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<abstract xmlns="http://eprints.org/ep2/data/2.0">-The different aspects of ecology of Mertensiella caucasica Waga, 1876 were investigated in a&#13;
local population from Borjomi Canyon (central Georgia) for five years (1985-1990). The aspects of the&#13;
species' life cycle were more precisely determined. The main fecundity is about 16.9 eggs per female. There are about 2 years in a period from egg deposition (June to first half of July) to the end of metamorphosis in nature. Animals have spent most of the time in shelters after metamorphosis. They&#13;
appear on the ground surface at night during the breeding period. Commonly the adults don't retreat to a&#13;
great distance from population localities. Localities are situated in comparatively small plots (100-300m)&#13;
along the streams. Estimation of adult animal number showed that the population consists of 1189&#13;
specimens (1989). Annual adult survival is higher than known values of most amphibians (approaches&#13;
0.77). Larval survival is 0.27-0.32 in the second year of life. The characteristics of demography&#13;
(especially, low renewal rates) and spatial restriction in localities depends mostly on subUe constitution of&#13;
the species (which is a result of allometric growth specifics). The small recent geographical range of M.&#13;
caucasica is explained as a result of morphological and ecological peculiarities. General morphological&#13;
constitution limits adaptive possibilities of any particular representative of die European salamander tribe. This is an explanation of quite high ecological similarity of M. caucasica and Chioglossa lusitanica.</abstract>
