Open AccessFitter frogs from polluted ponds: The complex impacts of human‐altered environments
Author(s) -
Brady Steven P.,
ZamoraCamacho Francisco J.,
Eriksson Fredrik A. A.,
Goedert Debora,
Comas Mar,
Calsbeek Ryan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
evolutionary applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 68
ISSN - 1752-4571
DOI - 10.1111/eva.12751
Subject(s) - biology , maladaptation , metapopulation , ecology , habitat , local adaptation , habitat fragmentation , amphibian , habitat destruction , fragmentation (computing) , conservation biology , adaptation (eye) , climate change , environmental change , population , biological dispersal , genetics , demography , neuroscience , sociology
Human‐modified habitats rarely yield outcomes that are aligned with conservation ideals. Landscapes that are subdivided by roads are no exception, precipitating negative impacts on populations due to fragmentation, pollution, and road kill. Although many populations in human‐modified habitats show evidence for local adaptation, rarely does environmental change yield outright benefits for populations of conservation interest. Contrary to expectations, we report surprising benefits experienced by amphibian populations breeding and dwelling in proximity to roads. We show that roadside populations of the wood frog , Rana sylvatica , exhibit better locomotor performance and higher measures of traits related to fitness compared with frogs from less disturbed environments located further away from roads. These results contrast previous evidence for maladaptation in roadside populations of wood frogs studied elsewhere. Our results indicate that altered habitats might not be unequivocally detrimental and at times might contribute to metapopulation success. While the frequency of such beneficial outcomes remains unknown, their occurrence underscores the complexity of inferring consequences of environmental change.