Food composition of a breeding population of the endemic anatolia newt, neurergus strauchii (Steindachner, 1887) (caudata: Salamandridae), from bingöl, eastern turkey

Çiçek K., Koyun M., Mermer A., TOK C. V.

Acta Herpetologica, vol.15, no.2, pp.105-110, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.13128/a_h-8370
  • Journal Name: Acta Herpetologica
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.105-110
  • Keywords: Amphipods, Diet, Dipterans, Ecology, Oophagy, Trophic niche
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The study presents data on the food composition of a breeding population of the Anatolia newt Neurergus strauchii (Steindachner, 1887), from Bingöl, Turkey. A total of 953 prey items were determined in the food contents of 46 individuals (18 males and 28 females) examined in the study. Insecta (63%) and Malacostraca (35%) constitute 97% of the food composition by number. While the most frequently encountered prey groups in the diet are Diptera (87%), Amphipoda (85%), Neurergus eggs (74%), and Coleoptera (37%), the comparison of food composition by volume is Amphipoda (40%), Neurergus eggs (41%), and Diptera (10%) respectively. No significant difference in food niche was observed between the sexes. The species generally fed on aquatic, poor-flying or slow-moving invertebrates.