Article (Scientific journals)
Habitat selection and reproduction of newts in networks of fish and fishless aquatic patches
Winandy, Laurane; Legrand, Pauline; Denoël, Mathieu
2017In Animal Behaviour, 123, p. 107-115
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Keywords :
behavioural avoidance; anti-predator defense; Habitat selection; habitat choice; movement; dispersal; spatial connectivity; networks; ponds; rescue effect; habitat supplementation; metapopulations; patchy population; fish introduction; introduced fish; alien species; invasive species; amphibians; alpine newt; Ichthyosaura alpestris; Goldfish; Carassius auratus; conservation biology; biological conservation; habitat management; Triton alpestre; Gestion; Poisson rouge; courtship; reproduction; sexual behaviour
Abstract :
[en] The spatial distribution of organisms in patchy environments can be determined by the relationship between habitat quality and animal behaviour. In species with complex life cycles, such as pond-breeding amphibians, the selection of a suitable wetland is crucial. While the traditional view of amphibian ecology suggests strong site fidelity and low vagility, more recent research highlights mechanisms involving active site choice through avoidance behaviour and bet-hedging strategies in heterogeneous environments. The introduction of fish to the aquatic environment is one of the factors that may alter site selection and lead to local dispersal. In this context, we investigated the habitat choice of Alpine newts, Ichthyosaura alpestris, in networks of fish (Carassius auratus) and fishless aquatic patches. Using a laboratory design consisting of aquaria divided into two water tanks connected by a terrestrial platform, we assessed newt distribution and movement between patches. During the breeding period, we compared the reproductive success of individuals in two types of networks. We found that newts escaped fish by rapidly changing aquatic patches and then aggregating in safe aquatic patches that were free of fish. In the fish network, newts maintained reproduction, but the high local abundance resulted in decreased sexual activity and egg production and increased use of the terrestrial habitat. However, in the fishless network, newts moved between aquatic patches several times, exhibited more courtship behaviour and laid more eggs than they did in the fish networks. Our results showed both adaptive habitat switching due to environmental risks in the fish network and habitat supplementation (i.e. use of alternative resources) in the fishless network. Such studies on movement behaviour and habitat selection have conservation implications in showing that the persistence of native species in invaded networks depends on the rescue effect, with immigration to fish-free habitats potentially preventing local extinction.
Research center :
FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège
AFFISH-RC - Applied and Fundamental FISH Research Center - ULiège
Disciplines :
Animal psychology, ethology & psychobiology
Environmental sciences & ecology
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Author, co-author :
Winandy, Laurane ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Legrand, Pauline ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du Comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Denoël, Mathieu  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Language :
English
Title :
Habitat selection and reproduction of newts in networks of fish and fishless aquatic patches
Publication date :
January 2017
Journal title :
Animal Behaviour
ISSN :
0003-3472
eISSN :
1095-8282
Publisher :
Academic Press, London, United Kingdom
Volume :
123
Pages :
107-115
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
ULg FSR - Université de Liège. Fonds spéciaux pour la recherche [BE]
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