A.N. Reshetnikov1 , M.G. Zibrova1 , D. Ayaz, S. Bhattarai, O.V. Borodin, A. Borzee, J. Brejcha, K. Çicek, M. Dimaki, I.V. Doronin, S.M. Drobenkov, T.N. Duysebaeva, U.A. Gichikhanova, A.Y. Gladkova, D.A. Gordeev, Y. Ioannidids, M.P. Ilyukh, E.A. Interesova, T.D. Jadhav, D.P. Karabanov, V.F. Khabibullin, T.K. Khabilov, M.M.M. Khan, A.A. Kidov, A.S. Klimov, D. Kochetkov, V.G. Kolbintsev, S.L. Kuzmin, S.S. Larukova, K.Y. Lotiev, N.E. Luppova, V.D. Lvov, S.M. Lyapkov, I.M. Martynenko, I.V. Maslova, Rafaqat Masroor, L.F. Mazanaeva, D. Milko, K.D. Milto, O. Mozaffari, T. Nguyen, R.V. Novitsky, Y. Peimin, A.B. Petrovskiy, V.A. Prelovskiy, V.V. Serbin, Hai-tao Shi, N. Skalon, R. Struijk, M. Taniguchi, D. Tarkhnishvili, V. Tsurkan, O.Y. Tutenkov, M.V. Ushakov, D.A. Vekhov, Fanrong Xiao, A.V. Yakimov, T.I. Yakovleva, F.M. Zeleev, V.G. Petrosyan1
В издании Invasion of Alien Species in Holarctic. Borok-VI : sixth International Symposium. Book of abstracts
Год: 2021 Страницы: 191
Biological invasions are recognized as one of the global problems accompanying the development of human civilization. The red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, originates from North America. This freshwater terrapin is one of the most popular pet reptiles in Eurasia. Young red-eared slider individuals are small and brightly colored, making them very attractive for aquarists. However, these animals grow rapidly and large individuals require more space, are less pleasant, aggressive and prone to biting. Releasing them in a nearest water body is a common way to dispose of the annoying pet. This terrapin easily adapts to outdoor conditions, can reproduce and establish stable populations in regions with appropriate climates. Uncontrolled releases of this omnivorous animal into outdoor water bodies represents a serious conservational issue. To date, data on spatial expansion and invasion ecology of this reptile were not systemized in the most parts of Eurasia. We combined and analyzed our own original and literature data on the distribution and ecology of this terrapin throughout Eurasia in the past 50 years. The invasion of this reptile in outdoor water bodies first started in two distant locations of Eurasia and was later driven by numerous independent releases across the continent. The geographical expansion of this reptile gradually enlarged up to the present time and is continuing. For example, we recently detected this terrapin in eight “new” countries as well as several distant regions of Russia for the first time. Currently, the red-eared slider has been documented in natural water bodies in more than seventy countries of Europe and Asia. We analyzed and described differences in ecology of the red-eared slider in different parts of Eurasia and listed regions with a lack of appropriate information on the ecology for this subspecies. Records of successful reproduction coincide well with the calculated potential range based on climatic requirements in the native range. However, records with proven successful wintering have a much wider distribution. This invader provides an excellent but rare example of wide invasion without establishment of reproducing populations but rather through the recruitment of new individuals to add to the increasing pseudopopulations formed by multiple releases. Therefore, when planning measures for control of alien groups of the pond slider, the strategy against this invasive reptile must also take into account the geographical area of successful wintering even without reproduction.
