Alpine Newts in Shropshire

[will_j]

Hi all, it's been a good while since I was last on the forum!

I spent most of last summer collecting data on the introduced Alpine Newt population in Shropshire for my university research project. To cut a long story short, I've been investigating the effects of the species on native newts (specifically Smooth Newts) and looking for any signs of range expansion. It appears that Alpine Newts are abundant in the area and that their presence in a pond has an adverse effect on the size at metamorphosis of Smooth Newts which could have all sorts of knock on effects on post-metamorphosis survival. It also appears that while they are common in the few ponds that they were in, range expansion has been virtually non-existent.

I've attached a few photos, though they are pretty poor!

1. Adult female
2. Larvae (Alpine Newt on the left, Smooth Newt on the right)
3. One of the ponds

 

[evut]

Do you know how and why they were introduced into these ponds?

 

[will_j]

A paper was published (Bell, B. D. & Bell, A. P. (1995). Distribution of the introduced alpine newt Triturus alpestris and of native Triturus species in north Shropshire, England. Australian Journal of Ecology 20: 367-375.) which goes into the origins of the introduction. They were introduced in the 70s following previously published recommendations to introduce the species to the UK (can you imagine that happening now!!!). A few adults were imported from a Dutch company, although it is not known where they originated from.

 

[TikkiDui]

Hi,

I was just wondering how your project was coming along? i too am studying a population of Alpine newts but in Cornwall. I am looking at habitat preferences as i have found connected ponds, one with Alpines and one without, so I am hoping to find a difference.

Tikkidui

 

[jane1187]

I'm interested in your study too, I live very close by in north staffordshire and would love to go and take a look at these populations. I survey ponds for newts in Cheshire so I'm glad they don't appear to be spreading. I'd love to go out on a survey with you. They're somewhere near Market Drayton if my memory serves me right.

Interesting to see that they affect the metamorphosis of the smooths, competition most likely.

Keep up the good work!

 

[will_j]

Hi,

I was just wondering how your project was coming along? i too am studying a population of Alpine newts but in Cornwall. I am looking at habitat preferences as i have found connected ponds, one with Alpines and one without, so I am hoping to find a difference.

Tikkidui

In the small area of occupancy at my site they could be found in small garden ponds with plenty of flora and large natural ponds with no live submerged flora.