BREEDING POND FIDELITY IN THE COMMON TOAD, BUFO-BUFO

Two independent studies of adult common toad, Bufo bufo, movements between different spawning ponds/populations both within and between years were made in England and Sweden during the spring breeding periods of 1987-1990. The results of the two studies were subsequently combined since they were found to be complementary. In addition. in England during 1984 and 1985, large numbers of 'toadlets' were marked so that they could be identified if recaptured as breeding adults. The degree of relocation between ponds was negatively correlated to the distance between Ponds. The proportion of both males and females that moved between ponds within a particular year was significantly less than the proportion relocating between years. In any year, between 79% and 96% of adults that survived to breed the following year, returned to the original pond. Similarly, of the toadlets marked during 1984-85, 81% of the males that subsequently returned as breeding adults were captured in their pond of origin. Isolation, in relation to both population dynamics and population genetics, is defined and its implications for the management of common toad populations discussed.