Table 1 Examples of natal philopatry

Insects

-- The spotted darter dragonfly (Sympetrum depressiusculum) exhibits strong philopatry to their natal ponds [13].

-- The lesser marbled fritillary butterfly (Brenthis ino) returns to natal sites [14].

Fish

-- Numerous species of salmonids (salmon, trout, char, etc.) migrate back to natal sites for spawning [15].

-- In marine weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), spawning site fidelity ranges from 60 to 81% [16].

--- Several shark species exhibit philopatric behavior [17].

Amphibians

--In marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum), roughly 90% of individuals return to their natal ponds for breeding [18].

--Several anuran species (frogs and toads) exhibit strong philopatry to their natal ponds [19,20,21].

Reptiles

-- Both male and female green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) return to natal rookeries to breed [22, 23].

-- Female pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) repeatedly return to nesting sites [24].

Birds

-- Great Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) exhibit limited dispersal, and remain in their natal habitats [25].

-- The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) exhibits high philopatry, where 70-92% of individuals breed at natal sites [26].

Mammals

-- Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) return to breed in their natal habitats well into adulthood [27].

-- In the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), both sexes exhibit philopatry to natal roosts [28].

-- Female Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) return to breed within a few meters of their own birth site [29].