Postmetamorphic Growth and Movements in Yellow-Bellied Toads, Bombina variegata: Approaching Life-Path Analysis

G. Gollmann, B. Gollmann

Abstract


Since spring 1996 we study population ecology of yellow-bellied toads, Bombina variegata, in a near-natural environment, the nature reserve Lainzer Tiergarten at the western border of Vienna. Toadlets were individually registered by photographing their ventral pattern at or shortly after metamorphosis. Their lifetime movement patterns appear to be strongly influenced by the quality of terrestrial habitats surrounding the breeding sites. Toads emerging from puddles on a wet meadow were more sedentary than those from a pool on a forest clearing with bare loamy banks. Several toads born at the latter site returned as adults to their natal pool for short visits, although some of them also participated in breeding activities in other habitats.

Keywords


Amphibia; Anura; behavior; dispersal; ecology; life history; migration

Full Text:

PDF

References


Berven K. A. and Grudzien T. A. (1990), «Dispersal in the wood frog (Rana sylvatica): implications for genetic population structure», Evolution, 44, 2047 – 2056.

Breden F. (1987), «The effect of post-metamorphic dispersal on the population genetic structure of Fowler’s toad», Copeia, 1987, 386 – 395.

Buschmann H. (2002), «Fecundity of yellow-bellied toads Bombina variegata under free-range conditions: an indication of risk-spreading strategy», Amphibia–Reptilia, 23, 362 – 369.

Gill D. E. (1978), «The metapopulation ecology of the red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens (Rafinesque)», Ecol. Monogr., 48, 145 – 166.

Gollmann B. and Gollmann G. (2002), Die Gelbbauchunke: von der Suhle zur Radspur, Laurenti Verlag, Bielefeld.

Gollmann B., Gollmann G., and Miesler M. (2000), «Habitatnutzung und Wanderungen in einer Gelbbauchunken-Population (Bombina v. variegata)», Z. Feldherpetol., 7, 1 – 16.

Gollmann G. and Gollmann B. (2000), «Wiederfangstudie an einer Gelbbauchunkenpopulation: Überlebensraten und Ausbreitung», Beitr. Ökol., 4, 75 – 82.

Gollmann G., Gollmann B., and Baumgartner C. (1999), «Oviposition of yellow-bellied toads, Bombina variegata, in contrasting water bodies», in: Miaud C. and Guyétant R. (eds.), Current Studies in Herpetology, Soc. Eur. Herpetol., Le Bourget du Lac, pp. 139 – 145.

Kenward R. E., Walls S. S., and Hodder K. H. (2001), «Life path analysis: scaling indicates priming effects of social and habitat factors on dispersal distances», J. Anim. Ecol., 70, 1 – 13.

Kneitz S. (1998), Untersuchungen zur Populationsdynamik und zum Ausbreitungsverhalten von Amphibien in der Agrarlandschaft, Laurenti Verlag, Bochum.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2005-12-0-143-145

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


You can subscribe to the print or electronic version of the journal on the site of EastView Company. If you have any questions, please write to the email sales@ivis.ru