Terrestrial movements of the natterjack toad Bufo calamita (Amphibia, Anura) in a semi-arid, agricultural landscape

The movements of 19 natterjack toads (Bufo calamita) were monitored by tele metry in a semi-arid agricultural landscape in NE Spain. Toads reproduced i n two water pools in fields of barley and an ancient clay-quarrying zone fi lled by rainfall. Thirteen toads were followed during the breeding season ( weeks 5-17 of 1997) and 11 toads were followed after reproduction (weeks 18 to 46). During the breeding season four toads moved distances of up to 500 m between breeding sites. No significant differences in movement patterns were found between the sexes, but a tendency was observed for males to show higher terrestrial site fidelity than females. Distances moved after the b reeding season were substantial. The distance between the furthest position s recorded was from 164 to 1201 m, the maximum distance observed between da iry recordings ranged from 125 to 353 m and the maximum overall distances r anged from 567 to 4411 m. No significant differences were observed between males and females or between small and large toads. The movements of these toads in a semi-arid agricultural Landscape in Spain are compared with thos e observed in England and Germany.