Age and growth in a European flagship amphibian: equal performance at agricultural ponds and favourably managed aquatic sites

摘要: In human-modified landscapes, little is known about the influence of aquatic habitat types on demographic structure residing amphibian populations. present paper, we focus a European flagship urodele species (the great crested newt Triturus cristatus) at north-western range its distribution, applying method skeletochronology to compare ages individuals retrieved from agricultural ponds with sites favourably managed for T. cristatus presence. Median ranged between 4.5 and 10.0 years depending sex population, did not differ two site categories. Females were average older than males both as well sites. sexual maturity (3 years females 2 years males) 4 years below most commonly observed age cohort in sexes, suggesting that young adults regularly forgo reproduction. Mean body size However, former characterised by higher variance size, which possibly linked more unstable ecological conditions settings. Taken together, our findings confirm under suitable can harbour sustainable populations, an important finding broad-scale conservation management does usually take population demographies into account.