THE FREQUENCY OF COMMUNAL NESTING AND SOLITARY BROODING IN THE SALAMANDER, HEMIDACTYLIUM-SCUTATUM

Communal nesting was observed in 12% of 109 nests in Michigan [USA]. Solitary brooding was the most common form of brooding in areas characterized by an abundance of nesting substrates, and all of the nests were within islets surrounded by and located above water (i.e., insular). Gravid females migrated to the nesting bogs over a period up to 44 days, and nest disturbance by the researcher affected nest desertion. Nest site availability is discussed as a possible factor influencing communal nesting.