Perturbation drives changing metapopulation dynamics in a top marine predator
Creators
- 1. University of Auckland
- 2. University of St Andrews
- 3. University of Copenhagen
Description
Metapopulation theory assumes a balance between local decays/extinctions and local growth/new colonisations. Here we investigate whether recent population declines across part of the UK harbour seal range represent normal metapopulation dynamics or are indicative of perturbations potentially threatening the metapopulation viability, using 20 years of population trends, location tracking data ( n = 380), and UK-wide, multi-generational population genetic data ( n = 269). First, we use microsatellite data to show that two genetic groups previously identified are distinct metapopulations: northern and southern. Then, we characterize the northern metapopulation dynamics in two different periods, before and after the start of regional declines (pre-/peri-perturbation). We identify source–sink dynamics across the northern metapopulation, with two putative source populations apparently supporting three likely sink populations, and a recent metapopulation-wide disruption of migration coincident with the perturbation. The northern metapopulation appears to be in decay, highlighting that changes in local populations can lead to radical alterations in the overall metapopulation's persistence and dynamics.
Notes
This archive contains two files
1. Genelemetry_harbour_seal_metadata_dryad_final.xlsx
Excel file containing metadata for samples used in the paper analysis, including sampling location, sampling seal management unit, and local population
2. HarbourSealGenepopFormat.txt
Text file containing multi-locus genotypes for harbour seals used in the analysis in genepop format.
Funding provided by: Dept. Energy and Climate Change*
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Funding provided by: Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd*
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Funding provided by: Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008239
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Funding provided by: Marine Current Turbines Limited*
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Funding provided by: Marine Scotland Science*
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Funding provided by: Moray Firth Offshore Renewables Limited*
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Funding provided by: Natural Environment Research Council
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000270
Award Number: 10/001
Funding provided by: BBC Wildlife Fund *
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Funding provided by: SITA Trust*
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Funding provided by: Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100015535
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Funding provided by: Scottish Funding Council
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000360
Award Number: HR09011
Funding provided by: Royal Society of London*
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Award Number: Newton International Fellowship
Funding provided by: Royal Society of New Zealand
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001509
Award Number: Rutherford Discovery Fellowship
Funding provided by: Scottish Natural Heritage
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100014610
Funding provided by: Dept. Energy and Climate Change
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Funding provided by: Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Funding provided by: Marine Current Turbines Limited
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Funding provided by: Marine Scotland Science
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Funding provided by: Moray Firth Offshore Renewables Limited
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Funding provided by: BBC Wildlife Fund
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Funding provided by: SITA Trust
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Funding provided by: Royal Society of London
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Award Number: Newton International Fellowship
Files
HarbourSealGenepopFormat.txt
Files
(63.6 kB)
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Additional details
Related works
- Is cited by
- 10.1098/rspb.2020.0318 (DOI)