The Herpetological Journal

pp.90-93

Authors: J. M. R. Baker

Abstract: The relationship between body size and fecundity in female smooth newts (Triturus vulgaris) was examined by counting the numbers of eggs oviposited, to resolve several controversies. First, whether body size is positively correlated with fecundity. Second, whether ovarian oocyte counts represent the numbers of ova oviposited by females in any particular year. In addition, the hypothesis that body size is positively related to the rate of ovipositon was tested. Female body size was positively correlated with clutch size and rate of oviposition. Numbers of ova oviposited by individuals were of a similar order of magnitude to the estimates of clutch size obtained from ovarian oocyte counts in previous studies. A median oviposition rate of 7.2 ova per day was recorded during the oviposition period.