The Herpetological Journal

pp.165-171

Authors: A. Kupfer And S. Kneitz

Abstract: Aspects of the population ecology of the great crested newt ( Triturus cristatus) were studied over a period of seven years ( 1989- 1995) in an agricultural landscape of the Drachcnfelser Landchen, south-west of Bonn, Germany. Seven ponds - three natural and four man-made - were monitored by drift fences and pitfall traps. The numbers of adults increased from 1 992. The number of juvenile emigrants showed marked fluctuations between years at all ponds and in some years juvenile production failed completely at the temporary ponds. A total of 63% of the adult newts identified in 1 994 at four sites were recaptured in the subsequent year. Ninety-nine percent of the newts recaptured returned to the place of the first capture. In contrast to the adults, a number of juvenile great crested newts moved to neighbouring ponds, migrating a maximum distance of 860 m within the year of metamorphosis. Two out of four artificially constructed ponds were colonized naturally.

Keywords: population ecology, pond fidelity, dispersal, colonization, Triturus cristatus