Izvorni znanstveni članak
First survey on the invasive Pond slider (Trachemys scripta) in Bulgaria: historic development and current situation
Nikolay Tzankov
; National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Georgi Popgeorgiev
; Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, PO Box 50, 1111 Sofia, Bulgaria
Yurii Kornilev
; National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Nikolay Natchev
; Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna University, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Andrey Stoyanov
; National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Borislav Naumov
; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Ivo Ivanchev
; Gea Chelonia Foundation, 10, Shipka str. 8239 Banya, Nessebar municipal, Bourgas district, Bulgaria
Sažetak
Pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) have become a popular pet in Bulgaria since 1990. Through the years a number of released specimens were observed in the wild. Although the negative effects on native turtles have been studied extensively elsewhere, no specific studies (besides brief reports) have addressed the invasion of T. scripta in Bulgaria. The present study is based on over 25 years of field monitoring and represents the first source of detailed information on the distribution of the Pond slider in Bulgaria. A total of 293 UTM (10×10 km) squares with habitats suitable for freshwater turtles were surveyed. We collected 64 records for 173 individuals, from 19 UTM squares. From all observed individuals, only two were from the nominate subspecies – the rest belong to T. s. elegans. In our study only one subadult was observed. To date no successful hatching has been recorded, although successful overwinterings have been registered. We discuss various mitigation measures that must be rapidly initiated to limit future release of Pond sliders and to remove the non-native specimens from the Bulgarian ecosystems. Actions are demanded especially to avoid the potential epizootic events caused by parasites with highly lethal effect on native species. Such outbreaks might potentially have greater impact on the native pond turtle species than various forms of competition with T. scripta.
Ključne riječi
Bulgaria; Red-eared slider; pet trade; freshwater turtle communities; invasion; monitoring
Hrčak ID:
147158
URI
Datum izdavanja:
31.7.2015.
Posjeta: 2.449 *