Palmate newts inhabit upland pools and moorland waterbodies sensitive to acidification from atmospheric deposition, with welfare consequences from egg and larval mortality.
Acidified pools prevent egg development and larval survival, effectively eliminating breeding success without visible mortality of adults. Adults attempting to breed in acidified pools invest energy in reproduction without success. Restoration of upland pH through emissions reduction and moorland management has allowed some populations to recover, demonstrating that the welfare impact of acidification is reversible where underlying pollution sources are addressed.