Literaturdatenbank
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Domènech Rosell, F., Marquina, R., Soler, L., Valls, L., Aznar, F. J., & Fernández, M., et al. , Helminth communities of read-eared slider, trachemys scripta, in valencia (spain): What implication have on the conservation of native turtles? Unpublished paper presented at XII Congresso Luso Espanhol de Herpetologia.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:22:45 UTC) |
| Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: DomnechRosell2012 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Emys orbicularis, Geoemydidae, Habitat - habitat, invasive Arten - invasive species, Mauremys leprosa, Parasiten - parasites, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Südwesteuropa - South-Western Europa, Trachemys scripta Creators: Aznar, Domènech Rosell, Fernández, Gómez, Marquina, Soler, Tarrazona, Valls Collection: XII Congresso Luso Espanhol de Herpetologia |
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The freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta is an invasive species that coexist in Spain with the native turtles Emys orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa, competing for basking sites and changing their behavior through chemical signals. Apart from these direct harmful effects, other indirect effects could be associated to the parasitic fauna of T. scripta, i.e. this species could (a) introduce potentially pathogenic parasites, and (b) act as a viable host for parasites of native turtles. If native parasites were able to reproduce in T. scripta, the increase of local density of compatible hosts might raise the infection levels in native turtles. We analyzed the digestive tract and associated viscerae of 54 individuals of T. scripta from 5 localities in the Valencian Community. Three helminth species were collected: the monogenean Neopolystoma orbiculare (Prevalence (P): 10.9% : , mean intensity (IM): 1.4 ), the digenean Telorchis solivagus (P: 30.4% , IM: 10.3 ) and the nematode Serpinema microcephalus (P: 2.2% ; IM: 1). Neopolystoma orbiculare is an alien species associated with T. scripta that may colonize and generate pathogenic effects on native freshwater turtles. Telorchis solivagus and S. microcephalus are typical parasites of native turtles. The presence of gravid individuals of both species in T. scripta suggests that this species can act as a potential new host. Since the densities of T. scripta in the study area are very high, this phenomenon could have unwanted consequences for the conservation of native turtles because populations of these parasites could increase considerably, generating higher pathogenic effects. Indirect effects associated to parasites would require greater attention in conservation programs of endangered species such as E. orbicularis and M. leprosa.
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