Conservation of herpetofauna in northern landscapes: Threats and challenges from a Canadian perspective

Lesbarrères, David; Ashpole, Sara L.; Bishop, Christine A.; Blouin‐Demers, Gabriel; Brooks, Ronald J.; Echaubard, Pierre; Govindarajulu, Purnima; Green, David M.; Hecnar, Stephen J.; Herman, T. B.; Houlahan, Jeff E.; Litzgus, Jacqueline D.; Mazerolle, Marc J.; Paszkowski, Cynthia A.; Rutherford, Pamela L.; Schock, Danna M.; Storey, Kenneth B.; Lougheed, Stephen C.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2013.12.030

Cited by 55 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…For semi-aquatic turtle species, declines are due largely to land-use changes and habitat destruction (Gibbons et al, 2000;Lesbarrères et al, 2014), and even turtle species that were once quite common are becoming at-risk and are in need of population monitoring. Lovich and Ennen (2013) reviewed the state of our conservation knowledge for North American turtles, finding that most imperiled turtles have inadequate research to support conservation efforts meaningfully.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unreliable population inferences from common trapping practices for freshwater turtles

Tesche

Hodges

2015

Global Ecology and Conservation

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a b s t r a c tFundamental questions in ecology and conservation require reliable data about population size and structure. For freshwater turtles, such data are often obtained via mark-recapture trapping, but commonly used trap types are biased in the sex and age classes they sample although these biases are seldom quantified. We present data from 11 populations of Western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii; 1107 turtles total, n caught per pond 6-322) captured in hoop traps, dip-nets, and basking traps to examine bias in captures and the impact on estimates of population size and sex/age ratios. Hatchlings and juveniles were primarily captured in dip-nets, while hoop nets had the lowest capture rates for adults. Most turtles were caught only once; among recaptures, the majority were recaptured in the same trap type. Estimates of population size and sex/age ratios varied strongly when we calculated results from each trap type separately versus combining all captures. These results show clearly that turtle sampling that uses only one trap type will almost certainly mis-estimate population size and sex/age ratios. These results are troubling in the light of current practice: of population studies of North American turtles published during 2009-2014, 45% used only one trap type, and 49% of studies did not even mention possible sampling biases. The conservation implications are serious, as current trapping efforts probably result in erroneous population estimates and sex/age ratios, which may encourage management actions that are not needed or may obscure actions that are in fact necessary for viable populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unreliable population inferences from common trapping practices for freshwater turtles

Tesche

Hodges

2015

Global Ecology and Conservation

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“…They may even present the genetic potential to establish new populations and to persist in changing environments, characteristics that are of value in northern landscapes today (Sgrò et al ., ). Our data add to the limited knowledge we have on the existing genetic diversity at these latitudes and while the wood frog is not a threatened species, the results presented here have broader implications for conservation of northern species (Lesbarrères et al ., ). Disentangling the genetic makeup of peripheral populations will allow zones of higher genetic diversity and increased adaptive potential to be better identified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A peripheral view: post‐glacial history and genetic diversity of an amphibian in northern landscapes

D'Aoust‐Messier

Lesbarrères

2015

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Where post‐glacial colonization and founder events are numerous, peripheral populations tend to have reduced genetic diversity as compared to their centrally located counterparts. Such decrease in genetic variability can limit their potential to adapt to changes in their environment. At northern latitudes for instance, populations are often living in conditions close to their physiological limits. Thus, identifying the levels of genetic diversity in peripheral populations is key to estimating the potential for adaptation to ongoing environmental change. In this context, we investigated the distribution of genetic diversity at the northern edge of the wood frog's (Lithobates sylvaticus) range by reconstructing its post‐glacial history in an area where phylogeographical data were lacking. Location James Bay area (north‐central Canada). Methods DNA was extracted from 463 wood frog tissue samples from 17 localities. Seven microsatellite loci were used to quantify genetic diversity and evaluate genetic structure through estimates of the fixation index, isolation‐by‐distance analyses and Bayesian clustering algorithms (tess and structure). Phylogeographical relationships were investigated using single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ND2/tRNATRP mitochondrial genes. Phylogenetic trees were built using the neighbour‐joining and the maximum likelihood inference methods implemented in mega5. Results Our analyses identified a contact zone between two colonizing lineages originating from one glacial refugium. Populations in this contact zone present sympatrically distributed haplotypes from both lineages and higher genetic variation than the surrounding populations. Population structure analyses revealed the differentiation of three genetic clusters, each covering large areas around the coast of James Bay. Main conclusions Our study suggests that higher than expected genetic diversity and gene flow may be present in peripheral populations. Such adaptive potential is critical in areas of upcoming development and environmental changes. Thus, our study emphasizes the importance of understanding species post‐glacial history for the prediction of future evolutionary trends and species distributions.

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“…Notable declines in populations of amphibians have been reported over the past 15 years as a result of habitat loss and alterations, invasive species, disease, and chemical contaminants (Mann et al, 2009;Lesbarrieres et al, 2014). While the spotted salamander has not been assessed under COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) or the U.S.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of atrazine on egg masses of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and its endosymbiotic alga (Oophila amblystomatis)

Baxter

Brain

Hosmer

et al. 2015

Environmental Pollution

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Conservation of herpetofauna in northern landscapes: Threats and challenges from a Canadian perspective

Cited by 55 publications

References 71 publications

Unreliable population inferences from common trapping practices for freshwater turtles

Unreliable population inferences from common trapping practices for freshwater turtles

A peripheral view: post‐glacial history and genetic diversity of an amphibian in northern landscapes

Effects of atrazine on egg masses of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and its endosymbiotic alga (Oophila amblystomatis)

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