Feeding ecology of two newt species (Triturus cristatus and Lissotriton vulgaris) during the reproduction season

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide an in-depth survey of feeding ecology and trophic interactions of two syntopic newt species (Triturus cristatus and Lissotriton vulgaris) inhabiting aquatic breeding habitats from the eastern Romanian Carpathian Mountains. We sampled 736 individuals from both species. The trophic spectrum was based mostly on Asselidae (>30%). Our results show that both species may be considered generalists because their niche breadth is higher than 0.5, with largely overlapping trophic niches (>70%), which may indicate food competition.

Keywords

• feeding relations
• resource partitioning
• trophic niche
• interspecific competition
• Salamandridae