Vol. 13 No. 2 (2018)
Short Note

Population density, sex ratio and body size in a population of Salamandra atra atra on the Dolomites

Antonio Romano
MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, Sezione di Zoologia dei Vertebrati, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo, Via Patacca, 84, 80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy
Matteo Anderle
MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, Sezione di Zoologia dei Vertebrati, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
Alessandro Forti
MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, Sezione di Zoologia dei Vertebrati, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
Piergiovanni Partel
Parco Naturale “Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino”, Villa Welsperg, Località Castelpietra 2, 38054 Tonadico (TN), Italy
Paolo Pedrini
MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, Sezione di Zoologia dei Vertebrati, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy

Published 2018-12-31

How to Cite

Romano, A., Anderle, M., Forti, A., Partel, P., & Pedrini, P. (2018). Population density, sex ratio and body size in a population of Salamandra atra atra on the Dolomites. Acta Herpetologica, 13(2), 195–199. https://doi.org/10.13128/Acta_Herpetol-22592

Abstract

Salamandra atra atra is the most widespread subspecies of the Alpine Salamander, both in Italy and in the other parts of the species distribution range. However, in particular for Italian populations, its ecology and demographic parameters are poorly known. We studied biometry (length, mass, body condition index) and demography (population density, sex ratio, proportion of gravid females) of this fully terrestrial salamander in the “Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino” Natural Park in the Dolomites. We used removal methods to estimate abundance on a surface of about 1000 m2. Density estimate of adults was 472 salamanders/ha, which falls within the density estimates that are available for this taxon. Sexes did not differ significantly in size and body mass. Body sizes of adults included the maximum sized salamander recorded in Italy. There was a high rate of gravid females (50%), which were comparable in size with non-gravid females. Males and non-gravid females did not show significant differences in their body condition index. 

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