The great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) is an amphibian species of European conservation concern that has suffered severe declines, primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation. This pond-breeding amphibian lives in spatially structured populations (SSPs) where dispersal strongly influences population dynamics, genetics and thereby the long-term persistence of the whole SSP. This dissertation investigates the effects of habitat quality on demography and how such environmental as well as individual factors influence different stages of the dispersal process and consequently the population structure of great crested newts. The evaluation of a commonly used habitat suitability index (HSI) model showed no relationship between habitat quality and individual survival probability or body condition but a positive association with reproduction probability and abundance, making it a useful tool to identify habitats of higher priority for species conservation. A comprehensive analysis of dispersal and population structure combining extensive demographic and genetic data highlights the importance of habitat quality for driving context-dependent dispersal and therefore demography and genetic structure in a patchy population of great crested newts. Finally, the monitoring of 18 newly created ponds revealed that ponds were rapidly colonized, mostly over short distances, and that newts captured in new ponds were younger and tended to be larger than those in established ponds (phenotype-dependent dispersal), indicating that colonization is predominantly the result of natal dispersal by large individuals. Implications for conservation management are being discussed including corresponding recommendations.:Zusammenfassung..........1
Summary..........7
Introduction..........12
Chapter I (Linking habitat suitability to demography in a pond-breeding amphibian)..........24
Chapter II (The relationship between habitat suitability, population size and body condition in a pond-breeding amphibian)..........38
Chapter III (Context-dependent dispersal determines relatedness and genetic structure in a patchy amphibian population)..........50
Chapter IV (Pond construction for amphibian conservation: phenotypic traits influence the colonization process)..........99
Acknowledgements..........127
Author contributions..........128
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:84719 |
| Date | 14 April 2023 |
| Creators | Unglaub, Bianca |
| Contributors | Universität Leipzig |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English, German |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion, doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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