Density Dependence and Homing Behavior in Adult Red‐Spotted Newts Notophthalmus Viridescens (Rafinesque)

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Abstract
Natural populations of adult red—spotted newts were experimentally manipulated to test for density dependence and homing behavior in breeding adults. Transplantation of adults from one pond to another effectively depleted the density of one population and overloaded the density of the other; four other ponds were unmanipulated controls. Populations sizes in both experimental ponds recovered to near pre—experimental levels within 1 yr. The majority of the surviving transplanted individuals were recaptured in their pond of origin. Body weights of both sexes were significantly depressed in the overloaded pond relative to controls. Annual survival of adult females were negatively correlated with breeding population density.