scholarly journals Not only pond sliders: freshwater turtles in the water bodies of the Milan northern urban area (Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-58
Author(s):  
Claudio Foglini
Keyword(s):  
Water Bodies ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Invasive Potential ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Emys Orbicularis ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Slider Turtle ◽  
Presence Data ◽  
Frequent Presence

Freshwater turtles represent one of the most common pets released in urban water bodies. In Europe, after the ban on the import of Trachemys scripta, other non-native turtle species now dominate the legal pet trade. Some of these species have high invasive potential, such as the well-known slider turtle, but their diffusion outside their native range is poorly known. This work summarises presence data about non-native freshwater turtles, different from slider turtles T. scripta, into two urban parks located at the northern boundary of the Milan outskirts (Italy, Lombardy). Turtle detections were obtained merging field surveys conducted from 2014 to 2020, with sparse pictures taken by occasional observers. The situation depicted shows, in addition to the ubiquitous spread of slider turtle subspecies and hybrids in both parks, the frequent presence of other multiple genera such as Pseudemys and Graptemys. Isolated individuals of Apalone spinifera, Graptemys ouachitensis, Mauremys sinensis, Pelomedusa subrufa and Sternotherus carinatus were also found. I also detected one Emys orbicularis, probably escaped or released.

Attributes of basking sites of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in central Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Vignoli ◽  
Marco A. Bologna ◽  
Silvia Manzini ◽  
Lorenzo Rugiero ◽  
Luca Luiselli
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Emys Orbicularis ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Pond Turtle ◽  
Target Spot ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Management Plans

Attributes of basking sites are important elements to study in management plans of threatened freshwater turtles. Here, we analyzed the basking-site characteristics of European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) populations in a Mediterranean territory of central Italy (Tolfa Mountains, Latium). We used logistic regression and Principal Components Analysis to characterize 29 presence sites versus 61 random sites, through 16 descriptive variables recorded within a 5 m radius from the sighting/target spot. Our analyses revealed that some variables (i.e. water turbidity, presence of small coves, submerged vegetation, and emergent tree-trunks) were those that influenced most strongly the presence of turtles on potential basking sites. Maintenance of deadwood in water and preservation of submerged aquatic vegetation should be included in the management planning for this turtle species in central Italy.

Invasive species threat: parasite phylogenetics reveals patterns and processes of host-switching between non-native and native captive freshwater turtles

Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 138 (13) ◽  
pp. 1778-1792 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. VERNEAU ◽  
C. PALACIOS ◽  
T. PLATT ◽  
M. ALDAY ◽  
E. BILLARD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Host Switching ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Mauremys Leprosa ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Patterns And Processes

SUMMARYOne of the major threats to biodiversity involves biological invasions with direct consequences on the stability of ecosystems. In this context, the role of parasites is not negligible as it may enhance the success of invaders. The red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, has been globally considered among the worst invasive species. Since its introduction through the pet trade, T. s. elegans is now widespread and represents a threat for indigenous species. Because T. s. elegans coexists with Emys orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa in Europe, it has been suggested it may compete with the native turtle species and transmit pathogens. We examined parasite transfer from American captive to the two native species that co-exist in artificial pools of a Turtle Farm in France. As model parasite species we used platyhelminth worms of the family Polystomatidae (Monogenea) because polystomes have been described from American turtles in their native range. Phylogenetic relationships among polystomes parasitizing chelonian host species that are geographically widespread show patterns of diversification more complex than expected. Using DNA barcoding to identify species from adult and/or polystome eggs, several cases of host switching from exotic to indigenous individuals were illustrated, corroborating that parasite transmission is important when considering the pet trade and in reintroduction programmes to reinforce wild populations of indigenous species.

scholarly journals Colonization and usage of an artificial urban wetland complex by freshwater turtles

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux ◽  
Christina Davy ◽  
Amy Lathrop ◽  
Emma Followes ◽  
Andrew Ramesbottom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Artificial Wetlands ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Wetland Complex ◽  
Conservation Authorities ◽  
Established Species

Conservation authorities invest heavily in the restoration and/or creation of wetlands to counteract the destruction of habitat caused by urbanization. Monitoring the colonization of these new wetlands is critical to an adaptive management process. We conducted a turtle mark-recapture survey in a 250 ha artificially created wetland complex in a large North American city (Toronto, Ontario). We found that two of Ontario’s eight native turtle species (Snapping turtle (SN), Chelydra serpentina, and Midland Painted (MP) turtle, Chrysemys picta marginata) were abundant and both were confirmed nesting. The Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) was present but not well established. Species richness and turtle density were not equally distributed throughout the wetland complex. We noted SN almost exclusively populated one water body, while other areas of the wetland had a varying representation of both species. The sex ratios of both SN and MP turtles were 1:1. We tracked the movement of Snapping and Blanding’s turtles and found that most turtles explored at least two water bodies in the park, that females explored more water bodies than males, and that 95% of turtles showed fidelity to individual overwintering wetlands. We performed DNA analysis of two Blanding’s turtles found in the created wetlands and could not assign these turtles to any known profiled populations. The genetic data suggest that the turtles probably belong to a remnant local population. We discuss the implications of our results for connectivity of artificial wetlands and the importance of the whole wetland complex to this turtle assemblage.

Freshwater turtles of the TransFly region of Papua New Guinea - notes on diversity, distribution, reproduction, harvest and trade

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Georges ◽  
Fiorenzo Guarino ◽  
Biatus Bito
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Western Province ◽  
High Diversity

The Chelidae is a family of side-necked turtles restricted in distribution to South America and Australasia. While their biology in Australia is reasonably well known, species in New Guinea are very poorly known despite high diversity, especially in the southern lowlands. In this paper, we report on the diversity, distribution, habitat and reproductive biology of the freshwater turtles of the TransFly region of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, with special emphasis on reproduction of Emydura subglobosa, Elseya branderhorsti and Elseya novaeguineae. Seven species were captured, with reliable records of an eighth. A key to the freshwater turtles of the TransFly region is provided. Harvest methods, consumption, and trade in turtles by the TransFly communities are documented. There is mounting pressure to take advantage of revenue opportunities afforded by the Asian turtle trade, but this is impeded by lack of transport infrastructure. There is also insufficient demographic information on any New Guinean turtle species to make a reasoned judgment on the level of harvest that would be sustainable. Nor is there sufficient information on captive rearing for most species, and where it is available it is not accessible by local villagers. These knowledge gaps need to be addressed and factored into a management plan that is implemented before local communities can capitalise on the commercial opportunities provided by the turtle fauna without risking collapse of the resource and the implications for their concurrent subsistence economy that would follow.

scholarly journals Plastic ingestion by freshwater turtles: a review and call to action

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam G. Clause ◽  
Aaron J. Celestian ◽  
Gregory B. Pauly
Keyword(s):  
Marine Species ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Implementation Quality ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Conservation Concern

AbstractPlastic pollution, and especially plastic ingestion by animals, is a serious global issue. This problem is well documented in marine systems, but it is relatively understudied in freshwater systems. For turtles, it is unknown how plastic ingestion compares between marine and non-marine species. We review the relevant turtle dietary literature, and find that plastic ingestion is reported for all 7 marine turtle species, but only 5 of 352 non-marine turtle species. In the last 10 years, despite marine turtles representing just 2% of all turtle species, almost 50% of relevant turtle dietary studies involved only marine turtles. These results suggest that the potential threat of plastic ingestion is poorly studied in non-marine turtles. We also examine plastic ingestion frequency in a freshwater turtle population, finding that 7.7% of 65 turtles had ingested plastic. However, plastic-resembling organic material would have inflated our frequency results up to 40% higher were it not for verification using Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, we showcase how non-native turtles can be used as a proxy for understanding the potential for plastic ingestion by co-occurring native turtles of conservation concern. We conclude with recommendations for how scientists studying non-marine turtles can improve the implementation, quality, and discoverability of plastic ingestion research.

Basking Site Selection and Usage Strategies of the European Pond Turtle, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) in Babat valley (Gödöllő, Hungary)

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-184
Author(s):  
Gergő Erdélyi ◽  
Borbála Szabó ◽  
István Kiss
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Emys Orbicularis ◽  
Pond Turtle ◽  
Site Type ◽  
Type Selection ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Selection Of

Sun basking is the most common method for freshwater turtles, such as the European pond turtle, to maintain optimal body temperature. The attributes of the macro- and microhabitat features around the basking sites affect the basking site selection of the European pond turtle. To protect the European pond turtle, it is important to know the basking habits among the biological characteristics of the species, along with the effects of the habitat characteristics and the choice of the type of basking sites. The purpose of our research was to detect the effects of macro- and microhabitat features on the selection of basking sites. We wanted to determine basking site type selection according to the carapace length classes and if there is any difference in the choice of basking trunks and branches with different thicknesses. Turtles choose basking sites with less closed vegetation in their environment. We have detected seasonal differences in the microhabitat features. The closing reed and Typha sp. had a negative effect on the number of observed basking turtles. The most popular type of basking sites in the pond system was the commonly occurred fallen tree trunks and branches in the water, regardless of turtle body size. Most turtles used thinner tree trunks and branches for basking. In the meantime, we found differences in the choice of basking trunks between the turtles with different body sizes. Younger turtles with smaller bodies appeared in larger numbers on emergent branches with smaller diameters.

Conservation genetics of the endangered Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) illustrate the risks of “bottleneck tests”

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M. Davy ◽  
Robert W. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Principal Coordinates Analysis ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Principal Coordinates ◽  
Clemmys Guttata ◽  
Spotted Turtle ◽  
Cast Doubt

Studies of population genetics in turtles have suggested that turtles do not experience genetic impacts of bottlenecks as strongly as expected. However, recent studies cast doubt on two commonly used tests implemented in the program BOTTLENECK, suggesting that these findings should be re-evaluated. The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata (Schneider, 1792)) is endangered both globally and within Canada, but genetic data required to develop effective recovery strategies are unavailable. Here, we conducted the first study of population genetic structure in C. guttata. We then used multiple small populations of C. guttata as replicates to test whether the commonly used program BOTTLENECK could detect the genetic signature of bottlenecks in our study populations, which are all thought to have experienced significant declines in the past 2–3 generations (75 years). Turtles (n = 256) were genotyped at 11 microsatellite loci. A suite of Bayesian population genetics analyses and a principal coordinates analysis identified a minimum of 6 distinct genetic populations and a maximum of 10 differentiated subpopulations across the sampled Canadian range of C. guttata, which corresponded to demographically independent units. BOTTLENECK failed to detect population declines. A literature review found that bottleneck tests in 17 of 18 previous genetic studies of tortoises and freshwater turtles were based on suboptimal sampling, potentially confounding their results. High retention of genetic diversity (allelic richness and heterozygosity) in isolated populations of C. guttata and other turtle species is encouraging for species recovery, but conclusions about the prevalence of genetic bottlenecks in such populations should be re-examined.

Introduction

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Moll ◽  
Edward O. Moll
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Modern Species ◽  
Precipitous Decline ◽  
Sustainable Population

The turtle species that dwell in the world’s rivers, play important, but incompletely understood and largely unappreciated, roles in both the ecology of their respective ecosystems, and in the economy and sociology of the human cultures through which their rivers flow. Accordingly, the precipitous decline of many populations from former levels, and the complete extirpation of some species from large areas of their former ranges is cause for alarm by those concerned, not only with turtles, but with the health and welfare of rivers and humans as well. The causes of these declines are virtually all the result of human activities—including those which involve direct predation on the turtles themselves (and their eggs), removal for the pet trade, and those which result in unfavorable changes in their habitats. The fact that no known modern species has yet been driven to total extinction is testimony to the resiliency and fecundity of river turtle species. This is no cause for complacency—many are almost certainly teetering on the brink now and are facing ever-increasing odds against long-term survival. Some species could be even now beyond hope of recovery, their populations sustained for a time by a relatively few long-lived adults without sufficient collective reproductive “power” to thwart the normal and various mortality sources which plague all turtles, and which their sheer numbers had formerly been able to overcome. However, we are still so ignorant of the population dynamics of these species that we know not which, if any, are doomed. It seems preferable, therefore, as we strive to conserve river turtle stocks that we assume the working philosophy that none is in this category, and focus our efforts and resources toward research and conservation action most likely to return even the most endangered species to robust, sustainable population levels. The roots of the current crisis predate history, beginning with our hominid ancestors, and particularly hunter-gather Homo sapiens’ unparalleled capacity to learn and adapt in order to maximize the harvest of all available food resources.

Combining local knowledge and field surveys to determine status and threats to Timneh Parrots Psittacus timneh in Guinea-Bissau

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 400-412
Author(s):  
DANIEL C. LOPES ◽  
ROWAN O. MARTIN ◽  
MOHAMED HENRIQUES ◽  
HAMILTON MONTEIRO ◽  
PAULO CARDOSO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Habitat Modification ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Guinea Bissau ◽  
The Status ◽  
Line Transects

SummaryTimneh Parrots Psittacus timneh are a threatened species endemic to the moist forests of West Africa. In 2016, they were categorised as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, due to suspected rapid population declines driven by habitat loss and heavy trapping for the pet trade. Systematic assessments of the status of populations are lacking for much of their range and addressing this knowledge shortfall has been identified as a priority action. We combined multiple research approaches to investigate the distribution, trends and threats to Timneh Parrots in Guinea Bissau, where the species is restricted to the islands of the Bijagós archipelago and Pecixe. Direct observational surveys were conducted along line transects on 19 islands. A total of 69 groups were observed on eight of these islands, with the majority (78%) seen on just two islands. Forty-two interviews were conducted with local community members on 24 islands. Interviewees reported the species to occur on 20 islands and that populations are generally perceived to have declined in recent decades. Based on these findings and existing data we conclude that Timneh Parrots occur on 22 of the 32 islands considered and estimate the national population in Guinea-Bissau to be in the order of several hundred individuals, with perhaps half of the parrots occurring on the islands of João Vieira and Meio. Investigations into the factors linked to inter-island variation in parrot densities indicate that densities are highest on the islands which are most remote from permanent human settlements. These findings suggest that human activities including habitat modification and trapping have been important in driving population declines in Guinea-Bissau. We consider the implications of these findings for the conservation of Timneh Parrots.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document