Quantifying functional connectivity: experimental evidence for patch-specific resistance in the Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita)

Stevens, Virginie M.; Polus, Emmanuelle; Wesselingh, Renate A.; Schtickzelle, Nicolas; Baguette, Michel

doi:10.1007/s10980-004-0166-6

Cited by 119 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…In this respect, compact sand offered the least resistance to salamander movement, whereas substrates that included obstacles, such as small twigs and blades of grass, were traversed less efficiently. These results largely agree with the few other reports of amphibian mobility through different substrates (toads: Stevens et al 2005;salamanders: Semlitsch et al 2012).…”

Section: Microhabitat Effects On the Long-toed Salamandersupporting

confidence: 93%

“…We used a modification of the method outlined by Stevens et al (2005) to test the relative ease of salamander movement through the different substrates. Specifically, mobility was tested in five indoor (e.g., under artificial light) arenas, each containing one of the study substrates.…”

Section: Substrate Resistancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Salamander mobility was generally higher in moss than in grass and both types of leaf litter, and was similar to levels observed in the sand substrate. In their study examining the impact of substrates on mobility in Natterjack Toads (Epidalea calamita (Laurenti, 1768)), Stevens et al (2005) reported a threshold effect whereby speed, bout length, and linearity of travel decreased as the vertical height of substrates increased above the body size of travelling toadlets. In our study, the height of the moss substrate rivalled that of the deciduous leaf litter and exceeded that of the coniferous leaf litter.…”

Section: Microhabitat Effects On the Long-toed Salamandermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Multiple aspects of the terrestrial environment may impact amphibian movement and thus the likelihood of interpond dispersal. For instance, the small size and stature of amphibians means that mobility is likely to vary with the structure of different substrates (e.g., Stevens et al 2005;Semlitsch et al 2012). Microhabitats may also differ in the extent to which they meet the strict requirements of amphibians for moist conditions and moderate temperatures (Rittenhouse et al 2008;Cosentino et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, most studies directly testing microhabitat effects on amphibians have focused on habitat selection and survival. Few studies have explored microhabitat effects on other aspects of dispersal (but see Stevens et al 2005), limiting our ability to fully account for the behaviour of individuals when modeling population connectivity. Second, most of the direct tests of microhabitat effects on amphibian dispersal have been conducted in forested regions of eastern North America.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conflicting effects of microhabitats on Long-toed Salamander (Ambystomamacrodactylum) movement: implications for landscape connectivity

2015

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Understanding dispersal requires multiple lines of investigation, from the study of broad patterns of population connectivity to the identification of factors impacting movement at local scales. To determine the potential effects of different microhabitats on dispersal in the Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum Baird, 1850), we experimentally evaluated mobility, moisture loss, and habitat choice in response to five common substrates (deciduous and coniferous leaf litter, grass, moss, and sand). Specifically, we examined differences in the efficiency with which salamanders moved across substrates when motivated to move. We then quantified moisture loss in each substrate and evaluated habitat preference. Our results point to a trade-off between substrates that are easily traversed and those that offer high protection against desiccation. Habitat choice appeared to balance these two aspects of performance, with salamanders favouring a substrate that offered both low resistance to movement and high protection against desiccation. This result was context-dependent, as preferences shifted towards wetter but less easily traversed substrates when supplemental cover objects were made available. Overall, our study highlights the potential for individuals to respond to a given substrate in ways that can both facilitate and limit dispersal and thus underscores the need to consider different aspects of individual performance and behaviour when studying population connectivity.Résumé : La compréhension de la dispersion requiert une approche à plusieurs volets, de l'étude des grands motifs de connectivité des populations à la détermination des facteurs qui influencent les déplacements à l'échelle locale. Afin de déterminer les effets potentiels de différents microhabitats sur la dispersion chez la salamandre à longs doigts (Ambystoma macrodactylum Baird, 1850), nous avons évalué expérimentalement la mobilité, la perte d'humidité et le choix de l'habitat en réaction à cinq substrats courants (litières de feuillus et de conifères, herbe, mousse et sable). Plus précisément, nous avons examiné les variations de l'efficacité avec laquelle les salamandres se déplaçaient sur différents substrats quand elles étaient motivées à le faire. Nous avons ensuite quantifié la perte d'humidité dans chaque substrat et évalué les préférences en matière d'habitat. Nos résultats semblent indiquer un compromis entre les substrats qui sont faciles à traverser et ceux qui offrent une bonne protection contre la dessiccation. Le choix de l'habitat semblait reposer sur un équilibre entre ces deux aspects de la performance, les salamandres privilégiant un substrat qui offrait tant une faible résistance au déplacement qu'une bonne protection contre la dessiccation. Ce résultat dépend du contexte, la préférence allant à des substrats plus humides, mais moins faciles à traverser quand des objets offrant un couvert additionnel étaient fournis. Globalement, l'étude fait ressortir le potentiel des individus de réagir à un substrat donné de manière aus...

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Section: Microhabitat Effects On the Long-toed Salamandersupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Substrate Resistancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microhabitat Effects On the Long-toed Salamandermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conflicting effects of microhabitats on Long-toed Salamander (Ambystomamacrodactylum) movement: implications for landscape connectivity

2015

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The integrative effects of behavior and morphology on amphibian movement

Bredeweg

Morzillo

Thurman

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Animal movement and dispersal are key factors in population dynamics and support complex ecosystem processes like cross‐boundary subsidies. Juvenile dispersal is an important mechanism for many species and often involves navigation in unfamiliar habitats. For species that metamorphose, such as amphibians, this transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments involves the growth and use of new morphological traits (e.g., legs). These traits strongly impact the fundamental ability of an organism to move in novel landscapes, but innate behaviors can regulate choices that result in the realized movements expressed. By assessing the integrative role of morphology and behavior, we can improve our understanding of juvenile movement, particularly in understudied organisms like amphibians. We assessed the roles of morphological (snout‐vent length and relative leg length) and performance (maximal jump distance) traits in shaping the free movement paths, measured through fluorescent powder tracking, in three anuran species, Pacific treefrog (Hyliola regilla), Western toad (Anaxyrus boreas), and Cascades frog (Rana cascadae). We standardized the measurement of these traits to compare the relative role of species' innate differences versus physical traits in shaping movement. Innate differences, captured by species identity, were the most significant factor influencing movement paths via total movement distance and path sinuosity. Relative leg length was an important contributor but significantly interacted with species identity. Maximal jump performance, which was significantly predicted by morphological traits, was not an important factor in movement behavior relative to species identity. The importance of species identity and associated behavioral differences in realized movement provide evidence for inherent species differences being central to the dispersal and movement of these species. This behavior may stem from niche partitioning of these sympatric species, yet it also calls into question assumptions generalizing anuran movement behavior. These species‐level effects are important in framing differences as past research is applied in management planning.

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Advances and challenges in ecological connectivity science

Liczner,

Pither,

Bennett

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Maintaining and restoring ecological connectivity will be key in helping to prevent and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Fortunately, a growing body of research conducted over the last few decades has advanced our understanding of connectivity science, which will help inform evidence‐based connectivity conservation actions. Increases in data availability and computing capacity have helped to dramatically increase our ability to model functional connectivity using more sophisticated models. Keeping track of these advances can be difficult, even for connectivity scientists and practitioners. In this article, we highlight some key advances from the past decade and outline many of the remaining challenges. We describe the efforts to increase the biological realism of connectivity models by, for example, isolating movement behaviors, population parameters, directional movements, and the effects of climate change. We also discuss considerations of when to model connectivity for focal or multiple species. Finally, we reflect on how to account for uncertainty and increase the transparency and reproducibility of connectivity research and discuss situations where decisions may require forgoing sophistication for more simple approaches.

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Quantifying functional connectivity: experimental evidence for patch-specific resistance in the Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita)

Cited by 119 publications

References 57 publications

Conflicting effects of microhabitats on Long-toed Salamander (Ambystomamacrodactylum) movement: implications for landscape connectivity

Conflicting effects of microhabitats on Long-toed Salamander (Ambystomamacrodactylum) movement: implications for landscape connectivity

The integrative effects of behavior and morphology on amphibian movement

Advances and challenges in ecological connectivity science

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