Population divergence of life history traits in the endangered green toad: implications for a support release programme

• Published in: Journal of zoology (1987) 2011-09, Vol.285 (1), p.46-55
• Main Authors: Rogell, B., Berglund, A., Laurila, A., Höglund, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amphibia; amphibians; Animal behavior; Animal populations; Anura; Biologi; Biology; Bufo viridis; Conservation; genetic diversity; Invertebrates; Local adaptation; NATURAL SCIENCES; NATURVETENSKAP; peripheral populations; Population Biology; Populationsbiologi; Terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology; Terrestrisk, limnisk och marin ekologi; Toads
• ISSN: 0952-8369; 1469-7998; 1469-7998
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00843.x

There is an increasing awareness that adaptive differences among local populations may affect the success of translocation programmes. A mismatch in habitat quality of the target localities and in the local adaptations of the translocated individuals may reduce the success rate of the translocation programme. The green toad Bufo viridis is the most threatened amphibian in Sweden and has been the focus of an extensive translocation programme of eggs, tadpoles and juvenile toads to several localities with apparently favourable conditions for green toads. However, the success of these measures has been poor. In this study, we investigated the extent of local adaptation in the green toad by examining population divergence and the effect of thermal and saline conditions on larval performance in four Scandinavian populations. In a common garden experiment, we measured larval survival and development as well as the occurrence of spinal deformations. In addition, we quantified pond temperature and water salinity, two important environmental variables for larval performance in anurans in the breeding ponds as well as in seven additional localities included in the conservation programme. We found significant variation among the localities in water temperature and salinity, and significant among‐population divergence in larval life history traits and spinal deformations, including both trait means and plastic responses to salinity and temperature. The available evidence suggests that at least part of this divergence is adaptive. We did not find direct support for local adaptation affecting the success of the translocations, however, we argue that the population origin and the impact of rearing conditions on the fitness‐related larval traits should be taken into account in the introduction measures of the Swedish green toad conservation programme as well as in translocation programmes in general.