The spatial scale of adaptation in pond‐breeding amphibian larvae.

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Title: The spatial scale of adaptation in pond‐breeding amphibian larvae.
Authors: Urban, Mark C.1 (AUTHOR) mark.urban@uconn.edu, Drake, Dana L.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Ecology. Nov2025, Vol. 106 Issue 11, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Biological adaptation, *Amphibians, *Population ecology, *Ponds, Microevolution, Gene flow
Abstract: The spatial scale of adaptation is fundamental to our understanding of evolutionary ecology. Traditionally, strong gene flow and weak selection were expected to prevent adaptive evolution at finer spatial scales, but instances of microgeographic adaptation challenge this assumption. We evaluated four alternative predictions about the scale of adaptation to divergent selection from predators for two pond‐breeding amphibians. Common garden experiments revealed that wood frogs developed larger tailfins and higher survival along a spatial cline, indicating the importance of selection and gene flow between and within habitats. Spotted salamanders displayed defensive behaviors and higher survival between ponds. Results suggest that adaptation occurs both between and within habitats such as ponds. Evidence for adaptations within traditional habitats contradicts the traditional notion of the habitat patch as a population. Overall, results compel a greater appreciation of fine‐scaled adaptation in nature, suggest the need for spatially explicit genetic sampling designs, and reject the assumption that populations are always panmictic within habitat patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: The spatial scale of adaptation in pond‐breeding amphibian larvae.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Urban%2C+Mark+C%2E%22">Urban, Mark C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> mark.urban@uconn.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Drake%2C+Dana+L%2E%22">Drake, Dana L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology%22">Ecology</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 106 Issue 11, p1-15. 15p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biological+adaptation%22">Biological adaptation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Amphibians%22">Amphibians</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Population+ecology%22">Population ecology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ponds%22">Ponds</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microevolution%22">Microevolution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gene+flow%22">Gene flow</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The spatial scale of adaptation is fundamental to our understanding of evolutionary ecology. Traditionally, strong gene flow and weak selection were expected to prevent adaptive evolution at finer spatial scales, but instances of microgeographic adaptation challenge this assumption. We evaluated four alternative predictions about the scale of adaptation to divergent selection from predators for two pond‐breeding amphibians. Common garden experiments revealed that wood frogs developed larger tailfins and higher survival along a spatial cline, indicating the importance of selection and gene flow between and within habitats. Spotted salamanders displayed defensive behaviors and higher survival between ponds. Results suggest that adaptation occurs both between and within habitats such as ponds. Evidence for adaptations within traditional habitats contradicts the traditional notion of the habitat patch as a population. Overall, results compel a greater appreciation of fine‐scaled adaptation in nature, suggest the need for spatially explicit genetic sampling designs, and reject the assumption that populations are always panmictic within habitat patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ecy.70255
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Biological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Amphibians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Population ecology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ponds
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microevolution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gene flow
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The spatial scale of adaptation in pond‐breeding amphibian larvae.
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            NameFull: Urban, Mark C.
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            NameFull: Drake, Dana L.
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            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 106
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              Value: 11
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