Data from: Reliable effective number of breeders/adult census size ratios in seasonal-breeding species: opportunity for integrative demographic inferences based on capture-mark-recapture data and multilocus genotypes

The ratio of the effective number of breeders (Nb) to the adult census size (Na), Nb/ Na, approximates the departure from the standard capacity of a population to maintain genetic diversity in one reproductive season. This information is relevant for assessing population status, understanding evolutionary processes operating at local scales and unraveling how life-history traits affect these processes. However, our knowledge on Nb/Na ratios in nature is limited because estimation of both parameters is challenging. The sibship frequency (SF) method is adequate for reliable Nb estimation because it is based on sibship and parentage reconstruction from genetic marker data, thereby providing demographic inferences that can be compared with field-based information. In addition, capture-mark-recapture (CMR) robust design methods are well suited for Na estimation in seasonal-breeding species. We used tadpole genotypes of three pond-breeding amphibian species (Epidalea calamita, Hyla molleri and Pelophylax perezi, n = 73-96 single-cohort tadpoles / species genotyped at 15-17 microsatellite loci) and candidate parental genotypes (n = 94-300 adults / species) to estimate Nb by the SF method. To assess the reliability of Nb estimates, we compared sibship and parentage inferences with field-based information and checked for the convergence of results in replicated subsampled analyses. Finally, we used CMR data from a 6-year monitoring program to estimate annual Na in the three species and calculate the Nb/Na ratio. Reliable ratios were obtained for E. calamita (Nb/Na = 0.18-0.28) and P. perezi (0.5), but in H. molleri Na could not be estimated and genetic information proved insufficient for reliable Nb estimation. Integrative demographic studies taking full advantage of SF and CMR methods can provide accurate estimates of the Nb/Na ratio in seasonal-breeding species. Importantly, the SF method provides results that can be readily evaluated for reliability. This represents a good opportunity for obtaining robust demographic inferences with wide applications for evolutionary and conservation research.有效繁殖种群数（effective number of breeders, Nb）与成年普查种群规模（adult census size, Na）的比值Nb/Na，可近似反映种群在单个繁殖季内维持遗传多样性的标准能力的偏离程度。该指标可用于评估种群现状、解析局域尺度下的进化过程，以及阐明生活史性状如何对这些过程产生影响。然而，由于这两个参数的估算均存在较大难度，我们对自然种群中Nb/Na比值的认知仍较为有限。 家系频率（sibship frequency, SF）方法可用于可靠估算Nb，该方法基于遗传标记数据开展家系与亲权重建，由此得到的种群统计推断结果可与野外实测信息进行比对验证。此外，捕捉-标记-重捕（capture-mark-recapture, CMR）稳健设计方法非常适合估算季节性繁殖物种的Na。 本研究选取3种池塘繁殖两栖动物（Epidalea calamita、Hyla molleri与Pelophylax perezi），对每个物种的73~96尾单世代蝌蚪在15~17个微卫星位点开展基因分型，并采集对应物种的94~300尾成年个体作为候选亲本基因型，随后通过SF方法估算Nb。为评估Nb估算结果的可靠性，本研究将家系与亲权推断结果与野外实测信息进行比对，并通过重复亚采样分析检验结果的收敛性。最后，本研究依托一项为期6年的监测项目获取的CMR数据，估算3个物种的年度成年普查种群规模Na，并计算Nb/Na比值。 本研究为E. calamita得到了可靠的比值（Nb/Na=0.18~0.28），为P. perezi得到的比值为0.5；但针对H. molleri，既无法估算Na，且遗传信息不足以得到可靠的Nb估算结果。充分结合SF与CMR方法的整合种群统计研究，可实现季节性繁殖物种Nb/Na比值的精准估算。尤为重要的是，SF方法得到的结果可直接开展可靠性评估，这为获取具有广泛应用价值的稳健种群统计推断结果提供了良好契机，可用于进化生物学与保护生物学研究。