Intra-specific variability of hindlimb length in the palmate newt: an indicator of population isolation induced by habitat fragmentation?
Habitat fragmentation is one of the main drivers of global amphibian decline. Anthropogenic landscape elements can act as barriers, hindering the dispersal that is essential for maintaining gene flow between populations. Dispersal ability can be influenced by locomotor performance, which in turn can depend on morphological traits, such as hindlimb length (HLL) in amphibians. Here, we tested relationships between HLL and environmental variables--road types, forests and agricultural lands--among 35 sub-populations of palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus) in southwestern France. We expected roads to select for short-legged newts due to a higher mortality of more mobile individuals (long-legged newts) when crossing roads. Accordingly, short-legged newts were found in the vicinity of roads, whereas long-legged newts were found closer to forests and in ponds close geographically to another water body. HLL in newts was hence influenced by habitat types in a heterogeneous landscape, and could therefore be used as an indicator of population isolation in a meta-population system.
CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, ENFA, UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse 31062, France Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR5321, Moulis 09200, France trochet.audrey@wanadoo.fr.
Audrey
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3447-977X
A
Trochet
CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, ENFA, UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse 31062, France.
Hugo
H
Le Chevalier
Association des Naturalistes de l'Ariège, Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels et Centre Permanent d'Initiatives pour l'Environnement, Alzen 09240, France.
Boris
B
Baillat
Association Nature Midi-Pyrénées, 14 rue de Tivoli, Toulouse 31068, France.
Laurent
L
Barthe
Association Nature Midi-Pyrénées, 14 rue de Tivoli, Toulouse 31068, France.
Gilles
G
Pottier
Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR5321, Moulis 09200, France.
Olivier
O
Calvez
CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, ENFA, UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse 31062, France.
Alexandre
A
Ribéron
CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, ENFA, UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse 31062, France Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR5321, Moulis 09200, France.
Simon
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3843-589X
S
Blanchet
D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D005602:France; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D061005:Ponds; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics; D012641:Selection, Genetic
amphibians; dispersal; habitat fragmentation; hindlimb length; morphological intra-specific variability; road effects