Population genetics for conservation of spadefoot toads, Pelobates fuscus, in Western and Central Europe
European amphibians such as the common spadefoot toad ( Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768)) exhibit alarming declines across large parts of their range, despite extensive legislation aimed at conservation. As knowledge about the genetic background of a species has become crucial for conservation assessment, we investigated nuclear genetic diversity and structure of P. fuscus, based on microsatellite loci. Clustering revealed major groups corresponding to postglacial colonization patterns. Additionally, we found contrasting patterns of genetic diversity across the 66 studied populations, reflecting the conservation status of the species in Europe and with marked genetic impoverishment across most populations in the northwestern part of the species' distribution range. Our findings provide genetic information on the conservation status of the common spadefoot toad across Europe, emphasizing the need for urgent conservation efforts. We recommend further genetic monitoring, habitat restoration and potential translocations to safeguard the species in the face of ongoing challenges.
Details
| Volume | 12 |
|---|---|
| Tijdschrift nummer | 7 |
| Type | A1: Web of Science-artikel |
| Categorie | Onderzoek |
| Tijdschrift | ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE |
| Issns | 2054-5703 |
| Uitgeverij | ROYAL SOC |
| Taal | Engels |
Bibtex
@misc{fe74b014-c030-499f-8897-61fa761dad2e,
title = "Population genetics for conservation of spadefoot toads, Pelobates fuscus, in Western and Central Europe",
abstract = "
European amphibians such as the common spadefoot toad ( Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768)) exhibit alarming declines across large parts of their range, despite extensive legislation aimed at conservation. As knowledge about the genetic background of a species has become crucial for conservation assessment, we investigated nuclear genetic diversity and structure of P. fuscus, based on microsatellite loci. Clustering revealed major groups corresponding to postglacial colonization patterns. Additionally, we found contrasting patterns of genetic diversity across the 66 studied populations, reflecting the conservation status of the species in Europe and with marked genetic impoverishment across most populations in the northwestern part of the species' distribution range. Our findings provide genetic information on the conservation status of the common spadefoot toad across Europe, emphasizing the need for urgent conservation efforts. We recommend further genetic monitoring, habitat restoration and potential translocations to safeguard the species in the face of ongoing challenges.
",author = "Caroline Mouton and Karolin Eils and Johan Auwerx and Paolo Eusebio Bergó and Wilbert Bosman and Angelica Crottini and Julia Dayon and Christophe Eggert and Christian Göcking and Wolf-Rüdiger Große and Werner Kloas and Spartak Litvinchuk and Katarina Ljubisavljevic and Claude Miaud and Norbert Menke and Maria Ogielska and Jeroen Speybroeck and Loïc van Doorn and Richard Struijk and Matthias Stöck and Joachim Mergeay",
year = "2025",
month = jul,
day = "30",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240893",
language = "Nederlands",
publisher = "ROYAL SOC",
address = "België,
type = "Other"
}
Auteurs
Caroline MoutonKarolin Eils
Johan Auwerx
Paolo Eusebio Bergó
Wilbert Bosman
Angelica Crottini
Julia Dayon
Christophe Eggert
Christian Göcking
Wolf-Rüdiger Große
Werner Kloas
Spartak Litvinchuk
Katarina Ljubisavljevic
Claude Miaud
Norbert Menke
Maria Ogielska
Jeroen Speybroeck
Loïc van Doorn
Richard Struijk
Matthias Stöck
Joachim Mergeay