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.

Table 1. Continued.

LOCALITY (NUMBER IN THE MAP) YEAR(S) COORDINATES REFERENCES NOTES N E Chorvátsky Grob (29) 2010 48.231 17.269 this study (V. Vongrej, in verb.) a road between Chorvátsky Grob and Čierna voda, single observation, one adult individual, questionable origin Devínská Nová Ves (30) 2014 48.247 16.950 this study (T. Hulík, in verb.) near the Morava River, single observation, one adult individual Gbelce - Parížské močiare (19) 2014 47.864 18.500 this study (J. Medveď, in verb.) swamp, periodical observation, several adults and juveniles specimens, questionable origin Hurbanovo (31) 2000s 47.881 18.175 this study (H. Imrichová, in verb.) a road between the Žitava River and the sand dune Abov, one individual Marcelová (32) 2003–2015 47.790 18.289 this study (observed J. Lengyel, J. Kautman, canal, periodic observation, D. Jablonski, P. Mikulíček, M. Melišková) adults, subadults and juvenile individuals Palárikovo (33) 2010–2012 48.042 18.071 this study (D. Senko, V. Vongrej in verb.) garden pond, single observation, one individual Rohožník - Konopiská (34) 2004 48.445 17.164 this study artificial pond 10 individuals from breeding programme released, not observed in next years Štúrovo (35) 2007 47.813 18.733 this study (Anonymous, J. Lengyel, in verb.) bank of the Danube River, occasional observation, several adult individuals Veľká Maňa (15) 2009, 2010 48.147 18.304 this study (observed M. Zajacová, J. Lengyel street in a village, in verb.) two observations, two adult individuals Veľký Lél (36) 2002–2014 47.760 17.944 this study (observed J. Lengyel, J. Kautman) dead river arm, occasional observation, several adult individuals

*SNM = Slovak National Museum in Bratislava, Slovakia

or environmentalists, as well as through our own (marshes, artificial canals, oxbows, etc.). Individuals unpublished observations. In response to Burešová et were not captured but only observed by visual survey. al. (2001), our current database is divided into three time periods (until 1971, 1971–2001, after 2001) and Results includes name of the locality, date of observation, habitat, coordinates, references and important notes In total, 36 published and unpublished localities with if necessary (Table 1). Coordinates of some historical occurrence of E. orbicularis were recorded in western records correspond to the closest village nearby and Slovakia (Figure 1, Table 1). Nine localities (seven new do not represent the exact sites of the recorded finding. ones with respect to records until the year 1971) were Localities with a known or assumed introduction of E. recorded in the years 1971-2001. Faunistical records orbicularis were specially denoted. after the year 2001 include 16 localities (thirteen new During 2001–2015 we were also searching for E. records with respect to data from the previous time orbicularis in most of the historical and possible recent intervals). According to available data, E. orbicularis localities in southwestern Slovakia (Záhorská and was recently recorded only in the Danubian and Danubian Lowlands). A special focus was devoted to Záhorská Lowlands. the vicinity of Komárno, from where a few anecdotal From the recent records in western Slovakia (after observations have been recorded in the last years. We 2001) we would like to emphasize new observations searched for E. orbicularis during spring and early (Figure 1, Table 1), which could be considered as summer in aquatic habitats suitable for this species autochthonous: Bratislava - Chorvátske rameno Critically endangered European pond turtle in western Slovakia 621

Figure 2. Emys orbicularis and its habitat in the newly discovered reproducing population in Marcelová: A – adult and subadult individuals; B – juvenile; C, D – habitat of E. orbicularis (artificial canal) near Marcelová village.

(Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin; one individual), Hungary were released as a part of a reintroduction Bratislava - Jarovce (Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin; programme, but only in Bratislava - Biskupické rameno, one adult individual), Bratislava - Rusovce (Danubian were observed repeatedly after the release. The origin Lowland, Danube Basin; several adult individuals), of turtles observed in Chorvátsky Grob (Danubian Čakany (Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin; one adult Lowland, Danube Basin), Chorvátsky Grob - Čierna individual), Devínská Nová Ves (Záhorská Lowland, Voda stream (Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin) and Morava River Basin; one adult individual), Hurbanovo Gbelce - Parížské močiare (Danubian Lowland, Danube (Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin; one individual), Basin) is questionable. Marcelová (Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin; tens of A unique observation of E. orbicularis comes from the adults, subadults and juvenile individuals; Figure 2A– locality Marcelová, which represents the third known D), Palárikovo (Danubian Lowland, Váh Basin; one reproducing population in Slovakia and the only one in adult individual), Štúrovo (Danubian Lowland, Danube the western part of the country. Individuals of all age Basin, several adult individuals), Veľká Maňa (Danubian stages have regularly been observed there since 2003 Lowland, Danube Basin, two adult individuals) and (Figure 2A, B). This locality is situated in a triangle Veľký Lél (Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin; three between the Komárno town, Marcelová and Moča adult individuals). villages (in order to protect the population we do not In three sites (Bratislava - Biskupické rameno, present the exact location), at the elevation of 107 m Danubian Lowland, Danube Basin; Prievaly - Hlaviny a.s.l. The habitat at the locality is formed by an artificial and Rohožník - Konopiská, both situated in Záhorská canal which is about 20 m wide. Water in the canal Lowland, Morava River Basin) turtles originally from flows slowly and its banks are covered by reed (Figure 622 Daniel Jablonski et al.

2C, D). A small sand dune covered by xerophilic grass as well as recent (Veľký Lél or vicinity of Dunaalmás vegetation is situated in close vicinity of the canal and in Hungary; Farkas, 2000) records of E. orbicularis may serve as a nest site for females. are known from the vicinity of Marcelová, suggesting an autochthonous origin of the newly discovered Discussion population. Despite the fact, that the European pond turtle is Most of the records of E. orbicularis in the study protected in the European Union by the Fauna-Flora- area are occasional observations of single individuals, Habitat Directive, Annexes II and IV, as well as Annex that may be attributed either to recent migration from II of the Berne Convention, and is classified as a Hungary or Austria or to the inconspicuous life of critically endangered species in the Red list of Slovak turtles, due to which they can be easily overlooked. On reptiles according to IUCN criteria (Kautman et al., the other hand, there are western Slovakian localities 2001; Urban and Kautman, 2014), there are no ongoing where turtles were released as a part of a reintroduction conservation activities for this species in Slovakia (Bona programme operated by the State Nature Conservancy et al., 2013). The exact data regarding the abundance, of the Slovak Republic (Burešová et al., 2001; Vongrej, density and dynamics of populations are not available pers. comm.). While in Biskupické rameno near for Slovakia with the exception of the population in Bratislava turtles were observed repeatedly in 2009– Tajba NNR, where population size was estimated to be 2015, turtles, which had been introduced to Prievaly - 171 individuals in 2010 (Bona et al., 2013). Detailed Hlaviny and Rohožník - Konopiská were observed only data about distribution, reproductive biology, ecology or in the 1990s and in 2004, respectively. Therefore, it is genetic diversity are also missing. Therefore, apart from questionable if turtles still live there. Individuals which conservation activities focusing on habitat protection, were included in the reintroduction programme originate there is a substantial need for studies of E. orbicularis from Györ in northwestern Hungary and Fülöpháza in in Slovakia. Recent single observations, as well as the central Hungary (Burešová et al., 2001; Vongrej, pers. discovery of the third reproducing population near comm.), and represent the same evolutionary lineage Marcelová suggest, that E. orbicularis has a potential as turtles from eastern Slovakia (Fritz et al., 2007). to occupy human-dominated and fragmented landscape The origin of turtles from the other two sites near in western Slovakia. This lowland region with its rivers, Chorvátsky Grob and Chorvátsky Grob - Čierna Voda river branches, oxbows and artificial canals might stream is questionable. Both localities are situated near represent the crucial stepping stone for the migration of the Šúr Biological Station where turtles involved in E. orbicularis to the northern parts of its range, where the reintroduction programme are kept and bred and it many local populations have already become extinct cannot be excluded that these individuals escaped from (Sommer et al., 2007, 2009). a breeding station as hatchlings or juveniles. The origin of the turtles found in Gbelce - Parížské močiare is also Acknowledgments. We would like to thank (alphabetically) doubtful, because there are anecdotal reports about the P. Holec, T. Hulík, H. Imrichová, V. Kubán, J. Medveď, M. introduction of a few individuals from another Slovak Melišková, V. Prachár, P. Puchala, D. Senko, A. Trnka and locality Chľaba (locality 18 in Tab. 1). Turtles were V. Vongrej for providing valuable information about the periodically observed in Gbelce - Parížské močiare and reintroduction programme or records of Emys orbicularis in it cannot be excluded that they even reproduce there western Slovakia. since four juvenile individuals were found in 2014 (Medveď, in verb.). References A special conservation attention should be given to Bartová, J. (1999): Možnosť reintrodukcie korytnačky močiarnej the population of E. orbicularis in Marcelová, the third (Emys orbicularis) v PR Torozlín. Unpublished MSc thesis, known reproducing population in Slovakia and the only Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, one in the western part of the country. This locality fully Slovakia. meets ecological demands of the species (sensu Široký Bartová, J. (2000): Možnosti reštitúcie korytnačky močiarnej et al., 2001): (i) water habitat with slowly flowing water, (Emys orbicularis) v prírodnej rezervácii Torozlín. 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Accepted by Iris Starnberger