Feeding niche characteristics of a Bombina bombina population from Livada Plain (Satu-Mare County, Romania)

Along our study we analyzed the food of 87 individuals of Bombina bombina. The reduced number of empty stomachs indicates that there were optimal feeding conditions. In the obtained stomach contents we identified vegetal remains (χ23=0.97, p=0.002), shad-skins fragments (χ2=11.21, p=0.1) and animal type food. We identified a total number of 1498 preys belonging to 37 categories. Most of the identified preys proceed from terrestrial environment (Amean=72.97 %, DSA=45.46). The most important preys items from the diet of the studied fire-bellied toads are: Collembola (Amean=28.98%; Fmean=31.59%, χ23=23.35, p=0.13), Coleoptera’s adults (Amean=34.25%; Fmean=67.74%, χ23=1.53, p=0.004) and Hymenopera Formicidae (Amean=15.02%; Fmean=33.93%, χ23=23.35, p=0.09). There was noticed an important seasonal variation at the consumed preys’ level. Diet diversity presents seasonal changes (Hmean=1.7, SDH=0.62). The trophic niche overlap, according to Pianka’s index, presents the highest values between May and June (Q=0.87) and April-June (Q=0.967).