Characteristics of newt breeding sites

Abstract

Breeding site characteristics have been studied for the three species of newt that occur in Britain, the Palmate (Triturus helveticus (Razoumowski)), Smooth (T. vulgaris (L.)) and Warty (T. cristatus (Laurenti)). The Warty newt was seldom found in the absence of the much commoner Smooth newt, but seemed to prefer sites that were relatively large and deep and that had a high proportion of open water surface. All three species tended to breed in ponds having abundant aquatic vegetation. Smooth newts, unlike Palmate newts, were rarely encountered in water with pH <6. The Smooth newt tended to be found in water with relatively high concentrations of metals, while the reverse was true for the Palmate newt. Over Britain, Smooth and Warty newts are relatively less common in soft water areas, while the Palmate is less common in hard water areas. Possible reasons for these associations are discussed.

Environmental heterogeneity: Anuran diversity in homogeneous environments

“…The relationship between pond characteristics and their use by amphibians has a long history of research (e.g., COOKE & FRAZER 1976, DE FONSECA & JOCQUÉ 1982. The high species richness recorded in several Brazilian regions has commonly been attributed to high habitat heterogeneity (CARDOSO et al 1989, POMBAL JR 1997, ARZABE et al 1998, ARZABE 1999, BERNARDE & KOKUBUM 1999.…”

Body size, competitive interactions, and the local distribution of Triturus newts

“…Some species of similar size appear to avoid sharing ponds. Triturus helveticus Razoumowsky and T. vulgaris L., both small‐bodied, are said to differ in characteristics of breeding ponds and the surrounding landscape where they are sympatric (Steward 1969; Cooke & Frazer 1976; Blab 1979; De Fonseca & Jocqué 1982; Yalden 1986). My own survey of ponds in Switzerland confirms that this pair of species occurs together somewhat less often than expected by chance (Fig.…”

The breeding migration of Smooth and Palmate newts (Triturus vulgaris and T. helveticus) at a pond in mid Wales

“…Information on the ecology of British newts is available for their breeding site characteristics and habitats (Cooke & Frazer, 1976;Beebee, 1977;Dolmen, 1980;Strijbosch, 1979), food and feeding relations (Avery, 1968;Cooke & Fulford, 1971;Cooke, 1974), long-term population changes (Beebee, 1973;Cooke, Scorgie et al, 1980;Prestt et al, 1974) and sexual behaviour (Halliday, 1974(Halliday, , 1975a(Halliday, , 1976(Halliday, , 1977a. Studies concerning the spring migrations of newts to breeding ponds have, however, largely been neglected, and are mainly in the form of casual observations such as that given by Smith (1973) for the Great-crested newt ( Triturus cristatus).…”