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Reconciling direct and indirect estimates of functional connectivity in a Mediterranean pond-breeding amphibian

Conservation Genetics volume 22, pages 455–463 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Understanding demographic dynamics and functional connectivity among demes is essential to prevent, identify and reverse amphibian population declines. Attempts to characterize connectivity among amphibian populations have largely relied on the use of molecular markers to assess patterns of genetic structure at the landscape scale and identify factors that promote or restrict gene flow. However, few studies have integrated population size estimates and direct records of dispersal rates (e.g. based on capture-mark-recapture data) to help interpret molecular-based inferences. We conducted such an integrative, long-term monitoring program of a metapopulation of the sharp-ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), a pond-breeding salamander endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Over 12 breeding seasons, we compiled individual capture histories to estimate population sizes and document patterns of dispersal, and inferred migration rates and pairwise relatedness based on 22 microsatellite loci. Direct (based on capture-mark-recapture) estimates revealed low levels of contemporary dispersal between the two major breeding sites in the study area, whereas indirect (molecular) estimates provided evidence for asymmetric gene flow, more intense from the larger to the smaller population, without consistent differences between sexes. Direct and indirect estimates can be reconciled based on the species’ generation time, and support a scenario of density-dependent dispersal, with recent colonization of the smaller pond inferred from differences in the relative proportions of ancestry categories across ponds. Our integrative approach can be applied to design conservation actions aiming to improve functional connectivity among amphibian populations based on empirical evidence.

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Data availability

Genotypes of all individuals are available from the authors upon request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades–Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain, grant CGL2017-83131-P. We thank L. Albero, L. Arregui, C. Caballero, B. Capellà, M. Durán, E. Iranzo, D. Jiménez, H. Martínez, M. Peñalver, M. Pinilla, R. Plaza, S. Sánchez, G. Ugarte and I. Urbán for help during field work.

Funding

This study was funded by FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades–Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain, Grant CGL2017-83131-P.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Iñaki Fernández de Larrea, Gregorio Sánchez-Montes, Jorge Gutiérrez-Rodríguez & Íñigo Martínez-Solano

  2. Departamento de Ecología Integrativa, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain

    Jorge Gutiérrez-Rodríguez

Authors
  1. Iñaki Fernández de Larrea
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  2. Gregorio Sánchez-Montes
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  3. Jorge Gutiérrez-Rodríguez
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  4. Íñigo Martínez-Solano
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Contributions

Project design: IMS, GSM; Sample collection: IMS, GSM, IFL, JGR; Laboratory work: GSM, IFL; Data analysis: GSM, IFL; Paper writing: IFL, with input from all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregorio Sánchez-Montes.

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All procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain (ref.: 710/2018) and Comunidad de Madrid (ref.: PROEX 040/19).

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Fernández de Larrea, I., Sánchez-Montes, G., Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, J. et al. Reconciling direct and indirect estimates of functional connectivity in a Mediterranean pond-breeding amphibian. Conserv Genet 22, 455–463 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01345-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01345-2

Keywords

  • Capture-mark-recapture
  • Connectivity
  • Dispersal
  • Gene flow
  • Iberian Peninsula
  • Integrative demography
  • Pleurodeles waltl