Blue pill or red pill? Green, thanks. Behavioural test on coloured light preference in the Calabrian Alpine newt to increase the capture rate

Abstract

Abstract To improve monitoring techniques, we investigated the colour vision of the Calabrian Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris inexpectata). We conducted controlled behavioural experiments on male and female newts to explore their response to artificial coloured light sources in the dark. We used green, blue, and orange glow sticks. Observations indicated that both sexes strongly preferred green glow sticks, which were selected in almost 50% of the trials Additionally, newts exhibited markedly swifter reactions to green light. The attraction to green glow sticks may be due to the biofluorescence within the green wavelength spectrum in this newt. This glowing ability, which resembles the green glow stick’s glow, could be beneficial in low-light conditions to locate other newts. Our results show that the behavioural preferences towards a particular light source can significantly enhance the success of capturing newts during population monitoring and conservation efforts for this rare and threatened taxon.