Long-distance movements by fire salamanders: Integration of capture-recapture and genetic data and implications for conservation

Long distance movements may be particularly important for the regional persistence of amphibian species that are structured as metapopulations and experience local extinctions. The conventional wisdom is that the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra infraimmaculata), an endangered species in Israel, has strong pond fidelity – i.e. returns each year to the same site to breed – and low dispersal ability.  This would result in a number of isolated populations rather than a linked metapopulation.  In this study, we explored movements of fire salamander among breeding sites on Mt. Carmel, northern Israel, and the implications for population structure. During five breeding seasons (November-March) starting in 1999-2000, capture-recapture surveys were conducted around 13 breeding sites, and along unpaved roads connecting them. A DNA samples taken from captured individuals were used for a genetic survey with 11 microsatellite loci. Most of the recaptures were at the same site as the initial capture. However, several salamanders were recaptured at least 1000-1300m away from the first site. These movement distances are considerably larger than documented in the literature and indicated potential connectivity between breeding sites. These findings are also supported by the genetic analysis. Assignment tests which assigned each genotype to a "subpopulation" (i.e. individuals around a breeding site) where its expected probability of occurrence is highest, indicated potential migrants between subpopulations. We conclude that local conservation units of fire salamander should include several breeding sites and landscape connectivity between them in order to enable individual movements, which may be valuable for population dynamics.