title: How spatio-temporal habitat connectivity affects amphibian genetic structure.
abstract: Heterogeneous landscapes and fluctuating environmental conditions can affect species dispersal, population genetics, and genetic structure, yet understanding how biotic and abiotic factors affect population dynamics in a fluctuating environment is critical for species management. We evaluated how spatio-temporal habitat connectivity influences dispersal and genetic structure in a population of boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata) using a landscape genetics approach. We developed gravity models to assess the contribution of various factors to the observed genetic distance as a measure of functional connectivity. We selected (a) wetland (within-site) and (b) landscape matrix (between-site) characteristics; and (c) wetland connectivity metrics using a unique methodology. Specifically, we developed three networks that quantify wetland connectivity based on: (i) P. maculata dispersal ability, (ii) temporal variation in wetland quality, and (iii) contribution of wetland stepping-stones to frog dispersal. We examined 18 wetlands in Colorado, and quantified 12 microsatellite loci from 322 individual frogs. We found that genetic connectivity was related to topographic complexity, within- and between-wetland differences in moisture, and wetland functional connectivity as contributed by stepping-stone wetlands. Our results highlight the role that dynamic environmental factors have on dispersal-limited species and illustrate how complex asynchronous interactions contribute to the structure of spatially-explicit metapopulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Schlichting
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, USA ; Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, USA.
authors.forename: Shawn M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Billerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, USA ; Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, USA.
authors.forename: Brett R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jesmer
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micheletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Josée
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.affiliation: Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Department of Biology, Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: W Chris
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hapeman
authors.affiliation: Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muths
authors.affiliation: Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, USA ; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Murphy
keywords: boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata); dispersal; functional connectivity; gravity model; landscape genetics; metapopulation dynamics; spatio-temporal dynamics