Demography and spatial activity of fire salamanders, Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758), in two contrasting habitats in the Vienna Woods

Burgstaller, Stephan; Leeb, Christoph; Ringler, Max; Gollmann, Günter

doi:10.3897/herpetozoa.34.e58496

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The median movement distances and home range sizes we observed were considerably larger than those reported for urban populations of S. salamandra inhabiting similar-sized forest patches next to permanent streams (e.g. Vienna; Burgstaller et al, 2021). Therefore, differences in movement distances cannot be attributed to differences in area or habitat.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 73%

“…Movement patterns have not been observed to differ between sexes in other S. salamandra populations in central Europe (e.g. Burgstaller et al, 2021). However, Manenti et al (2017) found that male S. salamandra were more active in microhabitats close to breeding sites, where they might have a higher chance of mating with females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…salamandra inhabiting similar‐sized forest patches next to permanent streams (e.g. Vienna; Burgstaller et al., 2021). Therefore, differences in movement distances cannot be attributed to differences in area or habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, differences in movement distances cannot be attributed to differences in area or habitat. However, our study was conducted over twice the study duration as Burgstaller et al (2021), during which time individuals could potentially roam more widely than a shorter-term study. These authors conceded that larger areas need to be sampled consistently for conclusive results regarding total movement distances.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Movement patterns within an urban population of fire salamanders highlight the importance of conserving small habitat patches

2021

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Movement is an ecological process that affects individual fitness and population dynamics of species. Understanding movement patterns is crucial for the effective conservation of amphibian populations isolated by urban development. Here, we conducted a capture-recapture study over 6 years in a population of the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) inhabiting a 7.3-ha patch of forest and disturbed land-use types in an urbanised catchment north-west of Budapest, Hungary. We investigated relationships between movement distances and environmental, spatial and demographic parameters in order to understand how this species is able to persist in a relatively small and isolated habitat patch. We found that most movement was aggregated around a permanent stream and that movement distances were generally ≤200 m, with maximum distances of 925 and 707 m for males and females, respectively. Movement patterns within the population were best modelled using a negative exponential function characterised by infrequent long-distance movement. Males had substantially larger home range sizes than females and were predicted to have larger movement distances. Mean movement distances were predicted to be larger in disturbed areas in the upper stream catchment which included residential areas, compared with smaller movements in more natural forest near the stream. There was a positive relationship between mean movement distance and body condition. Our results suggest that this local population persists in a relatively small habitat patch because it provides a stable breeding site and suitable foraging and shelter microhabitats. Conservation of the local population requires protection of the structure, connectivity and quality of forest and stream habitats, and preventing urban development in the surrounding catchment.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 73%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Movement patterns within an urban population of fire salamanders highlight the importance of conserving small habitat patches

2021

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Temporal and spatial variations in local sex ratios in a suburban population of the European green toad Bufotes viridis

Staufer¹,

Burgstaller

Horvath

et al. 2023

BMC Ecol Evo

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Background Sex ratios of animal populations are important factors of population demographics. In pond-breeding amphibians, the operational sex ratio (OSR) among the breeding population is usually male-biased. Also, in European green toads (Bufotes viridis), males usually outnumber females at breeding sites, while the sex ratio of the total adult population (ASR) is assumed to be balanced. It has been suggested that sex-specific breeding behavior causes male-predominance at the breeding sites. We used a dataset of 5 years of street patrols to test this hypothesis. For this we analyzed local sex ratios of green toads in terrestrial habitats and at two artificial breeding ponds. We expected temporal and/or spatial changes of local sex ratios which would indicate sex dependent differences in breeding behavior. Results Overall observed ASR among 2111 green toads, counted in the course of street patrols from 2016 to 2020, was slightly male-biased (ASR = 0.56, annual ASRs = 0.49–0.63). Based on the data of 1631 toads (920 males, 711 females) captured within a radius of 300 m around nine main breeding sites, temporal and spatial variations in local ASRs were evaluated. Resulting values were compared to the calculated OSR at two artificial breeding ponds in 2021 (645 adult: 553 males, 92 females). Estimates predict more equally distributed females and males prior to the main breeding season. During breeding season, males predominated at both breeding sites (B1: 0.83, B2: 0.89), whereas females are estimated to outnumber males in terrestrial habitats. Proportions of females highly significantly increased with advancing time of the year and increasing distance to the breeding sites. While males tended to accumulate in proximity to water bodies, females dispersed soon after breeding to more distant areas. Conclusions Observed sex ratios in the studied green toad population changed with time and sampling site, deviating from the population-wide sex ratio. Expanding sampling effort in amphibian conservation assessments in time and space, i.e., outside the main breeding season and away from the breeding sites, would be important to encompass such variations.

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Environmental Drivers of Local Demography and Size Plasticity in Fire Salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)

Sinsch

2024

Animals

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Conspecific amphibian populations may vary widely in local demography and average body size throughout their geographical range. The environmental drivers of variation may reflect geographical gradients or local habitat quality. Among fire salamander populations (Salamandra salamandra), local demography shows a limited range of variation because high concentrations of skin toxins reduce mortality from predation to a minimum, whereas average adult body size varies significantly over a wide range. This study on four neighboring populations inhabiting the catchments of low-order streams in the upper middle Rhine Valley (Koblenz, Germany) focuses on the identification of local environmental drivers of variation in age and body size. I collected 192 individuals at two localities per stream, measured snout–vent length, clipped a toe for posterior skeletochronological age determination, and released salamanders in situ again. Populations were similar in age distribution. Local habitat quality accounted for a significant proportion of demographic variability, mediated by the impact of landscape-induced mortality risk, including roads and agriculture. Still, the main effect of variation in habitat quality was on adult body size, the result of growth rates of aquatic larvae and terrestrial juveniles. Larvae exposed to non-lethal heavy metal contamination in streams developed into smaller juveniles and adults than clean-water larvae, providing evidence for carry-over effects from one stage to another. The generally small average adult size in the Rhine Valley populations compared to those in other parts of the distribution range indicates the action of a still unidentified environmental driver.

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Demography and spatial activity of fire salamanders, Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758), in two contrasting habitats in the Vienna Woods

Cited by 3 publications

References 41 publications

Movement patterns within an urban population of fire salamanders highlight the importance of conserving small habitat patches

Movement patterns within an urban population of fire salamanders highlight the importance of conserving small habitat patches

Temporal and spatial variations in local sex ratios in a suburban population of the European green toad Bufotes viridis

Environmental Drivers of Local Demography and Size Plasticity in Fire Salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)

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