Invasion dynamics are determined, among other aspects, by the spatial behaviour of invasive populations. The invasive toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus is spreading inland from the eastern coast of Madagascar, causing considerable ecological impacts. Understanding the basic factors determining the spread dynamics can inform management strategies and provide insights into spatial evolutionary processes. We radio-tracked 91 adult toads in three localities along the invasion gradient to determine whether spatial sorting of dispersive phenotypes is occurring, and investigate intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of spatial behaviour. Overall, toads in our study appeared as habitat generalists, and their sheltering behaviour was tied to water proximity, with toads changing shelter more frequently closer to waterbodies. Toads showed low displacement rates (mean = 4.12 m/day) and quite a philopatric behaviour but were able to perform daily movements of over 50 m. We did not detect any spatial sorting of dispersal-relevant traits nor sex- or size-biased dispersal. Our results suggest that toads are more likely to expand their range during the wet season, and that the range expansion is probably dominated by short-distance dispersal at this stage of the invasion, although a future increase in invasion speed is expected, due to the capacity for long-distance movements of this species.

Spatial ecology of the invasive Asian common toad in Madagascar and its implications for invasion dynamics / Licata, Fulvio; Ficetola, Gentile Francesco; Falaschi, Mattia; Muller, Benjamin J.; Andreone, Franco; Harison, Rodino Fetrarijahona; Freeman, Karen; Monteiro, Antonio T.; Rosa, Sophia; Crottini, Angelica. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - ELETTRONICO. - 13:(2023), pp. 3526.1-3526.11. [10.1038/s41598-023-29467-2]

Spatial ecology of the invasive Asian common toad in Madagascar and its implications for invasion dynamics

Crottini, Angelica
2023

Abstract

Invasion dynamics are determined, among other aspects, by the spatial behaviour of invasive populations. The invasive toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus is spreading inland from the eastern coast of Madagascar, causing considerable ecological impacts. Understanding the basic factors determining the spread dynamics can inform management strategies and provide insights into spatial evolutionary processes. We radio-tracked 91 adult toads in three localities along the invasion gradient to determine whether spatial sorting of dispersive phenotypes is occurring, and investigate intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of spatial behaviour. Overall, toads in our study appeared as habitat generalists, and their sheltering behaviour was tied to water proximity, with toads changing shelter more frequently closer to waterbodies. Toads showed low displacement rates (mean = 4.12 m/day) and quite a philopatric behaviour but were able to perform daily movements of over 50 m. We did not detect any spatial sorting of dispersal-relevant traits nor sex- or size-biased dispersal. Our results suggest that toads are more likely to expand their range during the wet season, and that the range expansion is probably dominated by short-distance dispersal at this stage of the invasion, although a future increase in invasion speed is expected, due to the capacity for long-distance movements of this species.
2023
13
1
11
Licata, Fulvio; Ficetola, Gentile Francesco; Falaschi, Mattia; Muller, Benjamin J.; Andreone, Franco; Harison, Rodino Fetrarijahona; Freeman, Karen; M...espandi
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Licata_et_al_SciRep_2023.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Pdf editoriale (Version of record)
Licenza: Open Access
Dimensione 1.6 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.6 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1401421
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact