Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Urban, C. A., Morgan, R. T., Avery, H. W., & R.Spotila, J. (2006). Distribution of the invasive red-eared slider turtle (trachemys scripta elegans) in the lower delaware river basin Pennsylvania Sea Grant Applied Research Program.
Added by: Admin (01 Aug 2010 18:22:07 UTC) |
| Resource type: Report/Documentation BibTeX citation key: Urban2006 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat = habitat, invasive Arten = invasive species, Nordamerika = North America, Pseudemys, Pseudemys rubriventris, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Trachemys, Trachemys scripta Creators: Avery, Morgan, R.Spotila, Urban Publisher: Pennsylvania Sea Grant Applied Research Program |
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| Abstract |
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The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is an introduced species that potentially threatens native turtles throughout the United States and the world. We visited twenty-seven study sites in the Delaware River drainage a total of 116 times. During the 2005-2006 field seasons, 535 turtles representing five species were observed. Red-eared sliders were detected at twenty of the twenty-seven study sites (74%). Of these twenty sites, the mean number of red-eared sliders observed was four per site. Red-bellied turtles (Pseudemys rubriventris) were observed at seventeen of the twenty-seven sites (63%; mean number of red- bellied turtles observed per site = 5). Red-bellied turtles were more abundant than red-eared sliders at eight of the sixteen sites where both species were observed (50%) and red-eared sliders were more abundant at four of the sixteen sites (25%). Both species occurred at a 1:1 ratio at four of the sixteen sites (25%). Hatchling, sub-adult and nesting female turtles were observed for both red-eared slider populations (35%) and red-bellied turtle populations (47%), indicating potential population recruitment for each species. Our results indicate that red-eared sliders have established populations within known red-bellied sites. However it remains unknown whether red-eared sliders are competing with red-bellied turtles for resources or if there are associated declines in red-bellied turtle populations due to the introduction of red-eared slider turtles. Further studies are needed to determine whether or not competition exists between the two species.
Added by: Admin |