Feeding habits of the European pond terrapin Emys orbicularis in Camargue (Rhône delta, Southern France)

Ottonello, Dario; Salvidio, Sebastiano; Rosecchi, E.

doi:10.1163/156853805774806241

Cited by 31 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…However, it has been disputed whether vegetable remains should be considered as eaten "by mistake" (e.g., Lebboroni and Chelazzi, 1992;Kotenko, 2000). In their recent paper, Ottonello et al (2005) found plant remains in 89% of faeces of adult E. orbicularis. This amount of plant items can hardly be considered to be eaten by mistake: plants are among the most common food items, furthermore adults feed more frequently on plants than juveniles, and the amount of ingested plants increases during the post breeding period (Ottonello et al, 2005).…”

Section: Gentile Francesco Ficetola Fiorenza De Bernardimentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In their recent paper, Ottonello et al (2005) found plant remains in 89% of faeces of adult E. orbicularis. This amount of plant items can hardly be considered to be eaten by mistake: plants are among the most common food items, furthermore adults feed more frequently on plants than juveniles, and the amount of ingested plants increases during the post breeding period (Ottonello et al, 2005). These results are consistent with those found in other Mediterranean populations Chelazzi, 1992, 1998), and suggest that E. orbicularis is not entirely carnivorous.…”

Section: Gentile Francesco Ficetola Fiorenza De Bernardimentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Terrestrial activity is frequently performed also by males (Nalleau, 1992); for example the upland environment is used for aestivation, hibernation and for travelling (Naulleau, 1992;Fritz and Gunther, 1996;Utzeri and Serra, 2001). Moreover, the abundance of terrestrial insects in the diet of E. or-bicularis found by Ottonello et al (2005) suggests that upland environment can be important also for feeding, since E. orbicularis can feed also in an upland environment (Lanza, 1983). The importance of the upland environment for this species can be detected also at a landscape scale.…”

Section: Is E Orbicularis a Strictly Aquatic Species?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is the European "pond" turtle Emys orbicularis strictly aquatic and carnivorous?

Ficetola¹,

Bernardi²

2006

Amphib Reptilia

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In their recent, straightforward overview of the evolution of Emydid Turtles, Stephens and Wiens (2003) treat Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) as a strictly "aquatic" and "carnivorous" turtle. This interpretation directly draws from the current point of view about the ecology of E. orbicularis. Interestingly, E. orbicularis is the only species within the subfamily Emydinae considered to be both strictly aquatic and carnivorous. As a consequence, within emydid turtles, two simultaneous changes in diet and habitat have been invoked in the evolution of E. orbicularis: the recent ancestors of E. orbicularis were likely omnivore and semi-terrestrial (habitat and dietary generalist), thus it has been hypothesized that E. orbicularis evolved a more specialised ecology, becoming strictly carnivorous and aquatic, and thus a habitat and dietary specialist (Stephens and Wiens, 2003). It is worth noting that, following this reconstruction, E. orbicularis is the only taxon (out of 64 analysed by Stephens and Wiens) in which a simultaneous change in habitat and diet seems to have occurred.However, evidences from recent studies suggest that E. orbicularis is not strictly carnivorous or aquatic: these findings suggest that the "simultaneous changes" hypothesis could be caused by a bias in the existing literature about E. orbicularis. A reanalysis of available data about the ecology of E. orbicularis can also

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Section: Gentile Francesco Ficetola Fiorenza De Bernardimentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Gentile Francesco Ficetola Fiorenza De Bernardimentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Is E Orbicularis a Strictly Aquatic Species?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is the European "pond" turtle Emys orbicularis strictly aquatic and carnivorous?

Ficetola¹,

Bernardi²

2006

Amphib Reptilia

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“…Turtles spend an important part of their daily activity budget submerged and may select sites with warmer water. In addition, the presence/absence of submerged vegetation can also affect foraging by allowing higher densities of invertebrates, tadpoles and other potential prey items of this turtle that, especially at juvenile stage, eats a large percentage of animal food (Fritz, 2003;Ottonello et al, 2005). Similarly, the type of riparian vegetation may have a predation avoidance role, but it will also arguably affect water and basking site temperature through shading and by affecting wind exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attributes of basking sites of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in central Italy

et al. 2015

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Attributes of basking sites are important elements to study in management plans of threatened freshwater turtles. Here, we analyzed the basking-site characteristics of European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) populations in a Mediterranean territory of central Italy (Tolfa Mountains, Latium). We used logistic regression and Principal Components Analysis to characterize 29 presence sites versus 61 random sites, through 16 descriptive variables recorded within a 5 m radius from the sighting/target spot. Our analyses revealed that some variables (i.e. water turbidity, presence of small coves, submerged vegetation, and emergent tree-trunks) were those that influenced most strongly the presence of turtles on potential basking sites. Maintenance of deadwood in water and preservation of submerged aquatic vegetation should be included in the management planning for this turtle species in central Italy.

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“…Vegetation was found to predominate over animal matter in the diet of M. leprosa (Fritz, 2001;Keller and Busack, 2001). In contrast, E. orbicularis is considered to be a predominantly carnivorous species which also can ingest vegetation (Ottonello, Salvidio and Rosecchi, 2005;Ficetola and De Bernardi, 2006). The diets of the two native species were thoroughly assessed in Doñana National Park (the same area that includes one of our study ponds) before the introduction of the exotic turtles, when the ingestion of exotic crayfish was already detected among the animal matter ingested by both species (Keller and García-Mudarra, unpublished data).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does the exotic invader turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, compete for food with coexisting native turtles?

et al. 2011

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Nowadays, established populations of exotic turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, coexist with native turtles in the wild in southern Spain. We analysed the diet of this exotic species and compared it with the diet of the two native species (Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis) in two ponds. The exotic turtle is an opportunistic omnivore. In one of our study ponds where exotic invasive crayfish were very abundant, adult and juvenile exotic turtles fed mainly on this prey. In the other study pond, juveniles fed mainly on animal matter and adults ate similar proportions of plants and animals. Native turtles also ingested mainly crayfish in the first study pond, but M. leprosa were mainly herbivorous in the second pond. We did not detect strong differences among the diets of the three species. While native species significantly differ in their diets, the exotic turtles did not differ from some groups of native ones. Exotic turtles had the widest range of food, overlapping the food spectra of different age groups of the two native species in both localities. Comparing with previous reports on native turtles diet of the same area, our results did not reveal changes in the diet which could be associated to interactions with exotic turtles, but the observed shift to a higher proportion of animals in the diet in one of the ponds were mainly due to the high abundance of exotic crayfish.

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Feeding habits of the European pond terrapin Emys orbicularis in Camargue (Rhône delta, Southern France)

Cited by 31 publications

References 16 publications

Is the European "pond" turtle Emys orbicularis strictly aquatic and carnivorous?

Is the European "pond" turtle Emys orbicularis strictly aquatic and carnivorous?

Attributes of basking sites of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in central Italy

Does the exotic invader turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, compete for food with coexisting native turtles?

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