Summer Movement of Red-Spotted Newts in a Small Pond

Aquatic Red-spotted Newts, Notophthalmus v. viridescens, were marked, released, and recaptured on 21 days between 28 June and 24 August along the edge of a small pond divided into 33 ten-foot shoreline segments. Male captures outnumbered female captures, 3.43:1. Most newts appeared to occupy a small home area; 60.4% of the captures were within one segment of the marking segment and 74.8% within two segments. Most were seen and captured within five feet of the shore. Few newts were captured directly across the pond from the segment of marking. Males moved more than females. Excessive shifts in position of some newts were associated with recession of the pond level by one foot, but with refilling of the pond they tended to return to the original capture segment, suggesting homing.