Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate
Density is an important demographic parameter that is commonly overlooked in studies of wild populations. Here, we examined the effects of variable spatially explicit density on a range of demographic parameters in a wild population of a cryptic ungulate, boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus c...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.956834 https://doaj.org/article/efa116bcdf5147bda7e5b217632d1f65 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:efa116bcdf5147bda7e5b217632d1f65 2023-05-15T15:53:29+02:00 Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Teri B. Jones Darren Pouliot Gabriela Mastromonaco Gigi Pittoello Paul J. Wilson 2022-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.956834 https://doaj.org/article/efa116bcdf5147bda7e5b217632d1f65 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.956834/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.956834 https://doaj.org/article/efa116bcdf5147bda7e5b217632d1f65 Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10 (2022) density dependence dispersal familial networks individual fitness pedigree Rangifer tarandus Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.956834 2022-12-30T22:27:27Z Density is an important demographic parameter that is commonly overlooked in studies of wild populations. Here, we examined the effects of variable spatially explicit density on a range of demographic parameters in a wild population of a cryptic ungulate, boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Using non-invasive genetic sampling, we applied spatial capture–recapture methods with landscape covariates to estimate the density of boreal woodland caribou across a 108,806 km2 study area. We then created a familial network from the reconstructed parent–offspring relationships to determine whether spatial density influenced sex-specific individual reproductive success, female pregnancy status, and dispersal distance. We found that animal density varied greatly in response to land cover types and disturbance; animal density was most influenced by landscape composition and distance to roads varying from 0 in areas with >20% deciduous cover to 270 caribou per 1,000 km2 in areas presenting contiguous older coniferous cover. We found that both male and female reproductive success varied with density, with males showing a higher probability of having offspring in higher-density areas, and the opposite for females. No differences were found in female pregnancy rates occurring in high- and low-density areas. Dispersal distances varied with density, with offspring moving shorter distances when parents were found in higher-density areas. Familial networks showed lower-closeness centrality and lower-degree centrality for females in higher-density areas, indicating that females found in higher-density areas tend to be less broadly associated with animals across the range. Although high-density areas do reflect good-quality caribou habitat, the observed decreased closeness and degree centrality measures, dispersal rates, and lower female recruitment rates suggest that remnant habitat patches across the landscape may create population sinks. Article in Journal/Newspaper caribou Rangifer tarandus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
density dependence dispersal familial networks individual fitness pedigree Rangifer tarandus Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
density dependence dispersal familial networks individual fitness pedigree Rangifer tarandus Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Teri B. Jones Darren Pouliot Gabriela Mastromonaco Gigi Pittoello Paul J. Wilson Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate |
topic_facet |
density dependence dispersal familial networks individual fitness pedigree Rangifer tarandus Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Density is an important demographic parameter that is commonly overlooked in studies of wild populations. Here, we examined the effects of variable spatially explicit density on a range of demographic parameters in a wild population of a cryptic ungulate, boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Using non-invasive genetic sampling, we applied spatial capture–recapture methods with landscape covariates to estimate the density of boreal woodland caribou across a 108,806 km2 study area. We then created a familial network from the reconstructed parent–offspring relationships to determine whether spatial density influenced sex-specific individual reproductive success, female pregnancy status, and dispersal distance. We found that animal density varied greatly in response to land cover types and disturbance; animal density was most influenced by landscape composition and distance to roads varying from 0 in areas with >20% deciduous cover to 270 caribou per 1,000 km2 in areas presenting contiguous older coniferous cover. We found that both male and female reproductive success varied with density, with males showing a higher probability of having offspring in higher-density areas, and the opposite for females. No differences were found in female pregnancy rates occurring in high- and low-density areas. Dispersal distances varied with density, with offspring moving shorter distances when parents were found in higher-density areas. Familial networks showed lower-closeness centrality and lower-degree centrality for females in higher-density areas, indicating that females found in higher-density areas tend to be less broadly associated with animals across the range. Although high-density areas do reflect good-quality caribou habitat, the observed decreased closeness and degree centrality measures, dispersal rates, and lower female recruitment rates suggest that remnant habitat patches across the landscape may create population sinks. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Teri B. Jones Darren Pouliot Gabriela Mastromonaco Gigi Pittoello Paul J. Wilson |
author_facet |
Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Teri B. Jones Darren Pouliot Gabriela Mastromonaco Gigi Pittoello Paul J. Wilson |
author_sort |
Samantha McFarlane |
title |
Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate |
title_short |
Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate |
title_full |
Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate |
title_fullStr |
Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate |
title_full_unstemmed |
Identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate |
title_sort |
identification of familial networks reveals sex-specific density dependence in the dispersal and reproductive success of an endangered ungulate |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.956834 https://doaj.org/article/efa116bcdf5147bda7e5b217632d1f65 |
genre |
caribou Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
caribou Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.956834/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.956834 https://doaj.org/article/efa116bcdf5147bda7e5b217632d1f65 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.956834 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
10 |
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1766388592859414528 |