Journal article
Sex-biased dispersal and natal philopatry in the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin
Molecular ecology, v 19(24), pp 5497-5510
01 Dec 2010
PMID: 21091556
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Nesting ecology and population studies indicate that diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) exhibit nest site fidelity and high habitat fidelity. However, genetic studies indicate high levels of gene flow. Because dispersal affects the genetics and population dynamics of a species, we used six highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to investigate sex-biased dispersal and natal philopatry of M. terrapin in Barnegat Bay, NJ. We compared results of spatial autocorrelation analysis, assignment methods and Wright's FST estimators to a mark-recapture analysis. Mark-recapture analysis over a 4-year period indicated that most individuals have relatively small home ranges (<2 km), with mature females displaying greater home ranges than males. Goodness of fit analysis of our mark-recapture study indicated that some juvenile males were likely transient individuals moving through our study location. Mean assignment indices and first-generation migrant tests indicated that mature males were more prone to disperse than mature females, but first-generation migrant tests indicated that per capita there are more female than male dispersers. Thus, the relative importance of males and females on gene flow in terrapin populations may change in relation to population sex ratios. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated that mature females exhibited natal philopatry to nesting beaches, but first-generation migrant tests indicated that a small number of females failed to nest on natal beaches. Finally, we discuss the important conservation implications of male-biased dispersal and natal philopatry in the diamondback terrapin.
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Details
- Title
- Sex-biased dispersal and natal philopatry in the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin
- Creators
- Claire M. Sheridan - Drexel UniversityJames R. Spotila - Drexel UniversityWalter F. Bien - Drexel UniversityHarold W. Avery - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Molecular ecology, v 19(24), pp 5497-5510
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- Earthwatch Institute Betz Chair of Environmental Science at Drexel University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000285012300015
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-78650146627
- Other Identifier
- 991019167436604721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology