Paedomorphosis and differences in life-history traits of two nieghbouring crested newt (Triturus carnifex) populations

Abstract

Two neighbouring crested newt populations (Ceklin and Lokanj) from Montenegro differ in several important life-history traits. Females from Ceklin laid significantly larger eggs. Larval size at hatching did not differ between Ceklin and Lokanj, but larvae from larger eggs survived better under laboratory conditions. Newts from Lokanj had a higher overall larval growth rate and a longer larval period. Consequently, they metamorphosed at larger size than Ceklin individuals. They also attained sexual maturity at smaller size than newts from Ceklin. It is shown that male newts with larval morphology may be sexually mature. Individuals from Lokanj population had amore plastic life-history, including facultative paedomorphosis, than individuals from Ceklin population. Out of five ontogenetic stages, juveniles and adult males showed significant interpopulation difference in size-shape trajectories. This might be the consequence of different ontogenetic pathways followed by crested newts from these populations.