Smooth Newt dispersal

Dogghound · #1 (**permalink**) 17-01-2010, 07:19 PM

Has anyone got any information on smooth newt dispersal? for example how far they will travel? My study is based on agricultural (arable) farmland with at least 4 miles between suitable habitat. Would they travel this far. I am aware on a smaller scale they will travel between populations. This is much more documented in Great crested newts which have metapopulations (one of which occurs about 6 miles away from this site). Although this is over a larger area. The reason for asking is I am trying to encourage smooth newts into a new location but its a bit isolated. It has perfect breeding, wintering and terrestrial eft development habitats. Frogs and toads tend to spread wider but not so sure on smaller newts like these.

Thanks

Naturenutz · #2 (**permalink**) 18-01-2010, 05:14 PM

I cant offer any definate info,but we found a smooth newt about 300 hundred metres from its pond at work a few months back,and too be honest we all wondered how it got so far as they are not exactly fast movers on land .I would think it would be a huge task for these small creatures to reach a distance of over mile but thats only an opinion and will glady submit to superior knowledge

.

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 19-01-2010, 03:09 PM

I think they could travel this distance certainally a mile or two. The point is whether or not they would is it to isolated. The chances are limited if they find new breeding ponds by random encounters. The habitat is perfect with areas to hibernate and a good ground story of invert rich plants. Naturally ponds disappear and are formed so there must be some factor influencing dispersal.