FEEDING IN COLD WEATHER: FOOD COMPOSITION OF A Satamandra salamandra (AMPHIBIA) POPULATION FROM THE IRON GATES NATURAL PARK, ROMANIA, IN EARLY MARCH.

The food composition of a Salamandra salamandra population from the Iron Gates Natural Park was studied on 22 individuals, using the stomach flushing method . The field work was done on 8 March 2020, on a cold rainy day. All S. salamandra individuals had stomach contents; they consumed 208 preys from 20 invertebrate taxa. In addition, they consumed inorganic elements, vegetal remains and shed skin fragments. The most important prey taxa were Gastropods and Diplopods. Despite the cold weather registered at the beginning of March, the feeding intensity of this population was higher in comparison with other studies made in Romania. Moreover, the prey taxa consumed in early spring are the same with those consumed in other periods by this species. The high feeding intensity indicates that S salamandra is not affected by the low temperatures, having and optimal feeding even in the beginning of spring. Also, the increased feeding intensity indicates that the habitat has appropriate trophic resources and thus optimal conditions for S. salamandra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]