Assessing the Abundance of Caucasian Salamander, Mertensiella caucasica (Caudata, Salamandridae), with N-mixture Model in Northeastern Anatolia
Abundance of Caucasian Salamander in Northeastern Anatolia
Abstract
The endangered Caucasian salamander, Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876), is endemic to the western Lesser Caucasus. Here, we used N-mixed models to analyse repeated count data of Caucasian salamanders from the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. We estimated a mean detection probability of 0.29, a population size of 21 individuals, and a range of 9 to 36 individuals per 20 × 10 m plot. Our results provide preliminary data on the population status of the Caucasian salamander in northeastern Anatolia. These results would contribute to the effective management and conservation of the species.
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