Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i>
Estimating connectivity is key for maintaining population viability for pond-breeding amphibians, especially in areas where habitat alterations occur. Here, we used genetic data (microsatellites) to estimate connectivity of marbled salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i>, among three focal...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/7/524 |
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| author | Karine E. Posbic-Leydet Kelsey L. Glennon Jolene T. Fisher Don R. Church Sheri A. Church |
| author_facet | Karine E. Posbic-Leydet Kelsey L. Glennon Jolene T. Fisher Don R. Church Sheri A. Church |
| author_sort | Karine E. Posbic-Leydet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Estimating connectivity is key for maintaining population viability for pond-breeding amphibians, especially in areas where habitat alterations occur. Here, we used genetic data (microsatellites) to estimate connectivity of marbled salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i>, among three focal ponds and compared it to field data (capture-mark-recapture estimates) of movement among the same ponds. In addition, we derived least-cost dispersal paths from genetic data and compared them to field connectivity estimates. We found that genetic and field estimates of dispersal were generally congruent, but field-based paths were more complex than genetic-based paths. While both methods complement each other in identifying important source-sink metapopulation dynamics to inform efficient conservation management plans, field data provide a more biologically accurate understanding of the spatial movement of individual marbled salamanders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:31:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10d7e1150bdf4d229a1fae6a06e6a45b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:31:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-10d7e1150bdf4d229a1fae6a06e6a45b2023-12-03T14:54:23ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-06-0114752410.3390/d14070524Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i>Karine E. Posbic-Leydet0Kelsey L. Glennon1Jolene T. Fisher2Don R. Church3Sheri A. Church4Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2023 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USASchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaSchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaDepartment of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2023 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USAEstimating connectivity is key for maintaining population viability for pond-breeding amphibians, especially in areas where habitat alterations occur. Here, we used genetic data (microsatellites) to estimate connectivity of marbled salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i>, among three focal ponds and compared it to field data (capture-mark-recapture estimates) of movement among the same ponds. In addition, we derived least-cost dispersal paths from genetic data and compared them to field connectivity estimates. We found that genetic and field estimates of dispersal were generally congruent, but field-based paths were more complex than genetic-based paths. While both methods complement each other in identifying important source-sink metapopulation dynamics to inform efficient conservation management plans, field data provide a more biologically accurate understanding of the spatial movement of individual marbled salamanders.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/7/524fixation indicesgene flowgeographic information systemsleast-cost pathmigration |
| spellingShingle | Karine E. Posbic-Leydet Kelsey L. Glennon Jolene T. Fisher Don R. Church Sheri A. Church Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i> Diversity fixation indices gene flow geographic information systems least-cost path migration |
| title | Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i> |
| title_full | Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i> |
| title_fullStr | Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i> |
| title_short | Comparing Genetic and Field-Based Estimates of Population Connectivity in Marbled Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma opacum</i> |
| title_sort | comparing genetic and field based estimates of population connectivity in marbled salamanders i ambystoma opacum i |
| topic | fixation indices gene flow geographic information systems least-cost path migration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/7/524 |
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