The abundance of premetamorphic newts (triturus cristatus, t.
marmoratus) as a function of habitat determinants: an a priori
model selection approach

Sztatecsny, M; Jehle, R; Schmidt, B; Arntzen, JW

Abstract

Despite the key role of premetamorphic amphibians in experimental ecology, the factors
affecting their abundance has received relatively little attention in natural settings. We applied
a model selection approach with AIC (Akaike's Information Criterion) to predict the abundance
of embryos and larvae of crested and marbled newts (Triturus cristatus and T. marmoratus) at
32 breeding sites in western France, based on 15 variables describing the aquatic habitat, and 10
variables describing the terrestrial habitat within a 100 m radius around the pond. The best model
for embryos included the variables shade and floating vegetation (highest embryo abundance in
intermediate ponds), and pond size (negative correlation). Larval abundance was best explained
by shade (negative correlation), and the interaction between phosphate and nitrate. Pond
variables were not fully comparable to terrestrial parameters, but produced better predictive
models for both embryos and larvae. Due to the high explanatory value of ecological parameters
the results suggest that in a metapopulation context, deterministic population processes driven
by pond succession may be more important than stochastic extinctions and recolonizations of
otherwise suitable habitat patches.

Citation

model selection approach. Herpetological journal, 14, 89-97

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2004
• Deposit Date: Oct 30, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 30, 2009
• Journal: Herpetological Journal
• Print ISSN: 0268-0130
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Pages: 89-97
• Keywords: AIC, ecological determinants, habitat selection, Urodela