environmental factors (i.e. condition‐dependent dispersal). Even though these processes have been extensively studied in species with simple life cycles, our knowledge about these mechanisms in organisms displaying complex life cycles remains fragmentary. In fact, little is specifically known about how the interplay between individual and environmental factors may lead to alternative dispersal strategies that, in turn, lead to the coexistence of contrasted site fidelity phenotypes. In this paper, we examined breeding dispersal in a pond‐breeding amphibian, the great crested newt Triturus cristatus, within usual walking distances for a newt. We took advantage of recent developments in multi‐event capture–recapture models and used capture–recapture data (946 newts marked) collected in a spatially structured population occupying a large pond network (73 ponds). We showed a high rate of breeding site infidelity (i.e. pond use) and the coexistence of two dispersal phenotypes, namely, a highly pond faithful phenotype and a dispersing phenotype. Individuals that were site faithful at time t – 1 were therefore more likely to remain site faithful at time t. Our results also demonstrated that the probability that individuals belong to one or the other dispersal phenotypes depended on environmental and individual factors. In particular, we highlighted the existence of a dispersal syndrome implying a covariation pattern among dispersal behavior, body size, and survival. Our work opens new research prospects in the evolution of dispersal in organisms displaying complex life cycles and raises interesting questions about the evolutionary pathways that contribute to the diversification of movement strategies in the wild.

Comparative landscape genetics reveals the evolution of viviparity reduces genetic connectivity in fire salamanders

“…Second, the physical capacity for dispersal may differ between the studied subspecies. Larviparous (Denoël, Dalleur, Langrand, Besnard, & Cayuela, 2018;Garcia et al, 2017;Paz et al, 2015). Fine-scale studies employing tracking methodologies (e.g., radio-telemetry or mark-recapture) could provide additional information on how salamanders with different reproductive modes interact with the landscape.…”

Survival cost to relocation does not reduce population self‐sustainability in an amphibian

“…The relocation site is a mosaic of grassland and woodland areas (Denoël et al. ). The relocated population breeds in 20 distinct groups of waterbodies (i.e., ruts made by vehicle passages) separated by 692–4,044 m (mean = 2,336 m; Fig.…”

Sampling related individuals within ponds biases estimates of population structure in a pond‐breeding amphibian

“…Pond-breeding amphibians are commonly the subject of population and landscape genetic studies because of their high degree of philopatry, high cost of dispersal, biphasic life history, and high habitat specificity (Church et al, 2007;Denoël, Dalleur, Langrand, Besnard, & Cayuela, 2018;Semlitsch, 2008;Smith & Green, 2005). However, debate continues regarding the influence of these particular life history traits on between-pond connectivity (McCartney-Melstad, Vu, et al, 2018;Smith & Green, 2005;Titus, Bell et al, 2014).…”