The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.


pdf 01. Abundance and survival rates of great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) at a pond in central England monitoring individuals

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Authors: John M. R. Baker

Abstract: A population of great crested newts ( Triturus cristatus) in central England was monitored from 1 988- 1995. Recognition of individuals was used to quantify population dynamics. Adult annual survival varied from 31-100%. Long-term members of the breeding population had a significantly higher rate of annual survival (65%) than individuals breeding for the first time (57%). The population showed variable patterns of recruitment. A period of six years with little recruitment was followed by a rapid increase in population size, more than three-fold, over two years. The change in the population characteristics coincided with a crash in the population of predatory three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), raising the possibility that newt recruitment was held in check by predation. Juveniles were rarely captured, but their recapture rate between years ( 49%) indicated that the rate of annual survival for juveniles in this population could be relatively high (estimated as 59%). Most juveniles matured at two years of age. The study population thus consisted of long-lived adults, showing variable survival, and erratic recruitment. The longevity of adults enabled the population to persist under adverse conditions until beneficial circumstances could be exploited by rapidly increasing the population size. These demographic traits may be common in T. crislatus populations.

Keywords: Triturus cristatus, population dynamics, mark-recapture

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IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.

 

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