Froglife’s Conservation Officer Paul Furnborough reviewed two scientific studies on Great Crested Newts for this edition of Natterchat:
- Paper 1: Non-consumptive effects of predatory three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on Great Crested Newt (Triturus
cristatus) embryos. Author: Laurence Jarvis. Source: Herpetological Journal 20: 271-275. (2010). The British Herpetological Society’s Journal is available by becoming a member on their website here - Paper 2: Geographic variation in habitat requirements of two coexisting newt species in Europe. Authors: Rannap and Linnamägi. Source: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (1), pp. 69-86 (2012). The paper is available in PDF form here
Field Worker James Riley-Stead gave a handy overview of policies and legislation related to GCN. The animals and their habitats are protect through a number of acts:
- The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (UK)
- The Countryside Rights of Way Act (CRoW) 2000 (England and Wales)
- The Nature Conservation Act 2004 (Scotland)
- Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations England and Wales (2010) / Scotland (2007 amendment)
Licensing and legislation is covered in different areas of the UK by different agencies:
- England: Natural England (www.naturalengland.org.uk Tel: 0845 600 3078)
- Scotland: Scottish Natural Heritage (www.snh.gov.uk Tel: 01463 725000)
- Wales: Natural Resources Wales (www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Tel: 0300 065 3000)