Population genetic structure of the Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) in Ireland: implications for conservation management

dc.contributor.authorReyne, Marina
dc.contributor.authorDicks, Kara
dc.contributor.authorMcFarlane, Claire
dc.contributor.authorAubry, Aurélie
dc.contributor.authorEmmerson, Mark
dc.contributor.authorMarnell, Ferdia
dc.contributor.authorReid, Neil
dc.contributor.authorHelyar, Sarah
dc.contributor.departmentEnvironmental Protection
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-14T13:29:45Z
dc.date.available2024-03-14T13:29:45Z
dc.date.issued2021-11-24
dc.descriptionPublication history: Accepted - 6 November 2021; Published online - 24 November 2021
dc.description.abstractMolecular methods can play a crucial role in species management and conservation. Despite the usefulness of genetic approaches, they are often not explicitly included as part of species recovery plans and conservation practises. The Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) is regionally Red-Listed as Endangered in Ireland. The species is declining and is now present at just seven sites within a highly restricted range. This study used 13 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to analyse the population genetic diversity and structure. Genetic diversity was high with expected heterozygosity between 0.55 and 0.61 and allelic richness between 4.77 and 5.92. Effective population sizes were small (Ne < 100 individuals), but not abnormal for pond breeding amphibians. However, there was no evidence of historical or contemporary genetic bottlenecks or high levels of inbreeding. We identified a positive relationship between Ne and breeding pond surface area, suggesting that environmental factors are a key determinant of population size. Significant genetic structuring was detected throughout the species’ range, and we identified four genetic entities that should be considered in the species’ conservation strategies. Management should focus on preventing further population declines and future loss of genetic diversity overall and within genetic entities while maintaining adequate local effective population size through site-specific protection, human-mediated translocations and head-start programs. The apparent high levels of genetic variation give hope for the conservation of Ireland’s rarest amphibian if appropriately protected and managed.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis study was supported by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Republic of Ireland.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12518/674
dc.identifier.citationReyne, M., Dicks, K., McFarlane, C., Aubry, A., Emmerson, M., Marnell, F., Reid, N. and Helyar, S. (2021) ‘Population genetic structure of the Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) in Ireland: implications for conservation management’, Conservation Genetics. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01421-7.
dc.identifier.issn1572-9737
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01421-7
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2021
dc.subjectEfective population size
dc.subjectEpidalea calamita
dc.subjectConservation genetics
dc.subjectMicrosatellite DNA
dc.subjectPopulation structure
dc.subjectSpecies conservation
dc.titlePopulation genetic structure of the Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) in Ireland: implications for conservation management
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.dateAccepted2021-11-06
dcterms.dateSubmitted2020-11-09

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