Temporally dynamic habitat suitability predicts genetic relatedness among caribou.

ABSTRACT: Landscape heterogeneity plays a central role in shaping ecological and evolutionary processes. While species utilization of the landscape is usually viewed as constant within a year, the spatial distribution of individuals is likely to vary in time in relation to particular seasonal needs. Understanding temporal variation in landscape use and genetic connectivity has direct conservation implications. Here, we modelled the daily use of the landscape by caribou in Quebec and Labrador, Canada and tested its ability to explain the genetic relatedness among individuals. We assessed habitat selection using locations of collared individuals in migratory herds and static occurrences from sedentary groups. Connectivity models based on habitat use outperformed a baseline isolation-by-distance model

SUBMITTER: Yannic G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4150309 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature