Paedogenesis, life history traits and sexual dimorphism: A case study of the smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris, from Pannonia

We studied differences in life-history traits, sex ratio and sexual size di morphism (SSD) between paedotypic and metamorphic smooth newts (Triturus vu lgaris) from nearby permanent and temporary ponds. Permanent pond was inhab ited by both paedotypic and metamorphic individuals, while in the temporary one only metamorphosed animals existed. The morphological differences were greater between newts from permanent and newts from temporary pond, than b etween individuals from the same pond. Paedotypic females from permanent po nd where paedogenesis occurs were significantly more fecund than metamorphi c females from the population with obligate metamorphosis. Also, the former reached sexual maturity significantly earlier than the latter. These diffe rences did not involve a trade-off with other fitness traits, such as life span and survival rate. The extreme intersexual morphometric differentiatio n was within smooth newts from permanent pond; the highest one was between genders of metamorphic individuals and the smallest one between females and males of the paedotypic individuals. Sex ratio among paedotypes was male-b iased, unusual for the smooth newt. while those of metamorphic individuals from both permanent and temporary ponds were much more near parity.