Survival response to global change among tetrapods

General background – Global change is at the centre of the alarming declines of many tetrapod species, especially ectotherms (amphibians and reptiles). To date, however, the demographic processes underlying the global declines of tetrapods as a whole, and ectotherms especially, remain poorly understood, limiting our ability to quantify, predict, and manage extinction risks. Gaps and challenges – Global change factors (climate, habitat degradation) are likely to have major deleterious effects on vital rates such as adult survival, a key parameter in population dynamics and a strong predictor of species extinction risk in endotherms. Yet, our understanding of these processes across tetrapods remains limited, mainly because demographic data on ectotherms have long remained scarce and disparate. Aims of the project – In ECTOGLOB, I will (1) develop the ECTOLIFE web platform, an open-access tool for storing, preserving, and promoting the use of demographic data on amphibians and reptiles; (2) assess how adult survival predicts demographic resilience and extinction risks of tetrapods in general, and ectotherms more specifically; and (3) analyse how the thermoregulatory mode mediates the influence of climate and human footprint on adult survival, expecting more severe impacts in ectotherms. Methods – The project builds on my past research, relying on the ECTOLIFE database that I have developed over the last 8 years. ECTOLIFE compiles longitudinal and transversal data from 1,555 populations of 527 species of amphibians and reptiles worldwide. Using adult survival estimates from ECTOLIFE data and those of endotherms from published studies, I will conduct large-scale comparative analyses, taking advantage of key methods developed by my host and secondment. Projected impacts – ECTOGLOB will shed light on major mortality processes involved in tetrapod biological crises, and will facilitate the development of further international research projects via the ECTOLIFE platform.