TROPHIC SPECTRUM AND FORAGING MODE OF LISSOTRITON VULGARIS IN A TEMPORARY POND OF THE CITY OF RIVNE, UKRAINE
Abstract
The article summarizes the state of research on the trophic spectrum and foraging mode of the common newt in Europe in general and in Ukraine in particular. It is concluded that the level and diversity of such studies abroad is high compared to Ukraine. The relevance of such studies in temporary ponds is determined. The article analyzes the trophic spectrum and feeding mode of the common newt in temporary pond in Rivne. The stomach contents samples of 46 individuals of L. vulgaris were obtained, in which 2309 trophic objects were found. Food of animal origin prevails in the trophic spectrum of L. vulgaris and makes up 97%. Food objects of plant origin make up only 1% and mineral partic les – 2%. It was found that the most abundant food items are the larvae of the lake flies (Chironomidae) – 53% and crustaceans (Cladocera: Daphniidae; Chydoridae; Copepoda: Cyclopidae; Ostracoda) – 46%. The diet of L. vulgaris is significantly dominated by objects originating from the aquatic environment – 98.2% of the total number. Individuals of this species will capture prey of quite different sizes. The smallest food objects of the studied newts are planktonic crustaceans Chydoridae: 0.3–0.5 mm, the largest are earthworms Lumbricidae: 150–200 mm. It was found that the food spectrum of the newt changes during the season and depends on the life cycles of prey. In spring, when the trophic resources of the temporary pond are limited, crustaceans, in particular daphnia (Daphnіidae) and shell crustaceans (Ostracoda), dominate in the diet of the newt. During this period, the consumption of shed skin fragments, plant fragments, grains of sand is higher and larvae of the lake flies (Chironomidae) are absent, but in the second decade of May they dominate (more than 70%) in the diet. It was found that L. vulgaris uses different foraging mode in different periods. The predominance of crustaceans (daphnia, cyclopes) in the diet at the beginning of the season indicates that newts use active foraging tactics. In late April-May, we observed a significant predominance of larvae of the lake flies, which indicates that L. vulgaris uses sit-and-wait foraging. It was found that the foraging behavior of the newt in temporary ponds in Rivne is labile and varies depending on environmental conditions and its trophic offer.
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