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Differing drivers of decline within a metapopulation has implications for future conservation
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  • Luke Ozsanlav-Harris,
  • Geoff Hilton,
  • Larry Griffin,
  • Alyn Walsh,
  • Lei Cao,
  • Mitch Weegman,
  • Stuart Bearhop
Luke Ozsanlav-Harris
University of Exeter

Corresponding Author:lo288@exeter.ac.uk

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Geoff Hilton
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
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Larry Griffin
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
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Alyn Walsh
National Parks and Wildlife Service
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Lei Cao
Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences
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Mitch Weegman
University of Saskatchewan
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Stuart Bearhop
University of Exeter
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Abstract

1. Researchers generally ascribe demographic drivers in a single or few sub-populations and presume they are representative. With this information, practitioners implement blanket conservation measures across metapopulations to reverse declines. However, such approaches may not be appropriate in circumstances where sub-populations are spatiotemporally segregated and exposed to different environmental variation. 2. The Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris is an Arctic-nesting migrant that largely comprises two sub-populations (delineated by northerly and southerly breeding areas in west Greenland). The metapopulation has declined since 1999 but this trend is only mirrored in one sub-population and the causes of this disparity are unclear. Here we compare the drivers and trends of productivity in both sub-populations using population- and individual-level analysis. 3. We examined how temperature and precipitation influenced population-level reproductive success and whether there was a change in the relationship when metapopulation decline commenced. In addition we used biologging devices to reconstruct incubation events and modelled how phenology and environmental conditions influenced individual-level nest survival. 4. Correlations between reproductive success and temperature/precipitation on the breeding grounds have weakened for both sub-populations. This has resulted in lower reproductive success for the northerly, but not southerly breeding sub-population, which at the individual-level appears to be driven by lower in nest survival. Earlier breeding ground arrival and less precipitation during incubation increased nest survival in the northerly breeding population, while no factors examined were important for the southerly breeding sub-population. This suggests reproductive success is now driven by different factor(s) in the two sub-populations. 5. Demographic rates and their environmental drivers differ between the sub-populations examined here and consequently we encourage further decomposition of demography within metapopulations. This is important for conservation practitioners to consider as bespoke conservation strategies, targeting different limiting factors, may be required for different sub-population.
09 Jan 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
10 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
10 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
13 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
12 May 20231st Revision Received
15 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
15 May 2023Assigned to Editor
15 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept