DISCRIMINANT-ANALYSIS OF THE TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC HABITAT DETERMINANTS OF THE SMOOTH NEWT (TRITURUS-VULGARIS) AND THE COMMON FROG (RANA-TEMPORARIA) IN IRELAND

The breeding site characteristics of the smooth newt (Triturus vulgari s) and the common frog (Rana temporaria) have been investigated in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. A total of 278 waterbodi es and their surrounding terrestrial habitats were examined in 60 Nati onal Grid 10-km squares across the island: 33 habitat parameters were recorded. Discriminant function analyses were calculated which correct ly classified 88.46% and 87.5% of the sites for the newt and frog, res pectively. These analyses identified the terrestrial and aquatic habit at variables which were important in discriminating between the sites which were used and unused by each of the species. Terrestrial habitat factors, particularly the availability of terrestrial refugia, were f ound to be especially important in determining the suitability of bree ding sites for both species.