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Geographical variations in breeding activity patterns of the Natterjack toad Bufo calamita in Britain
Author(s) -
Beebee Trevor J. C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb05608.x
Subject(s) - bufo , biology , toad , irish sea , range (aeronautics) , reproductive season , metamorphosis , ecology , seasonal breeder , zoology , reproduction , larva , oceanography , materials science , composite material , geology
Bufo calamita is on the edge of its range in Britain, and exists only in three widely separated geographical regions of the country. The largest populations with the highest densities of animals are found on the Irish Sea coast. Data on the chronology of breeding activity show that the reproductive season for these thriving populations starts and finishes earlier than that for toads in eastern England, but that first records of metamorphosis occur at similar times throughout the country. The possible significance of these observations to the variable success of the species in the different geographical regions is discussed.