Distribución y uso del hábitat de los reptiles en las Bardenas Reales de Navarra y su entorno

Desde 2012 hasta 2021 se recopilaron un total de 435 observaciones de reptiles en la Zona Especial de Conservación de las Bardenas Reales (Navarra) y su entorno, correspondientes a quince especies autóctonas. Las observaciones fueron cartografiadas en cuadrículas UTM de 5 x 5 km, que permitieron actualizar la distribución de estas especies en la zona. Su patrón de presencia puede resumirse en tres tipos de ocupación espacial: especies ubiquistas, especies de distribución puntual en ambientes selectivos y especies concentradas en zonas restringidas y concretas. El matorral mediterráneo es el hábitat que presenta el mayor número de observaciones (63 % de los registros). La especie de saurio más ampliamente representada fue Psammodromus algirus (Linnaeus, 1758) (73,81 % de las cuadrículas), y la de ofidio, Natrix maura (Linnaeus, 1758) (38,10 %). Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), favorecida por un programa de seguimiento poblacional y mejora de su hábitat, fue localizada en el 16,67 % de las cuadrículas. Las especies más escasas fueron Chalcides bedriagai (Boscá, 1880) (2,38 %) y Vipera latastei Boscá, 1878 (9,52 %)

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

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.

Distribution range and population viability of Emys orbicularis in Slovakia: a review with conservation implications

The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is the only native freshwater turtle species in Slovakia. Due to watercourse regulations in the middle of the 20th century, its range became fragmented and, currently, there are only two isolated populations. From a total of 1,236 historical records in Slovakia, most observations (782 records) came from the area of the Tajba National Nature Reserve (NNR). Three of the population viability analysis models (‘baseline’, ‘catastrophe’, ‘nest protection during a catastrophe’) indicated the extinction of the population in Tajba, with the highest probability of extinction occurring during a catastrophic event (probability of extinction 1.00). We also evaluated information about the activity patterns of seven radio-tracked individuals and about the number of destroyed nests from the area. During the period 2017–2021, we recorded only two turtles leaving the aquatic habitat of Tajba. An alarming fact is the massive number of destroyed nests found in the area during the study period (Tajba 524; Poľany 56). Our results indicate that the population in the Tajba NNR require immediate application of management steps to ensure its long-term survival.

Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Aeromonas spp. Colonizing European Pond Turtles Emys orbicularis and Their Natural Environment. First Study from Poland

The aim of the study was to isolate and identify species belonging to the Aeromonas genus and evaluate the antimicrobial resistance and virulence patterns of isolates colonizing European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) from natural environment of Eastern Poland. In total, 74 turtles and 15 samples of water from their natural environment were examined. More than 40 strains were isolated and identified: A. bestiarum (n = 1), A. hydrophila (n = 13), A. allosaccharophila (n = 2), A. salmonicida (n = 3), and A. veronii (n = 23). The highest incidence of resistance was noted for ampicillin (100%) and sulfamethoxazole (62.0%), followed by erythromycin and colistin (both 40.5%). Moreover, eight strains were intermediately resistant to meropenem (19%). Most Aeromonas isolates were found to possess more than one virulence gene among fla, aer, hlyA, act, ela, alt, and ast. We showed that the population of free-living European pond turtles was highly colonized by Aeromonas spp. Such strains may be an infectious agent not only for the population of turtles but also for other species of animals inhabiting their natural environment. Moreover, the undesirable properties of water quality caused by the presence of drug-resistant aeromonads could have a negative impact on human health.

A case of Emys orbicularis (L.) feeding on newts from Bulgaria

Different amphibians and amphibian larvae were already observed and described as part of the diet of the European pond turtle. Few studies report body parts from adult newts in the stomach content of Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) or newts predated by the same pond turtle species. We observed remains of Triturus dobrogicus (Kiritzescu, 1903) and Trituris ivanbureschi Arntzen & Wielstra, 2013 eaten by E. orbicularis inside funnel traps, which strongly suggests, that newts are part of the diet, although not typical and often eaten food by this pond turtle.

Increased haplotype diversity of Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Reptilia: Emydidae) in northern Iran

Emys orbicularis is an Old World terrapin that has a wide distribution range from Russia to Iran, Europe, and Northwestern Africa. In this study, we compare the Southern Caspian Sea lineage (in northern Iran) of E. orbicularis with other lineages of this species in Europe using the Cyt b gene fragment. Based on our results, the Caspian Sea lineage shows a high value of PhiPT (> 0.87) in comparison with other lineages that means the lineage isolated more from other lineages. Molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that Iranian and Caucasus lineages are distinct from other lineages. The Mantel test confirmed the pattern of isolation by distance for the lineages from Western Europe to Asia. These results indicate that the Iranian population has a long history in the Caucasian and Southern Caspian Sea region (> 6 MYA). There are many reasons to conserve this species in Iran, as high inbreeding rates, low genetic variability, accidental events on the roads, and pet trade must be considered in future conservation action plans.

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

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.

Morphometric measurements of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)(L., 1758) in Lithuania

In Lithuania, the number of European pond turtles Emys orbicularis decreased between 1975 and 2010, but increased significantly between 2010 and 2014, when the LIFE project was implemented. During this project, an ecological network was created, habitats were restored in protected areas, and European pond turtle nesting areas were protected from predators. Very few morphometric measurements of European pond turtles are carried out in Lithuania. The purpose of this study was to perform morphometric measurements, assess migration, spread, and morphometric size variation. Morphometric measurements of juvenile European pond turtles showed that the morphometric indicators depended on the place of habitation: males from Juodabalė Zoological Reserve (Meteliai Regional Park) are smaller than females. Also, female turtles from Meteliai Regional Park are larger than both males and females from Kučiuliškė Herpetological Reserve. When comparing the morphometric indicators of males and females at ten months of age, sexual dimorphism is already observed: the shell height, the width of the head, carapace, and plastron of a females are already bigger than those of males.