DOCSLIB.ORG

Emys Orbicularis) in Western Slovakia: Historical and Current Records with the Discovery of a New Reproducing Population

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Emys Orbicularis) in Western Slovakia: Historical and Current Records with the Discovery of a New Reproducing Population Herpetology Notes, volume 8: 617-624 (2015) (published online on 20 December 2015) Critically endangered European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in western Slovakia: historical and current records with the discovery of a new reproducing population Daniel Jablonski1,*, Peter Havaš2, Ján Kautman3, Jozef Lengyel4, Fridrich Szalay5, Peter Mikulíček1 Abstract. The distribution of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in Slovakia represents one of the marginal parts of its overall occurrence. Despite numerous historical records, only two autochthonous and reproducing populations are currently known from two localities (Tajba National Nature Reserve and Poľany) in the southeastern part of the country. In this paper we present updated data on the distribution of E. orbicularis in western Slovakia, and evidence for a new reproducing population. Emys orbicularis has recently (after the year 2001) been recorded in 16 localities situated in the Danubian and Záhorská Lowlands. In three sites (Bratislava - Biskupické rameno, Prievaly - Hlaviny and Rohožník - Konopiská) turtles originally from Hungary were released as a part of a reintroduction programme; only in Bratislava - Biskupické rameno, however, were observed repeatedly after the release. The origin of individuals reported from Chorvátsky Grob, Čierna Voda and Gbelce - Parížske močiare is questionable. The other recent records might be considered as autochthonous. A unique record comes from the locality Marcelová in the Danubian Lowland, where adult, subadult and juvenile turtles have regularly been observed. Marcelová thus represents a third known reproducing population in Slovakia. However, detailed data about distribution, ecology and genetic diversity of E. orbicularis in Slovakia are very limited or completely missing. Therefore, we argue that more studies are needed to develop strategies for the conservation of the European pond turtle in Slovakia. Key words: Emydidae, distribution, new records, conservation, Central Europe. Introduction France, northern Germany, Poland, Latvia, Belarus, western Russia and Kazakhstan (Fritz, 2001, 2003; The European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, Rogner, 2009). In central Europe, the present distribution 1758), is an endangered species in many European of E. orbicularis is scattered (Sillero et al., 2014) and countries. Its distribution range extends from Northern negatively influenced by urbanization, melioration and Africa to most of Europe and from the Middle East to environmental pollution (Randík et al., 1971; Kminiak, the Aral Sea, with the northern border situated in central 1992; Široký, 2001; Burešová et al., 2001; Havaš and Danko, 2009). These anthropogenic activities caused the local extinction of many central European populations (Široký, 2001; Sommer et al., 2007, 2009). Autochthonous localities are still known from Hungary 1 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, (locally abundant but threatened; Farkas, 2000; Puky et Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, al., 2004; Farkas and Gulácsi, 2009), Austria (rare in Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia the eastern part of the country, probably extinct in the 2 Titogradská 18, 040 23 Košice, Slovakia west; Rössler, 2000; Gemel, 2001; Schindler, 2009; 3 Slovak National Museum, Museum of Natural History, Kleewein and Wöss, 2013), Germany (rare in eastern Vajanského nábrežie 2, 810 06 Bratislava, Slovakia parts; Fritz, 2001; Schneeweiss, 2009) and Poland (rare 4 Management of Dunajské luhy Protected Landscape Area, Thalyho 15, 945 01 Komárno, Slovakia and scattered throughout the whole country; Mitrus 5 Beňadická 13, 851 06 Bratislava, Slovakia and Zemanek, 2000; Głowaciński and Rafiński, 2003; * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] Mitrus, 2009). The species is considered to be extinct 618 Daniel Jablonski et al. Figure 1. Distribution map with historical and current records of Emys orbicularis in western Slovakia (see Table 1 for details). The potential species distribution in southern Slovakia is given in coloured shading. in the Czech Republic (Široký, 2000, 2009; Široký et Romania were introduced to southern Slovakia during al., 2004; Široký and Moravec, 2006), though recent the 20th and at the beginning of the 21st century (Randík published and unpublished observations (most probably et al., 1971; Kminiak, 1992; Burešová et al., 2001; of introduced individuals) were recorded (Široký and Vongrej, pers. comm.). Moravec, 2015). The European pond turtle is very rare and protected In the region of present-day Slovakia (a part of the in Slovakia, but little is known about its current Austro-Hungarian Empire and Czechoslovakia in the distribution and ecology (Burešová et al., 2001; Bona past), E. orbicularis has historically been documented et al., 2013). Specifically, the recent occurrence of since the end of the 18th century (Korabinsky, 1791) from autochthonous populations outside of southeastern numerous localities situated in the Pannonian Lowland, Slovakia is questionable and has repeatedly sparked with the core distribution in southeastern Slovakia (for discussions (Randík et al., 1971; Burešová et al., 2001), details see Stollmann, 1957; Lác and Lechovič, 1964; even though suitable habitats occur in this part of the Lác, 1968; Randík et al., 1971; Okáli, 1974; Kminiak, country (e.g. the Žitný ostrov/Szigetköz region in the 1992; Burešová et al., 2001). Currently, however, Danube Basin). In order to shed light on the distribution only two autochthonous and reproducing populations of E. orbicularis in western Slovakia, we summarize are known from the localities Tajba National Nature historical records, show updated faunistical data and Reserve (NNR) and Poľany in the southeastern part finally we present a formerly unknown reproducing of the country (Kminiak, 1992; Burešová et al., 2001; population in the Danubian Lowland. Novotný et al., 2004; Havaš, 2011; Bona et al., 2013; Demeová, 2014). These populations are considered to Material and methods be a remnant of an originally wider distribution in the We recorded E. orbicularis in localities which Pannonian Lowland (Kminiak, 1992; Farkas, 2000; had already been published in scientific papers (for Puky et al., 2004). Despite the existence of native references see Table 1), or which we had come across populations, individuals from Hungary, Bulgaria and through personal communication with other biologists Critically endangered European pond turtle in western Slovakia 619 Table 1. A summary of historical and current records of Emys orbicularis from western Slovakia. LOCALITY (NUMBER IN THE MAP) YEAR(S) COORDINATES REFERENCES NOTES N E Until 1971 Bratislava - Biskupické rameno (1) 1938, 1965 48.100 17.143 Randík et al., 1971 oxbow of the Danube River Bratislava - Petržalka, Pečnianske rameno 1933–1935, 1960– 48.130 17.092 Balthasar, 1935 in Randík et al., 1971; oxbow of the Danube River (2) 1971 Štěpánek, 1949; Kminiak, 1992; Szalay in one specimen in SNM* Smolinský et al., 2007 Danube and Morava rivers confluence (3) - 48.174 16.976 Brtek, 1951 river Hronovce - Vozokanský luh (4) 1950–1970 48.022 18.674 Čambal, 1994 oxbow of the Hron River Komjatice - Torozlín (5) 1965 48.155 18.196 Randík et al., 1971; Ponec, 1978 oxbow of the Nitra River Kostolná (6) until 1948 48.870 17.981 Randík et al., 1971 Levice - rybníky (7) 1950–1970 48.196 18.608 Čambal, 1994 fishery pond Levice (8) 1950–1970 48.215 18.539 Čambal, 1994 oxbow of the Hron River Malacky (9) before 1902 48.432 17.008 Bittner in Ortvay, 1902; Štěpánek, 1949 lake Malý Kiar (10) 1950–1970 48.181 18.686 Čambal, 1994 lake Plavé Vozokany (11) 1950–1970 48.062 18.448 Čambal, 1994 dam Šoporňa (12) 1964 48.252 17.810 Randík et al., 1971 oxbow of the Váh River, only carapax found Šurany - Branč (13) 1940–1944, 1958, 48.208 18.150 Randík et al., 1971 (1940–44 observed J. pond 1959 Turček in Bartová, 2000) Tomášikovo (14) - 48.207 17.647 Korabinsky, 1791; Kornhuber, 1865 Veľká Maňa (15) 1924, 1925 48.147 18.304 Randík et al., 1971 (observed J. Bako in oxbow of the Žitava River Bartová, 2000) Vysoká pri Morave (16) 1952–1965 48.326 16.909 Randík et al., 1971 bank of the Morava River 1971–2001 Bratislava - Biskupické rameno (1) 2000, 2001 48.100 17.143 Burešová et al., 2001 oxbow of the Danube River, introduced population Bratislava - Čunovo (17) 1980’s, 1990’s 48.038 17.179 this study (P. Holec, in verb.) lake Ostrovné Lúčky-Mokraď, occasional observation Bratislava - Petržalka, Pečnianske rameno 1972 48.130 17.092 this study (observed F. Szalay) oxbow of the Danube River (2) Chľaba (18) 1998 47.823 18.828 Bartová, 1999 swamp Gbelce - Parížské močiare (19) 1990’s 47.864 18.500 Bartová, 2000; this study (J. Medveď, A. swamp, several individuals of Trnka, in verb.) unknown origin released and observed Holíč (20) 1973 48.801 17.149 Okáli, 1974; Blahák and Ratajský, 1975 small pond one specimen in SNM* Piešťany - Sĺňava (21) 1998–2000 48.563 17.831 Bartová, 2000; this study (V. Kubán, in dam, periodic observation verb.) Prievaly - Hlaviny (22) 1995 48.554 17.301 Burešová et al., 2001 peat bog, introduced population Pusté Úľany (23) 1994, 2000, 2001 48.225 17.569 Szalay 1995; Burešová et al., 2001 ponds, canals, periodic observation 2001–2015 Bratislava - Biskupické rameno (1) 2002, 2009–2015 48.100 17.143 this study (observed F. Szalay, J. Kautman, oxbow of the Danube River, T. Kiss, M. Melišková) several adult individuals, introduced population Bratislava - Chorvátske rameno (24) 2014 48.099 17.129 this study (observed F. Szalay) oxbow of the Danube River, one individual Bratislava - Jarovce (25) 2014 48.067 17.128 this study (observed J. Kautman) swamp, single observation, one individual Bratislava - Rusovce (26) 2003, 2004, 2009 48.054 17.163 Smolinský et al., 2007; this study (observed swamp, J. Kautman, P. Mikulíček) three observations, several adult individuals Čakany (27) 2008 48.114 17.361 this study (Anonymous, V. Vongrej, in garden, verb.) single observation, one adult individual Chorvátsky Grob - Čierna Voda stream (28) 2012 48.246 17.248 this study (V. Prachár, in verb.) stream, single observation, one adult individual, questionable origin 620 Daniel Jablonski et al.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Competing Generic Concepts for Blanding's, Pacific and European
    Zootaxa 2791: 41–53 (2011) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2011 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) Competing generic concepts for Blanding’s, Pacific and European pond turtles (Emydoidea, Actinemys and Emys)—Which is best? UWE FRITZ1,3, CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT1 & CARL H. ERNST2 1Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Dresden, A. B. Meyer Building, D-01109 Dresden, Germany 2Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, MRC 162, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, USA 3Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract We review competing taxonomic classifications and hypotheses for the phylogeny of emydine turtles. The formerly rec- ognized genus Clemmys sensu lato clearly is paraphyletic. Two of its former species, now Glyptemys insculpta and G. muhlenbergii, constitute a well-supported basal clade within the Emydinae. However, the phylogenetic position of the oth- er two species traditionally placed in Clemmys remains controversial. Mitochondrial data suggest a clade embracing Actinemys (formerly Clemmys) marmorata, Emydoidea and Emys and as its sister either another clade (Clemmys guttata + Terrapene) or Terrapene alone. In contrast, nuclear genomic data yield conflicting results, depending on which genes are used. Either Clemmys guttata is revealed as sister to ((Emydoidea + Emys) + Actinemys) + Terrapene or Clemmys gut- tata is sister to Actinemys marmorata and these two species together are the sister group of (Emydoidea + Emys); Terra- pene appears then as sister to (Actinemys marmorata + Clemmys guttata) + (Emydoidea + Emys). The contradictory branching patterns depending from the selected loci are suggestive of lineage sorting problems. Ignoring the unclear phy- logenetic position of Actinemys marmorata, one recently proposed classification scheme placed Actinemys marmorata, Emydoidea blandingii, Emys orbicularis, and Emys trinacris in one genus (Emys), while another classification scheme treats Actinemys, Emydoidea, and Emys as distinct genera.
    [Show full text]
  • Danubian Lowland - Ground Water Mode
    SK98K0043 Ministry of the Environment, Slovak Republic Commission of The European Communities DANUBIAN LOWLAND - GROUND WATER MODE PHARE PROJECT NO. PHARE/EC/WAT/1 The Old Danube Final Report Volume 1 Summary Report December 1995 Danish Hydraulic Institute, Denmark in association with DHV Consultants BV, The Netherlands TNO - Institute of Applied Geoscience, The Netherlands Water Quality Institute, Denmark I Kriiger, Denmark The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark Danish Hydraulic Institute Danubian Lowland - Ground Water Model Agern Alle 5, DK-2970 Harsholm, Denmark PHARE/EC/WAT/1 Telephone: +45 45 76 95 55 Final Report Telefax: +45 45 76 25 67 Telex: 37 402 dhicph dk Client Client's representative Ministry of the Environment, Programme Implementation F. Kelbel, Director, PIU Unit, Slovak Republic Project Project No Danubian Lowland - Ground Water Model 92-6828 Authors Date Jens Chr. Refsgaard, DHI December 1 995 Henrik R. Sarensen, DHI DHV-Consultants BV, NL TNO-lnstitute of Applied Geoscience, NL Water Quality Institute (VKI), DK 1. Kriiger Consultant AS, DK Approved by Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, DK VUVH - Water Resources Research Institute, SK Jens Chr. Refsgaard VU2H - Research Institute of Irrigation, SK /J^0) ecL T eanvpSad e r GWC - Ground Water Consulting Ltd., SK Comenius University, SK t 1 Final Report an 0 Draft Final Report Revision Description By Checked App. Date Key words Classification Danube, integrated modelling, water resources management, • Open numerical modelling, model development, river and reservoir, ground water, unsaturated zone, agriculture, sediment • Internal transport, ground water quality, surface water quality, ecology, geographical information system, field Ix! Proprietary investigations, equipment.
    [Show full text]
  • Seismic and Geological Conditions at the Bohunice Npp Site
    XA9952599 SEISMIC AND GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT THE BOHUNICE NPP SITE Emilia Juhasova, Dr., Ing., DrSc. Institute of Construction and Architecture, SAS Dubravska cesta 9, 842 20 Bratislava, SLOVAKIA ABSTRACT The paper brings basic information on geological and seismic characteristics of the site of NPP Jaslovske Bohunice, Slovakia. Western Carpathians and Trnava bay geological properties are briefly introduced. The most important macroseismic data and data obtained from field measurements are analysed. Main features of the expected strong seismic motion are discussed. The attention is devoted to local soil characteristics just under the site of NPP. 1. INTRODUCTION The NPP VI, V2, EBO is located in north-west part of Danubian basin - so called Trnava bay, that is nearly 10 km in south-east direction from the mountains of Small Carpathians and in west direction from the Vali river valley. The Trnava bay territory belongs to the best geologically investigated parts of Slovakia. Many deep boreholes were realised here, together with all supporting seismological investigations. This is connected with prospector works and also with construction of important structures as dams, plants, factories, etc. The mentioned territory of EBO was the subject of intensive geological and seismological investigations during the last decade, v The complex synthesising work of all those investigations was done in the closing document of Institute of the Earth Physics AS in Moscow and C-S Institutes [4]. Due to recommendations of [4] the measurements of the seismic activity of near field of NPP were realised by the help of the very sensitive seismic station network. Thanks to obtained data we have nowadays new useful information about the site behaviour and in this way we can do the additional analyses of the safety degree and the measure of upgrading of NPP structures and technologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Meeting Report
    PROCEEDINGS of the 2nd Meeting on the Follow-up of the Joint Statement on Inland Navigation and Environmental Sustainability in the Danube River Basin Zagreb, March 9-10, 2010 INTRODUCTION Background The ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River), the ISRBC (International Sava River Basin Commission) and the DC (Danube Commission) have jointly launched the process to develop the Joint Statement (JS) on Guiding Principles on the Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Danube River Basin (Joint Statement) . After a year-long process preparing the document, and its adoption by the three river commissions in December 2007 and January 2008, the Joint Statement was publicly announced in March 2008. In accordance with the Joint Statement, the ICPDR, Danube Commission, and International Sava River Basin Commission, including relevant stakeholders, shall meet yearly to discuss specific navigational and environmental developments and to highlight good practices in river maintenance projects. The first meeting was held on January 29-30, 2009, in Budapest in the seat of the Danube Commission and on this meeting it was agreed that the second meeting will be held in 2010 in Zagreb. Organization and objectives The meeting was organized by ISRBC together with ICPDR on March 9-10, 2010, in Zagreb. The objectives of the meeting were to: • inform about progress on the implementation of the Joint Statement on Inland Navigation and Environmental Sustainability in the Danube River Basin, • discuss the further development and application of the Joint Statement and its implications (regular information exchange), • inform and discuss new facts and perspectives of European inland waterway transport, • inform and discuss the current state of legal and policy frameworks of integrated river basin management and environmental protection, • inform about the state of IWT projects in the Danube basin.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology and Conservation Biology of the North American Wood Turtle (Glyptemys
    Ecology and Conservation Biology of the North American Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in the Central Appalachians A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Steven P. Krichbaum May 2018 © 2018 Steven P. Krichbaum. All Rights Reserved. 2 This dissertation titled Ecology and Conservation Biology of the North American Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in the Central Appalachians by STEVEN P. KRICHBAUM has been approved for the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences by Willem Roosenburg Professor of Biological Sciences Robert Frank Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 Abstract KRICHBAUM, STEVEN P., Ph.D., May 2018, Biological Sciences Ecology and Conservation Biology of the North American Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in the Central Appalachians Director of Dissertation: Willem Roosenburg My study presents information on summer use of terrestrial habitat by IUCN “endangered” North American Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), sampled over four years at two forested montane sites on the southern periphery of the species’ range in the central Appalachians of Virginia (VA) and West Virginia (WV) USA. The two sites differ in topography, stream size, elevation, and forest composition and structure. I obtained location points for individual turtles during the summer, the period of their most extensive terrestrial roaming. Structural, compositional, and topographical habitat features were measured, counted, or characterized on the ground (e.g., number of canopy trees and identification of herbaceous taxa present) at Wood Turtle locations as well as at paired random points located 23-300m away from each particular turtle location.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Biology of the European Pond Turtle Emys Orbicularis (L) in Italy 219-228 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; Download Unter
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Stapfia Jahr/Year: 2000 Band/Volume: 0069 Autor(en)/Author(s): Zuffi Marco A. L. Artikel/Article: Conservation biology of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (L) in Italy 219-228 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Conservation biology of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (L) in Italy M.A.L. ZUFFI Abstract Key words The updated situation and knowledge Emys orbicularis, distribution, ecology, of the biology, ecology, behaviour and pro- conservation, Italy, tection of the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (L.) in Italy is presented and discussed in the light of conservation bio- logical issues. Stapfia 69, zugleich Kataloge des OÖ. Landesmuseums, Neue Folge Nr. 149 (2000), 219-228 219 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Introduction In this last decade, a "Big Bang" of interest in Italian populations of E. orbiculans enabled Populations of Emys orbicularis in Italy are to build up a consistent data set. Information distributed mainly in coastal areas and inter- on biometry (Zum & GARIBOLDI 1995a, b), nal plains. Most regions of Italy have been systematics (FRITZ & OBST 1995; FRITZ 1998), mapped, but in some cases the information is population structure (KELLER et al. 1998; KEL- incomplete (Fig. 1, Societas Herpetologica LER 1999), space usage (LEBBOROM & CHELA - Italica 1996). An uncomplete knowledge of ZZI 1991), reproductive biology (ZUFFI & habitat use leads to a biased view on the ODETTI 1998; ZUFFI et al. 1999; KELLER 1999), and thermal ecology (Dl TRAM & ZUFFI 1997), have become available.
    [Show full text]
  • Western Pond Turtle Summer Habitat Use in a Coastal Watershed
    San Jose State University SJSU ScholarWorks Master's Theses Master's Theses and Graduate Research Spring 2010 Western Pond Turtle Summer Habitat Use in a Coastal Watershed Jae Abel San Jose State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses Recommended Citation Abel, Jae, "Western Pond Turtle Summer Habitat Use in a Coastal Watershed" (2010). Master's Theses. 3741. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.bp29-6fvm https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/3741 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses and Graduate Research at SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WESTERN POND TURTLE SUMMER HABITAT USE IN A COASTAL WATERSHED A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Biology San Jose State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Jae Abel May 2010 i © 2010 Jae Abel ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii The Designated Thesis Committee Approves the Thesis Titled WESTERN POND TURTLE SUMMER HABITAT USE IN A COASTAL WATERSHED By Jae Abel APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY May 2010 Dr. Jerry J. Smith Department of Biological Sciences Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna Department of Biological Sciences Dr. Paula Messina Department of Geology Dr. Sean Hayes NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service iii ABSTRACT WESTERN POND TURTLE SUMMER HABITAT USE IN A COASTAL WATERSHED by Jae Abel Western pond turtle ( Actinemys marmorata ) habitat use was studied in a coastal pond, lagoon, and stream system during the summer of 1995 and 1996 at Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz County, California.
    [Show full text]
  • Invasion of the Turtles? Wageningen Approach
    Alterra is part of the international expertise organisation Wageningen UR (University & Research centre). Our mission is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’. Within Wageningen UR, nine research institutes – both specialised and applied – have joined forces with Wageningen University and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 40 locations (in the Netherlands, Brazil and China), 6,500 members of staff and 10,000 students, Wageningen UR is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. The integral approach to problems and the cooperation between the exact sciences and the technological and social disciplines are at the heart of the Invasion of the turtles? Wageningen Approach. Alterra is the research institute for our green living environment. We offer a combination of practical and scientific Exotic turtles in the Netherlands: a risk assessment research in a multitude of disciplines related to the green world around us and the sustainable use of our living environment, such as flora and fauna, soil, water, the environment, geo-information and remote sensing, landscape and spatial planning, man and society. Alterra report 2186 ISSN 1566-7197 More information: www.alterra.wur.nl/uk R.J.F. Bugter, F.G.W.A. Ottburg, I. Roessink, H.A.H. Jansman, E.A. van der Grift and A.J. Griffioen Invasion of the turtles? Commissioned by the Invasive Alien Species Team of the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority Invasion of the turtles? Exotic turtles in the Netherlands: a risk assessment R.J.F.
    [Show full text]
  • First Evidence of an Egg-Laying Attempt of Feral Trachemys Scripta (Schoepff, 1792) in Sicily (Lake Pergusa, Italy)
    Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 365-368 (2020) (published online on 14 May 2020) First evidence of an egg-laying attempt of feral Trachemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792) in Sicily (Lake Pergusa, Italy) Mirko Liuzzo1,*, Rosa Termine2, and Federico Marrone3 The pond slider Trachemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792) is is a lack of data regarding the reproductive biology of currently the world’s most widespread freshwater turtle this invader under natural conditions. (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). The natural distribution of T. In Sicily the first record of the alien red-eared slider scripta ranges from southern Virginia south to northern Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839) Florida and west to Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico dates back to 1993 (Lo Valvo, 1998). Despite this and north-eastern Mexico (Bringsøe, 2006; Ernst and species is frequently reported in the Sicilian lacustrine Lovich, 2009). To date, as a result of their massive environments (i.e. in the outskirts of Catania, the import as pets (Arvey and Servan, 1998; Bonin, 2004), Catania plain, the Pergusina basin and the mouth of the this turtle has been introduced outside its natural range river Irminio) (Bella and Turrisi, 2005) very limited data throughout all continents except Antarctica and on some are available. To date, no evidence of the presence of oceanic island (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Recently, reproducing populations of the locally abundant pond an increase in the incautious releases of American slider, T. scripta, are confirmed in Sicily (Marrone pond sliders in the water bodies of Europe drove the and Naselli-Flores, 2015; Naselli-Flores and Marrone, European Union (EU) to adopt restrictive measures on 2019), although the subspecies T.
    [Show full text]
  • Pišút, P.1 – Falťan, V.1 – Chovanec, P.1 – Petrovič, F.3
    Horáčková et al.: Historical changes and vegetation development after intensive peat extraction in the lowland mires of Slovakia - 5025 - HISTORICAL CHANGES AND VEGETATION DEVELOPMENT AFTER INTENSIVE PEAT EXTRACTION IN THE LOWLAND MIRES OF SLOVAKIA HORÁČKOVÁ, Š.1,2* – PIŠÚT, P.1 – FALŤAN, V.1 – CHOVANEC, P.1 – PETROVIČ, F.3 1Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 84215 Bratislava 4, Slovakia (e-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]) 2Geographical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences Štefánikova 49, 81473 Bratislava, Slovakia 3Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Trieda A. Hlinku 1, 94974 Nitra, Slovakia (e-mail: [email protected]) *Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] (Received 10th May 2018; accepted 5th Jul 2018) Abstract. Mires in the Danubian Lowland (Northern part of the Pannonian Basin) are typically overgrown with common alder (Alnus glutinosa). Similar stands at this location are unfortunately very rare, what is caused by continuous human intervention in landscape and its natural pattern from Early Holocene. Peatland degradation near Pusté Úľany village started in the mid - eighteenth century, what is supported by historical maps. In the previous century a huge peat extraction took place at this specific mire. Despite these anthropogenic changes, there are still some remnants of natural habitats present, mostly dependant on ground water level. Methodology includes historical map’s analysis, digital terrain model and vegetation cover mapping. Actual map of biotopes was completed for the current state of the vegetation cover acquaintance.
    [Show full text]
  • Stranding of Freshwater Turtles at Different Sea Beaches in Catalonia
    Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. (2020) 31(1) Preprint-175 Stranding of freshwater turtles at different sea beaches in Catalonia after storm Gloria Ramón Mascort1,2, Enric Badosa3, Joan Budó2, Xavier Capalleras2, Joaquim Soler4 & Albert Martínez-Silvestre4 1 Cl. La Jonquera, 17. 2. 17600 Figueres. Girona. Spain. C.e.: [email protected] 2 Centre de reproducció de tortugues (CRT) de l’Albera. 17780 Garriguella. Girona. Spain. 3 Cl. Pau Costa, 7. 08350 Arenys de Mar. Barcelona. Spain. 4 CRARC. Av. Maresme, 45. 08783 Masquefa. Barcelona. Spain. Fecha de aceptación: 17 de junio de 2020. Key words: Flash flood, Mauremys leprosa, Trachemys scripta, Emys orbicularis, Invasive species. RESUMEN: La tormenta Gloria afectó intensamente el litoral mediterráneo de la península ibé- rica del 19 al 26 de enero de 2020, con un importante temporal marítimo y muy abundantes lluvias que en algunos puntos rozaron los 500 mm. El caudal de los principales ríos de Cataluña aumentó extraordinariamente y arrastró centenares de tortugas acuáticas hacia el mar, mientras que el temporal marítimo diseminó los animales por las playas próximas a esos ríos. En días posteriores se encontraron más de 200 tortugas de cinco especies a lo largo de la costa y en algu- nos casos alejadas algunas decenas de kilómetros de la desembocadura del río correspondiente. En el presente estudio se constata la capacidad de supervivencia y la potencial capacidad colo- nizadora del galápago leproso, ya sea a través de una misma cuenca fluvial o transportados por las olas de un temporal. También se destaca la necesidad de proteger adecuadamente el hábitat de las especies de tortugas autóctonas y limitar la expansión de las especies exóticas e invasoras.
    [Show full text]
  • BLOOD PROFILES in WESTERN POND TURTLES (Emys Marmorata)
    BLOOD PROFILES IN WESTERN POND TURTLES (Emys marmorata) FROM A NATURE RESERVE AND COMPARISON WITH A POPULATION FROM A MODIFIED HABITAT ___________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Chico ___________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science In Biology ___________ by Ninette R. Daniele Summer 2014 BLOOD PROFILES IN WESTERN POND TURTLES (Emys marmorata) FROM A NATURE RESERVE AND COMPARISON WITH A POPULATION FROM A MODIFIED HABITAT A Thesis by Ninette R. Daniele Summer 2014 APPROVED BY THE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND VICE PROVOST FOR RESEARCH: __________________________________ Eun K. Park, Ph.D. APPROVED BY THE GRADUATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: __________________________________ Tag N. Engstrom, Ph.D., Chair __________________________________ Colleen Hatfield, Ph.D. __________________________________ Michael P. Marchetti, Ph.D. __________________________________ Jada-Simone S. White, Ph.D. AKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to extend gratitude to the Herpetologists League Grants In Aid of Research Program, California State University (CSU) Chico Associated Students Sustainability Fund, the CSU Chico Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, and the CSU Chico Pre-Doctoral Program, which supported this work through generous funding. This work would not have been possible without the field assistance of Mike Castillio, William McCall, Kelly Voss, Sarah Ely, Noah Strong, Haley Mirts, and Emily Thompson. I am grateful for the aid of Mark Sulik of the Chico Water Pollution Control Plant and Jeff Mott of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve for facilitating access on properties they manage. Dr. Barry Dohner donated his expertise in guiding this work through medical consultation and I am thankful for his generous help.
    [Show full text]