Genetic structure at three spatial scales is consistent with limited philopatry in Ricord's Rock Iguanas (Cyclura ricordii).

ABSTRACT: Cyclura ricordii is an endemic iguana from Hispaniola Island and is threatened on the IUCN Red List. The main threats are predation by introduced mammals, habitat destruction, and hunting pressure. The present study focused on two nesting sites from Pedernales Province in the Dominican Republic. The hypothesis that natal philopatry influences dispersal and nest-site selection was tested. Monitoring and sampling took place in 2012 and 2013. Polymorphic markers were used to evaluate whether natal philopatry limits dispersal at multiple spatial scales. Ripley's K revealed that nests were significantly clustered at multiple scales, when both nesting sites were considered and within each nesting site. This suggests a patchy, nonrandom distribution of nests within nest sites. Hiera

SUBMITTER: Carreras-De Leon R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6662429 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature