Projects per year
Abstract
Maintaining habitat connectivity is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity and reducing the risk of inbreeding depression in numerous species. Human-modified habitats pose a threat to population persistence, particularly for amphibians that require both aquatic and terrestrial habitats and often exhibit low dispersal capacity. In this study, we investigated the genetic structure and variation of two sympatric newt species, Triturus cristatus and Lissotriton vulgaris, in an urbanized and agricultural landscape. Using a multiscale resistance modeling approach, we evaluated how landscape features affect gene flow in both species. Our results confirmed that the less abundant T. cristatus exhibited more genetically distinct demes than the more common L. vulgaris, which showed a more subtle structure. Additionally, levels of genetic variation were lower in T. cristatus than in L. vulgaris, but with a similar spatial distribution pattern across shared ponds. We found that the proportion of managed grassland in the study area played a major role in reducing the level of connectivity in both species. Furthermore, considering multiple spatial scales proved to be effective in improving the fit of the landscape resistance models, with the largest scale (900 m) providing the best fit. In T. cristatus, areas with low proportions of trees or high proportions of crop fields negatively affected genetic connectivity. Notably, resistance surfaces optimized for each species were highly correlated. The intensively managed grassland lacked the structural heterogeneity necessary for newts. Therefore, switching to a more traditional management approach in the landscape to increase spatial patchiness at the scale of dispersal would benefit both species.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Conservation Genetics |
ISSN | 1566-0621 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 2023 |
Thematic List 2020
- Protected nature
Taxonomic list
- amphibians (Amphibia)
- newts and salamanders (Caudata)
- Triturus cristatus
- Lissotriton vulgaris
- great crested newt
- smooth newt
Policy
- Habitats Directive
- protected Flemish nature
- species directed nature management
Geographic list
- East Flanders
- Temse
- Kruibeke
- Scheldt
Technological
- genetic technologies
- microsatellites
- fieldwork (observations and sampling)
- statistics and modelling
- landscape genetics
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'The common ground in landscape effects on gene flow in two newt species in an agroecosystem'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Active
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Conservation and landscape genetics
Cox, K. (Project leader), Maes, D. (Cooperator), Mergeay, J. (Cooperator), Neyrinck, S. (Cooperator), Speybroeck, J. (Cooperator), Thomaes, A. (Cooperator), Van Breusegem, A. (Cooperator), Vanden Broeck, A. (Cooperator) & Verschaeve, L. (Cooperator)
1/01/20 → 31/12/29
Project: own initiative (position paper)
Research output
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Waterdraken en -salamanders op het droge: Ontrafelen van de invloed van het landschap op genetische diversiteit en connectiviteit
Cox, K. & Speybroeck, J., Jun-2024, In: Natuurfocus. 23, 2, p. 48-55 8 p.Translated title of the contribution :Water dragons and newts on land: Unravelling the influence of the landscape through genetic information Research output: Contribution to journal › A2: Article in a journal with peer review, not included in A1 › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Verschillende salamandersoorten, gelijkaardige hindernissen
Cox, K., 2023, In: INBO Nieuwsbrief. september 2023Research output: Contribution to journal › Contribution to INBO Nieuwsbrief
Open Access