Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders

Abstract Species can show strong variation of local abundance across their ranges. Recent analyses suggested that variation in abundance can be related to environmental suitability, as the highest abundances are often observed in populations living in the most suitable areas. However, there is limit...

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Autores principales:	Enrico Lunghi, Raoul Manenti, Manuela Mulargia, Michael Veith, Claudia Corti, Gentile Francesco Ficetola
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2018
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/5c0254e86a004d62a2b96cadf2553aef
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:5c0254e86a004d62a2b96cadf2553aef2021-12-02T12:33:01ZEnvironmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders10.1038/s41598-018-25704-12045-2322https://doaj.org/article/5c0254e86a004d62a2b96cadf2553aef2018-05-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25704-1https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Species can show strong variation of local abundance across their ranges. Recent analyses suggested that variation in abundance can be related to environmental suitability, as the highest abundances are often observed in populations living in the most suitable areas. However, there is limited information on the mechanisms through which variation in environmental suitability determines abundance. We analysed populations of the microendemic salamander Hydromantes flavus, and tested several hypotheses on potential relationships linking environmental suitability to population parameters. For multiple populations across the whole species range, we assessed suitability using species distribution models, and measured density, activity level, food intake and body condition index. In high-suitability sites, the density of salamanders was up to 30-times higher than in the least suitable ones. Variation in activity levels and population performance can explain such variation of abundance. In high-suitability sites, salamanders were active close to the surface, and showed a low frequency of empty stomachs. Furthermore, when taking into account seasonal variation, body condition was better in the most suitable sites. Our results show that the strong relationship between environmental suitability and population abundance can be mediated by the variation of parameters strongly linked to individual performance and fitness.Enrico LunghiRaoul ManentiManuela MulargiaMichael VeithClaudia CortiGentile Francesco FicetolaNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2018)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Enrico Lunghi Raoul Manenti Manuela Mulargia Michael Veith Claudia Corti Gentile Francesco Ficetola Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders
description	Abstract Species can show strong variation of local abundance across their ranges. Recent analyses suggested that variation in abundance can be related to environmental suitability, as the highest abundances are often observed in populations living in the most suitable areas. However, there is limited information on the mechanisms through which variation in environmental suitability determines abundance. We analysed populations of the microendemic salamander Hydromantes flavus, and tested several hypotheses on potential relationships linking environmental suitability to population parameters. For multiple populations across the whole species range, we assessed suitability using species distribution models, and measured density, activity level, food intake and body condition index. In high-suitability sites, the density of salamanders was up to 30-times higher than in the least suitable ones. Variation in activity levels and population performance can explain such variation of abundance. In high-suitability sites, salamanders were active close to the surface, and showed a low frequency of empty stomachs. Furthermore, when taking into account seasonal variation, body condition was better in the most suitable sites. Our results show that the strong relationship between environmental suitability and population abundance can be mediated by the variation of parameters strongly linked to individual performance and fitness.
format	article
author	Enrico Lunghi Raoul Manenti Manuela Mulargia Michael Veith Claudia Corti Gentile Francesco Ficetola
author_facet	Enrico Lunghi Raoul Manenti Manuela Mulargia Michael Veith Claudia Corti Gentile Francesco Ficetola
author_sort	Enrico Lunghi
title	Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders
title_short	Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders
title_full	Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders
title_fullStr	Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders
title_full_unstemmed	Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders
title_sort	environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2018
url	https://doaj.org/article/5c0254e86a004d62a2b96cadf2553aef
work_keys_str_mv	AT enricolunghi environmentalsuitabilitymodelspredictpopulationdensityperformanceandbodyconditionformicroendemicsalamanders AT raoulmanenti environmentalsuitabilitymodelspredictpopulationdensityperformanceandbodyconditionformicroendemicsalamanders AT manuelamulargia environmentalsuitabilitymodelspredictpopulationdensityperformanceandbodyconditionformicroendemicsalamanders AT michaelveith environmentalsuitabilitymodelspredictpopulationdensityperformanceandbodyconditionformicroendemicsalamanders AT claudiacorti environmentalsuitabilitymodelspredictpopulationdensityperformanceandbodyconditionformicroendemicsalamanders AT gentilefrancescoficetola environmentalsuitabilitymodelspredictpopulationdensityperformanceandbodyconditionformicroendemicsalamanders
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Environmental suitability models predict population density, performance and body condition for microendemic salamanders

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