ISSN 1989-8649 Manag. Biolog. Invasions, 2011, 2 Abstract First records of 5 allochthonous species and subspecies of Turtles The aim of the research was to (Trachemys scripta troostii, Mauremys caspica, Mauremys rivulata, investigate the presence of Pelodiscus sinensis, Testudo horsfieldii) and new records of subspecies allochthonous species of turtles in the Trachemys scripta elegans in Latvia nature of Latvia, as well as to withdraw Mihails PUPINS & Aija PUPINA them from the nature according to the "Plan on protection of Emys orbicularis in Latvia", officially approved by the Introduction, Hypotheses and appearance of allochthonous Latvian Ministry of Environment (Pupiņš Problems for Management species of turtles in the nature of & Pupiņa 2007a). The methods of the Latvia (Pupiņš & Pupiņa 2007b). research were: 1) information campaign Anthropogenic spreading and and survey; 2) interviews with invasion of allochthonous (Kabish Hypotheses of the research. inhabitants; 3) field expeditions; 4) 1990) species of reptiles is an issue The main hypothesis of the research laboratory study of viability of found of world importance for preserving that has been carried out since 2004 turtles. In course of research, five new natural biodiversity (Kraus 2009). is based on the assumption that allochthonous species and subspecies of Allochthonous species of reptile there are also allochthonous turtles the turtles were recorded for the first reproduce in new habitats (Cadi et in the nature of Latvia besides time, and new data were obtained autochthonous turtles. The about finding Trachemys scripta elegans al. 2004; Heeswijk-Dihter et al. in the nature of Latvia. Most of the 2006; Perez-Santigosa et al. 2008) following assumptions have been registered animals (80%) were removed competing with ecologically close formulated as additional from the nature. Since allochthonous local species of reptile for biotopes, hypotheses: 1) allochthonous turtles turtles get there in the result of escape trophic base, places of sun-basking, are mainly represented by aquatic from pet-lovers and, apparently, illegal etc. (Cadi & Joly 2003, 2004). species in Latvia; 2) allochthonous introduction into nature by their turtles may appear in groups; 3) owners, education of population is of Historically, only two species some species of allochthonous great importance. of turtles are registered in Latvia: turtles may pass the winter in Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus 1758) Latvia. and Caretta caretta (Linnaeus 1758) (Siliņš & Lamsters 1934) caught in Problems for Management. Keywords 1829. Only Emys orbicularis Management of allochthonous permanently inhabits Latvian turtles in Latvia is necessary for Alien, reptiles, management, North territory, at the northern edge of its preservation of autochthonous Europe European area in Latvia (Meeske et biodiversity. The main aim of the al. 2006), all through its life cycle. management is to prevent This species is extremely rare and allochthonous turtles from preserved in Latvia (Ministru appearance in the nature of Latvia. kabinets 2000; Bērziņš 2003); it is This aim may be achieved by the sensitive to the influence of efficient removal of allochthonous negative factors of anthropogenic species from the nature and nature (Pupiņš & Pupiņa 2007b). preventing them from appearing in One of such factors may be the nature. 95 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2011.2.1.09 M. Pupins & A. Pupina. Allochthonous turtles in Latvia Main problems of this orbicularis in Latvia by the method Resumen management are connected with of interrogating local population, El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la the peculiarities of biology and allochthonous turtles can also be presencia de especies alóctonas de ecology of allochthonous species of misidentified with Emys orbicularis tortugas en la naturaleza en Letonia, así turtles, presence of rare and (Pupiņš et al. 2010). The "Plan on como retirarlas de la naturaleza, según protected autochthonous species protection of Emys orbicularis in el "Plan de protección de Emys orbicula- Emys orbicularis, lack of knowledge Latvia", officially approved by the ris en Letonia", declarada oficialmente of the population in the field of Latvian Ministry of Environment por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente de conservation of herpetofauna, with (Pupiņš & Pupiņa 2007a), Letonia (Pupiņš y Pupina 2007a). Los métodos de investigación fueron: 1) the peculiarities of legislation recommends to investigate the campaña de información y estudio; 2) relating to nature conservation in presence of allochthonous species entrevistas con los habitantes; 3) expe- Latvia. So allochthonous terrestrial of turtles in natural ecosystems of diciones de campo, y 4) un estudio de and especially semi-aquatic turtles Latvia, the eradication of its laboratorio sobre la viabilidad de las are difficult to spot and identify in population, as well as campaigns for tortugas encontradas. En el curso de la the nature due to their ways of life; raising awareness of local people. investigación fueron registradas por it is difficult to catch semi-aquatic primera vez cinco nuevas especies alóc- turtles; population may misidentify Since 2004, a research tonas y subespecies de las tortugas; los allochthonous turtles with oriented to receive and evaluate nuevos datos se obtuvieron en la autochthonous species Emys people encounters with búsqueda de Trachemys scripta elegans orbicularis; uneducated animal allochthonous turtles in Latvia has en la naturaleza. La mayoría de los ani- lovers may set free exotic turtles been carried out. Before this males registrados (80%) fueron retira- which are not necessary for them in program only occasional dos de la naturaleza. La educación de la the wild; at the same time there is information had been recorded. población se considera de gran impor- no special activity for the removal of Since 2007, a study of encountering tancia ya que las tortugas alóctonas allochthonous turtles from the allochthonous turtles in Latvia has llegan como resultado de la fuga de los nature in the Latvian nature become part of the officially amantes de las mascotas y por su intro- conservation legislation. confirmed "Plan on protection of ducción ilegal en la naturaleza. Emys orbicularis in Latvia" (Pupiņš & Trachemys scripta elegans Pupiņa 2007a), which is being Palabras clave (Wied-Neuwied 1839) was first currently conducted, and will be recorded in natural habitats of carried out on the permanent basis. Alóctona, reptiles, gestión, Norte de Latvia in 2006. The first group Europa consisted of 6 animals and was Study Area found near the town of Nitaure (Pupins 2007). Allochthonous turtles The research of the can compete with autochthonous allochthonous turtles was carried turtles for suitable biotopes (Arvy & out all over the territory of the Servan 1998; Cadi & Joly 2003, Republic of Latvia. Latvia is a 2004). Apart from competition with country in the Baltic region of Emys orbicularis, during the Northern Europe, placed between research into distribution of Emys Estonia and Lithuania. Geographic 96 ISSN 1989-8649 Manag. Biolog. Invasions, 2011, 2 coordinates of Latvia is 57°00' N, 25° allochthonous turtles were realized "Environmental science", 00' E. The total area of the Republic with citizens. respectively (n=264), participants of of Latvia is 64,589 sq km, 62,249 sq the scientific biological conferences km of land and 2,340 sq km of The research consisted of the held in the University of Latvia and water. The total length of land following stages: in Daugavpils University (n=187), boundaries is 1,382 km. Latvia has visitors of the Latgale Zoo (n=26,500 common borders with such Stage 1. Information per year), professional biologists countries as Belarus, 171 km long, campaign and survey. Questioning (n=23), employees of Latvian zoos Estonia, 343 km long, Lithuania, 576 of local population was the primary (n=9) and pet shops (n=8). All km, and Russia, 292 km long. The research method. Questioning was respondents were requested to climate is maritime, temperate carried out in course of extensive share information about turtles, seasonal, and wet, with moderate information campaigns that were addressing their e-mails, SMS, and winters. The prevailing terrain is low conducted through the mass media telephone calls to the researchers plain; the lowest point is the Baltic (press, radio, television, and whose contact details were Sea 0 m, the highest point is the specially designed topic-related published in mass media, at any Gaizina Kalns, 312 m high (CIA page of the internet site), a time. 2011). Examination of the brochure published particularly for allochthonous turtles that had been this event (Līdaka et al. 2005), Stage 2. Interviews. On caught was carried out in the corresponding sections in a general receiving information about finding laboratories of the Latgale Zoo in interest publication (Pupiņš & a turtle, a 7-10 minute interview Daugavpils, South-East Latvia. Pupiņa 2007b), and teaching was held with the respondent over material designed for students the telephone or in person; the aim Materials and Methods (Pupiņš et al. 2010). These sources of these interviews was to check if informed the population about the the information was valid, to clarify The main idea of the present existing problem, importance of the place and time where and when research and management of searching for autochthonous and the turtle was caught, and to get allochthonous turtles in Latvia is an allochthonous turtles in Latvia and accompanying information of active involvement of specially about the recommended actions in ecological nature. If the encounter educated population. In order to case of encounter with a turtle with a turtle had taken place cover the whole territory of Latvia, anywhere in the nature of Latvia or immediately before the and due to the small number of in case of hearing about such conversation, the interview included allochthonous turtles in Latvia and encounters. The total number of a request to catch the animal and difficulty searching for some water those questioned with the help of instructions on how to keep it until species of turtles, we have materials published in the mass the arrival of a researcher.