Assessing the Use of Artificial Hibernacula by the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) and Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) in Cold Climate in Southeast Norway

Børre Dervo,Jostein Skurdal,Jon Museth

doi:10.3390/d10030056

Abstract

Construction of artificial overwintering habitats, hibernacula, or newt hotels, is an important mitigation measure for newt populations in urban and agricultural areas. We have monitored the use of four artificial hotels built in September 2011 close to a 6000 m2 breeding pond in Norway. The four hotels ranged from 1.6 to 12.4 m3 and were located from 5 to 40 m from the breeding pond. In 2013–2015, 57 Great Crested Newts (Triturus cristatus) and 413 Smooth Newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) spent the winter in the hotels. The proportions of juveniles were 75% and 62%, respectively, and the hotels may be important to secure recruitment. Knowledge on emigration routes and habitat quality for summer use and winter hibernation is important to find good locations for newt hotels. The study documented that newts may survive a minimum temperature of −6.7 °C. We recommend that newt hotels in areas with harsh climate are dug into the ground in slopes to reduce low-temperature exposure during winter.

Highlights

Large piles of rubble, rocks, rotting trees, log piles, and earth banks with mammal burrows and ground fissures present, are good hibernation and refuge sites for both European newts [1,2,3,4] and for American salamanders (Genus Ambystoma [5,6,7,8])
When newts leave a breeding pond, they usually travel in straight lines and seem to move towards favorable habitat patches in the vicinity [3,8,14,15,16,17,18,19]
The principal aim of the current study was to determine if Great Crested Newts, Triturus cristatus, and Smooth Newts, Lissotriton vulgaris, would use artificial hibernacula under the relatively harsh climatic conditions in Norway

Summary

Introduction

Rocks, rotting trees, log piles, and earth banks with mammal burrows and ground fissures present, are good hibernation and refuge sites for both European newts [1,2,3,4] and for American salamanders (Genus Ambystoma [5,6,7,8]). Newts choose hibernacula up to 80 cm below ground, and individuals of different species and stages are found together [4]. Great Crested Newts show high fidelity to terrestrial habitats and overwintering locations [11,12,13]. When newts leave a breeding pond, they usually travel in straight lines and seem to move towards favorable habitat patches in the vicinity [3,8,14,15,16,17,18,19]. Most individuals hibernate less than 300 m from the breeding pond. Individuals have been observed as far as 1300 m from the nearest breeding pond [3,4,8,15,16,20]

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