K. Olgun et al., Age, growth, and survivorship in the viviparous salamander Mertensiella luschani from southwestern Turkey, CAN J ZOOL, 79(9), 2001, pp. 1559-1567
Citations number
45
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE
We describe the life-history traits (body size, age at maturity, longevity,
and survivorship) of a terrestrial salamander, Mertensiella luschani, from
a population living in the Mediterranean environment of southwestern Turke
y. We used phalangeal skeletochronology to estimate the age of juveniles an
d adults. Lines of arrested growth, deposited during the winter cessation o
f bone growth, allowed us to estimate the age at maturity to be 3 years old
in both sexes. Males attained a maximum age of 8, whereas females attained
a maximum age of 10. Juveniles ranged from 1 to 3 years old. Males were sm
aller than females. Growth curves fitted to von Bertalanffy's equation reve
aled similar growth coefficients in adults and larger average maximum body
lengths in males. Adult annual survivorship and adult life expectancy were
0.79 and 5.4 years, respectively. Knowledge of age, growth, and survivorshi
p in this species under the constraints of a seasonal Mediterranean climate
, and a comparison of similar traits in other salamandrid species, allow us
to test predictions regarding optimal timing of growth and reproduction in
these species.