Terrestrial Activity and Home Range in Efts of Notophthalmus viridescens

Abstract

Terrestrial members of a population of red-spotted newts, Notophthalmus v. viridescens, were studied using the markrecapture technique from 1969 to 1971 in Charlton, Massachusetts. The terrestrial or eft stage in the life history of this species consisted of three phases: a postlarval migration to land, a residence phase in which efts restrict their movements to a limited portion of the terrestrial habitat, and a breeding migration to the pond. Seasonal differences were found in the distribution and activity of resident efts within their home ranges. Prey density, substrate moisture and behavioral restrictions to dispersal were the most important factors influencing habitat selection and home range size.