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Patterns of colonization in a metapopulation of grey seals

Nature volume 416, pages 424–427 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

The colonization of a new habitat is a fundamental process in metapopulation biology1, but it is difficult to study. The emigration of colonists from established populations might be induced by resource competition owing to high local population density2,3. Migration distances are also important because they determine the frequency and scale of recolonization and hence the spatial scale of the metapopulation4. Traditionally, these factors have been investigated with demographic approaches that are labour-intensive and are only possible in amenable species. In many cases, genetic differentiation is minimal, preventing traditional genetic approaches from identifying the source of colonists unambiguously. Here we present a bayesian approach that integrates genetic, demographic and geographic distance data. We apply the method to study the British metapopulation of grey seals, which has been growing at 6% per year over the last few decades5. Our method reveals differential recruitment to three newly founded colonies and implicates density-dependent dispersal in metapopulation dynamics by using genetic data.

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Figure 1: Location of the colonies of grey seals studied.
Figure 2: The estimated contribution of different source colonies to the founding groups as a function of geographic distance (a) and productivity (b).

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Acknowledgements

The manuscript was read critically by I. Hanksi, R. Lande and P.E. Smouse.

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Author notes

  1. Oscar E. Gaggiotti

    Present address: Metapopulation Research Group, Department of Ecology and Systematics, Division of Population Biology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, FIN-00014, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK

    Oscar E. Gaggiotti, William M. Lee & William Amos

  2. Institute of Cell, Animal, and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Annexe, Kings’ Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK

    Felicity Jones

  3. NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Fife, UK

    John Harwood

  4. School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK

    Richard A. Nichols

Authors
  1. Oscar E. Gaggiotti
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Correspondence to Richard A. Nichols.

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Gaggiotti, O., Jones, F., Lee, W. et al. Patterns of colonization in a metapopulation of grey seals. Nature 416, 424–427 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/416424a

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