scholarly journals Does the exotic invader turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, compete for food with coexisting native turtles?

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Díaz-Paniagua ◽  
Natividad Pérez-Santigosa ◽  
Judith Hidalgo-Vila ◽  
Margarita Florencio
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
The Other ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
Emys Orbicularis ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
Exotic Invasive ◽  
Mauremys Leprosa ◽  
In The Wild

AbstractNowadays, established populations of exotic turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, coexist with native turtles in the wild in southern Spain. We analysed the diet of this exotic species and compared it with the diet of the two native species (Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis) in two ponds. The exotic turtle is an opportunistic omnivore. In one of our study ponds where exotic invasive crayfish were very abundant, adult and juvenile exotic turtles fed mainly on this prey. In the other study pond, juveniles fed mainly on animal matter and adults ate similar proportions of plants and animals. Native turtles also ingested mainly crayfish in the first study pond, but M. leprosa were mainly herbivorous in the second pond. We did not detect strong differences among the diets of the three species. While native species significantly differ in their diets, the exotic turtles did not differ from some groups of native ones. Exotic turtles had the widest range of food, overlapping the food spectra of different age groups of the two native species in both localities. Comparing with previous reports on native turtles diet of the same area, our results did not reveal changes in the diet which could be associated to interactions with exotic turtles, but the observed shift to a higher proportion of animals in the diet in one of the ponds were mainly due to the high abundance of exotic crayfish.

Competition for basking places between the endangered European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis galloitalica) and the introduced red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 1392-1398 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Cadi ◽  
P Joly
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
Emys Orbicularis ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Behavioural Asymmetries ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Mixed Groups

Large numbers of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) have been imported into Europe for several years as part of the pet trade. These alien turtles have entered habitats where they interact with native pond turtles (Emys orbicularis). We investigated competition for basking sites, because optimal basking sites may be a restricted resource in the wild. We used experimental ponds to compare basking-place selection between single-species groups and mixed-species groups. Both species preferred basking places in open deep water. In mixed groups the sliders outcompeted the European turtles for preferred basking places. Although competition for basking places is only one component of resource partitioning between these two species, it provided an insight into the relationships between an introduced and a native species. Behavioural asymmetries like those detected in our experiments argue for the caution principle in the animal trade.

Helminths from the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans (Chelonia: Emydidae) in marshes from the eastern Iberian Peninsula: first report of Telorchis attenuata (Digenea: Telorchiidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Cardells ◽  
María Magdalena Garijo ◽  
Clara Marín ◽  
Santiago Vera
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Intestinal Tract ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
Emys Orbicularis ◽  
First Report ◽  
Digenean Trematode ◽  
Limited Sampling ◽  
Mauremys Leprosa ◽  
New Habitats

The present work describes the presence of a digenean in the red-eared turtle Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839) in marshes of the Valencian Community. The faeces and intestinal tract of 105 animals were examined. Only one helminth species was found and identified as the digenean trematode Telorchis atenuatta (Goldberger, 1911), present in the 7.6% of the animals analysed. This is the first report of the parasite in sliders from Spain. Although conclusions are preliminary due to the limited sampling, our results suggest that the presence of red-eared turtles in new habitats may increase the risk of introducing new microorganisms and new diseases with them, altering the sanitary status of the autochthonous terrapins Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) and Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758).

A review of the helminths co-introduced with Trachemys scripta elegans – a threat to European native turtle health

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Demkowska-Kutrzepa ◽  
Maria Studzińska ◽  
Monika Roczeń-Karczmarz ◽  
Krzysztof Tomczuk ◽  
Zahrai Abbas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
Host Switching ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Disease Emergence ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
In The Wild

Abstract In the 20th century large numbers of exotic turtles Trachemys scripta elegans have been imported into Europe as pets and this has led to frequent introductions into many freshwater ecosystems. Nowadays, established populations of red-eared slider, coexist and compete with the native in Europe species of turtles in the wild. Invasive turtles are a threat to indigenous species because of carriage of many parasites, which are often considered to cause disease emergence and produce high mortality in native hosts. Helminths are the most prominent group introduced with T. s. elegans and due to their host-switching ability have become important co-invaders, a potential threat to indigenous turtle health. The aim of this review was to assess the risks of the transfer of helminths co-introduced with T. s. elegans to native species of European turtles.

Stable isotope analysis of trophic niche in two co-occurring native and invasive terrapins, Emys orbicularis and Trachemys scripta elegans

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 3611-3621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paride Balzani ◽  
Salvatrice Vizzini ◽  
Giacomo Santini ◽  
Alberto Masoni ◽  
Claudio Ciofi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
Emys Orbicularis

scholarly journals Are tortoises and freshwater turtles still traded illegally as pets in Singapore?

Oryx ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ter Yang Goh ◽  
Ruth M. O'Riordan
Keyword(s):  
Common Species ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
The Other ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
Pelodiscus Sinensis ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Soft Shell

The red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans is currently the only reptile species that can be legally sold as a pet in Singapore. We report on the species of tortoises and freshwater turtles that were found for sale during a survey of 27 pet shops in 2004. Although the red-eared slider was the most common species for sale, small numbers of 11 other species were available. Of these, the import of one species (the Chinese soft-shell turtle Pelodiscus sinensis) is allowed for food but import of the other 10 species is not permitted for either food or the pet trade. We found that illegally held chelonians are often not kept on the pet shop premises. Our findings suggest that the Singaporean authorities' efforts to address illegal wildlife trade have to include other methods in addition to conducting raids on shop premises.

scholarly journals Developmental plasticity of hearing sensitivity in red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jichao Wang ◽  
Handong Li ◽  
Tongliang Wang ◽  
Bo Chen ◽  
Jianguo Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Stimulus Frequency ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sensitivity Changes

AbstractDevelopmental plasticity of hearing sensitivity (DPHS) has been verified in some groups of vertebrates. Turtles face a trade-off between terrestrial and aquatic hearing in different acoustic environments throughout ontogeny. However, how chelonian hearing sensitivity changes throughout ontogeny is still unclear. To verify DPHS in turtles, auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were compared using hearing thresholds and latencies in female red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) aged 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years, and the results showed hearing sensitivity bandwidths of approximately 200–1100, 200–1100, 200–1300, and 200–1400 Hz, respectively. The lowest threshold sensitivity was approximately 600□Hz. Below 600 Hz, ABR threshold decreased rapidly with increasing age (1 week to 1 year), with significant differences between age groups, but no significant difference between the 1- and 5-year age groups (stimulus frequency, 200–600 Hz). Above 600 Hz, ABR threshold was the lowest in the 5-year age group. These findings show that aging was accompanied by hearing sensitivity changes, suggesting rapid, frequency-segmented development during ontogeny. This variability in hearing sensitivity differs from that reported in other vertebrates, and allows adaptation to acoustically distinct environments throughout ontogeny. Our findings further elucidate the developmental patterns of the vertebrate auditory system.

High prevalence of diseases in two invasive populations of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) in southwestern Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judit Hidalgo-Vila ◽  
Albert Martínez-Silvestre ◽  
Natividad Pérez-Santigosa ◽  
Luis León-Vizcaíno ◽  
Carmen Díaz-Paniagua
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Trachemys Scripta ◽  
Hepatic Lipidosis ◽  
Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽  
External Appearance ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Chronic Nephritis ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Microbiological Analyses ◽  
Two Populations

Abstract Non-native turtles are susceptible to pathogenic infections that may be transmitted to native species. We performed hematological, biochemical, histopathological, and microbiological analyses in two invasive populations of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), which were living alongside native turtle species in southwestern Spain. The red-eared sliders that were captured had a healthy external appearance. However, the histopathological analyses revealed that up to 88% of these turtles had internal pathologies. The most common were hepatic lipidosis and chronic nephritis, which frequently co-occurred with each other or with pulmonary or pancreatic lesions. A high proportion of turtles were susceptible to infections caused by common bacteria in these habitats. We detected Herpesvirus, Mycoplasma spp. and more than 18 Gram-negative bacteria. The high prevalence of disease recorded in the two populations suggests that red-eared sliders are poorly suited to the conditions in their non-native range.

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