Virgins in the vanguard: low reproductive frequency in invasion‐front cane toads |
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Authors: | Cameron M. Hudson Benjamin L. Phillips Gregory P. Brown Richard Shine |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia;2. School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia |
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Abstract: | The rapid evolution of increased dispersal rate during a population's range expansion provides a unique opportunity to detect trade‐offs between dispersal and reproduction. If a high reproductive rate slows down an individual's dispersal, vanguard individuals should exhibit a lower reproductive output than conspecifics from long‐colonized areas. In the present study, we demonstrate a reduction in reproductive rate in highly dispersive invasion‐front populations of cane toads in tropical Australia. |
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Keywords: | alien species anuran
Bufo marinus
invader life history reproductive output trade‐off |
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