Interspecific differences in chemosensory responses of freshwater turtles: consequences for competition between native and invasive species

Polo‐Cavia, Nuria; López, Pílar; Martı́n, José

doi:10.1007/s10530-008-9260-z

Cited by 54 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…They suggested remote identification and active avoidance of interactions with heterospecific competitors by the native species. Also, avoidance by M. leprosa of water with chemical cues of T. scripta has been experimentally demonstrated (Polo-Cavia et al 2009a), which suggests that Spanish terrapins actively avoid areas occupied by introduced sliders.…”

Section: Air -Water Temperature (°C)mentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Although the nature of the interaction between sliders and Spanish terrapins is not clear, it is possible that direct competition for food, refuges or basking places is present (Crucitti et al 1990). Recent studies indicated that sliders have diverse advantages over Spanish terrapins (Polo-Cavia et al 2008, 2009a. Competition for basking sites has been described between sliders and the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) (Cadi and Joly 2003), and field observations suggest that competition is very likely to occur also between sliders and the Spanish terrapin, as both turtle species are commonly forced to share basking sites (Díaz-Paniagua et al 2002;Pleguezuelos 2002), such as emergent rocks or logs, which may be a restricted resource in the wild (Cadi and Joly 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Competitive interactions during basking between native and invasive freshwater turtle species

2009

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The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is currently introduced in many Mediterranean countries, where it behaves as an invasive species that competes and displaces native populations of the endangered Spanish terrapin (Mauremys leprosa). However, the nature of competitive interactions is relatively unknown. During basking activity, factors like greater body size or pre-existing behavioral adaptations to an original habitat with higher levels of interspecific competition might confer competitive advantages to introduced T. scripta with respect to native terrapins. We hypothesized that competition for basking places with the introduced T. scripta might negatively affect the efficiency of basking and thermoregulation of the native Spanish terrapin. We experimentally analyzed the basking activity of T. scripta and M. leprosa under occasional and long-term situations of intra-and inter-specific competition. Native M. leprosa subjected to interspecific competition reduced their basking activity, basked for shorter periods than T. scripta, and avoided basking stacked with the exotic turtles. These results suggested the displacement from the basking sites of the native terrapin by the introduced T. scripta. The decreased basking activity of native M. leprosa when competing directly for basking places with introduced sliders may lead native terrapins to a loss in the efficiency of physiological functions related to ineffective thermoregulation, such as digestion or locomotor performance, thus favoring the expansion of the invasive species.

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Section: Air -Water Temperature (°C)mentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competitive interactions during basking between native and invasive freshwater turtle species

2009

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“…When shared resources become limited, red-eared slider turtles negatively impact the growth of native turtles, and are also expected to cause long-term population declines in native species that are already threatened, such as the red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris) (Pearson et al 2013(Pearson et al , 2015. Even the presence of slider turtle chemical stimuli can lead to the avoidance of such localities by native turtle species (Polo-Cavia et al 2009). While the import of T. s. elegans to the European Union has been prohibited since 1997, new records continue to be reported as pet animals that were imported before 1997 or bred in captivity are discarded in the wild.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of an alien turtle predator on movement activity of European brown frog tadpoles

Berec

Klapka

Zemek

2016

Italian Journal of Zoology

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An increasing amount of attention has been devoted to studying the impact of non-native plant and animal species on native species. In this paper, we examined the antipredator response of naïve European brown frog (Rana temporaria Linnaeus, 1758) tadpoles to water-borne chemical cues from invasive red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans Wied, 1838) in the presence and the absence of conspecific tadpoles. The level of swimming activity was expressed as the length of the tadpoles' trajectory. The tadpoles showed a decrease in swimming activity when predator stimuli were present, which was highly significant when the tadpoles were measured individually and did not have contact (visual and chemical) with other tadpoles. In the absence of chemical cues of slider turtles, the presence of other tadpoles had no effect on the level of swimming activity. Moreover, for the first time in tadpoles, we found that the decrease in swimming activity was also accompanied by changes in swimming trajectory, with tadpoles exposed to predator cues swimming in more zigzagged trajectories. Our experiment shows that invasive slider turtles, as a novel predator, have a measurable influence on the swimming behaviour of European brown frog tadpoles. Consequences of the reduced swimming activity of tadpoles, like its impact on growth, are discussed.

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“…In direct competition, native turtles seem to rely on water-borne chemical cues to discriminate between conspecifics and heterospecifics, thus avoiding potential costly interactions with exotic turtles, deserting resources or displacing to less preferred areas (POLO-CAVIA et al, 2009a). Thus, the higher aggressiveness and dominance of sliders in competition for food or basking sites may lead native terrapins to a detriment in their nutritional state and thermoregulatory behaviour (POLO-CAVIA et al, 2010a.…”

Section: Synthesis and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interference competition between native Iberian turtles and the exotic Trachemys scripta

Polo‐Cavia

López

Martı́n³

2014

Basic Appl Herpetol

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The red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, is a worldwide invasive species, currently introduced in most freshwater habitats as a consequence of the exotic pet trade. In the Iberian Peninsula, this American turtle is competing and displacing the Iberian turtles, Emys orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa. Recent studies have pointed out to diverse competitive advantages of sliders over Iberian terrapins. For instance, native turtles avoid chemical cues from T. scripta, which is more aggressive and dominant in direct competition for food and basking places. This avoidance behaviour displayed by Iberian terrapins might serve as a spacing mechanism to avoid unfavourable competitive interactions with the introduced species. Sliders also benefit from morphological and thermoregulatory advantages: they are more spherical, thus presenting a less surface to volume ratio and a greater thermal inertia that facilitates heat retention. On the other hand, introduced turtles show a more accurate assessment of predatory risk in altered habitats, and are more efficient predators of local prey than native species. These inter-specific asymmetries could contribute jointly to the greater competitive ability of introduced T. scripta, thus facilitating the expansion of this alien species in detriment of native populations of Iberian terrapins. Interferencias competitivas entre los galápagos nativos ibéricos y el galápago exótico Trachemys scripta. El galápago de Florida, Trachemys scripta elegans, es una especie invasora a nivel mundial, introducida en la mayor parte de los ecosistemas acuáticos como consecuencia del comercio masivo de mascotas. En la Península Ibérica, este galápago americano compite y desplaza a los galápagos ibéricos, Emys orbicularis y Mauremys leprosa. Estudios recientes han puesto de manifiesto la existencia de diversas ventajas competitivas del galápago de Florida sobre los galápagos nativos ibéricos. Por ejemplo, los galápagos nativos evitan ocupar espacios donde detectan secreciones químicas de los galápagos exóticos, quienes se muestran más agresivos y dominantes en la competencia directa por la comida y los recursos de asoleamiento. Este comportamiento aversivo podría ser utilizado por las especies nativas para evitar las interacciones competitivas desfavorables con la especie invasora. Los galápagos de Florida se benefician también de ventajas morfológicas y termorreguladoras: presentan una forma más esférica y por tanto una menor relación superficie-volumen y una mayor inercia térmica que facilita la retención de calor. Por otra parte, los galápagos exóticos muestran un mejor ajuste del riesgo de depredación en hábitats alterados y poseen ventajas en la captura de presas nativas. Estas asimetrías inter-específicas podrían contribuir conjuntamente a una mayor habilidad competitiva del galápa-go de Florida, facilitando la expansión de esta especie invasora en detrimento de las poblaciones nativas de galápagos ibéricos.

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Interspecific differences in chemosensory responses of freshwater turtles: consequences for competition between native and invasive species

Cited by 54 publications

References 36 publications

Competitive interactions during basking between native and invasive freshwater turtle species

Competitive interactions during basking between native and invasive freshwater turtle species

Effect of an alien turtle predator on movement activity of European brown frog tadpoles

Interference competition between native Iberian turtles and the exotic Trachemys scripta

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