Population abundance, structure and movements of the European pond turtle, <i>Emys orbicularis</i> (Linnaeus 1758) based on capture-recapture data in a Venice Lagoon wetland area, Italy

Liuzzo, M.; Borella, Stefano; Ottonello, Dario; Arizza, Vincenzo; Malavasi, Stefano

doi:10.1080/03949370.2020.1870567

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Wild populations of the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis inhabit this area of mixed natural and abandoned fishing valley habitat. A recent study about the abundance estimation of the E. orbicularis population in this study site, have showed one of the most populated areas of the Italian peninsula (Liuzzo et al, 2021). On the national red list of IUCN, the conservation status of E. orbicularis was established "Endangered" (Andreone et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…A total of 36 captures (10 in the end of September 2019, 10 in the end of September 2020 and 16 at the beginning of June 2020) were obtained; among these 10 were already marked in previous studies (Liuzzo et al, 2021). Out of the examined individuals, 17 adults males, 16 adults females and 3 juveniles were collected with an overall capture sex ratio of [MM/(MM + FF)] = 0.5.…”

Section: Sampled Individualsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Of these, about 83 ha are owned by WWF and include emerged lands, freshwater wetlands, two brackish lakes and saltmarshes. Salinity ranges between 0.5 and 12 depending on the season and distance of the study site from the sea (higher values were recorded during summer in water bodies near the lagoon) (Liuzzo et al, 2021). The study area included in the list of wetlands of international importance, according to the Ramsar Convention.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At capture, after the morphometric measurements, each adult female was processed manually with palpation of the inguinal region in order to detect for any oviductal egg (Zuffi et al, 2005). The population structure was determined by dividing SCL data in size classes of 10 mm (Ottonello et al, 2017b;Liuzzo et al, 2021).…”

Section: Trapping and Radiotrackingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, it was fully protected within the frame of the NATURA 2000 network. However, even though the species was reported along the inland margins of the Venice lagoon (Agapito Ludovici, Di Francesco and Di Tizio, 2013;Ficetola et al, 2013) with high density values recorded in the Valle Averto Oasis (Liuzzo et al, 2021) a lack of information still exists relating to basic life-history and only a few studies were carried out on its behavioural ecology (Lebboroni and Chelazzi, 1991;Zuffi et al, 2020). This may result in difficulties when designing effective management plans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparing activity and space patterns of the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (L., 1758) in a Venice Lagoon wetland area: implications for conservation planning and management

et al. 2023

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Behavioural and spatial distribution analyses were quantified during a phase of activity and lethargy in a wild population of the European pond turtle inhabiting a protected internal wetland area of the Venice lagoon. The marked individuals (13 males and 16 females) provided informative radiotracking data to study differential patterns of activity, dispersion and habitat use between the two study periods (“October-November both 2019 and 2020” and “June-July 2020”). The differences in the movements behaviours and habitat selection were affected by period. Movements were higher in the period of activity than lethargy, but they were not influenced by sex and size. The presence of the European pond turtle in the transitional woodland/shrubs and brackish water valley habitats was significantly higher in the period of activity than lethargy. During the latter one, pond turtles were observed to brumate gregariously in a small area for brumation, usually in shallow water. In contrast, all individuals have changed water bodies during the activity period. Part of those movements has occurred towards aquatic habitat with higher salinities 1-17 (mean: 10.64). These findings provide a set of information to better understand the behavioural ecology of Emys orbicularis in the lagoon area. This is of relevance for management actions and for the conservation of this threatened species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Sampled Individualsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Trapping and Radiotrackingmentioning

confidence: 99%