Physiological Vagility: Correlations with Dispersal and Population Genetic Structure of Amphibians

• DOI: 10.1086/671109
• Publication Date: 2013-07-02T20:34:49Z
• Authors: Stanley S. Hillman; Robert C. Drewes; Michael S. Hedrick; Thomas V. Hancock
• Keywords: Metapopulation

Physiological vagility represents the capacity to move sustainably and is central fully explaining processes involved in creating fine-scale genetic structure of amphibian populations, because movement (vagility) duration determine dispersal distance individuals can interbreed. The tendency for amphibians maintain differentiation over relatively short distances (isolation by distance) has been attributed their limited (low vagility) compared with other vertebrates. Earlier studies analyzing isolation population treat all as equally vagile attempt explain only terms physical environmental characteristics. We introduce a new quantitative metric that incorporates aerobic capacity, body size, temperature, cost transport independent characteristics environment. test our data mass correlate . Both increase size. Differentiation neutral microsatellite markers was inversely significantly related ln vagility. Genetic not alone. Generalized observations are validated several specific studies. These results suggest interspecific differences physiological contribute metapopulation amphibians.