Alien Freshwater Turtles in Greece: Citizen Science Reveals the Hydra-Headed Issue of the Pet Turtle Trade

Kalaentzis, Konstantinos; Kazilas, Christos; Strachinis, Ilias; Tzoras, Elias; Lymberakis, Petros

doi:10.3390/d15050691

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Given the limited knowledge we currently have about the extent of C. serpentina invasion in China, it is essential to prioritize monitoring efforts in the areas indicated by our risk map. Citizen science, which involves public participation in data collection and analysis, has proven to be an effective approach for monitoring biological invasions and detecting IAS at an early stage (Kalaentzis et al, 2023). Although the unique shape traits of C. serpentina make it easier to identify in the wild (Ernst and Lovich, 2009), underwater observation can still be challenging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the invasion risk of Chelydra serpentina in China under current and future climate change scenarios

Mu,

2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Chelydra serpentina, a species introduced to China for aquaculture purposes, is commonly found in its natural habitats within the country. The invasion of C. serpentina poses potential threats to both the biodiversity of China and human health. The potential distribution of C. serpentina has been simulated using the species distribution model – MaxEnt, incorporating global distribution data, climate, and land cover variables. Our simulations encompasses both current conditions and four future climate change scenarios. Currently, the potential distribution is concentrated in central, eastern, and southeastern regions of China, with the central and eastern regions facing the highest risk of invasion. Under future climate change scenarios, the distribution area may expand by 30–90%, and multiple provinces will face a more severe threat of invasion. This study presents the inaugural simulation of the potential invasion range of C. serpentina under current climatic conditions. Moreover, it reveals that climate change is likely to contribute to the expansion of its invasive range, thus furnishing a reference foundation for scientific prevention and control measures. We propose integrating citizen science and eDNA technologies into species monitoring to enhance the efficiency of detecting invasive species. This research has filled the gap in the research on the invasive distribution range of C. serpentina in China and globally, while also providing novel perspectives on the invasion control of this species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the invasion risk of Chelydra serpentina in China under current and future climate change scenarios

Mu,

2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…Freshwater turtles are well known as popular pets globally [43][44][45][46], and this species is also being exploited illegally in the trade. In our study area, there are reports of natives often keeping them as pets since they are relatively harmless and are often easy to take care of.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aboriginal Tribe’s Knowledge of the Endangered Freshwater Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Car Nicobar, a Remote Oceanic Island in the Bay of Bengal

Kiruba-Sankar,

Adamala,

Barman

et al. 2023

Fishes

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Freshwater turtles are among the least studied faunas in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Here, we report the presence of freshwater turtles (Cuora amboinensis) from Car Nicobar, a small remote island in the Nicobar archipelago comprising the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the people belonging to Nicobarese tribes (n = 233) to gather their local ecological knowledge as supportive information to obtain a better understanding of the status of turtles in Car Nicobar. Most interviewees (90%) opined that freshwater turtles are found to be rare or very rare on the Island. All the respondents (100%) expressed willingness to contribute to future conservation projects. Community-level awareness emerged as a prominent issue for future conservation using the Garrett ranking method. A stream network map was prepared using the digital elevation model to visualize streams and potential habitats of turtles. This report on the freshwater turtles is essential from an ecological perspective since information is scarce on the freshwater turtles in Car Nicobar. This study emphasizes the importance of the engagement of stakeholders in conservation projects and recommends providing adequate attention to the conservation and protection of freshwater turtle diversity in Car Nicobar.

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Highlighting overlooked biodiversity through online platforms: The “Chalcid Wasps of Cyprus” website

Koutsoukos,

Demetriou,

Georgiadis

et al. 2024

BDJ

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Biodiversity data platforms including databases, websites and data repositories underpin conservation efforts by collecting spatiotemporal data of discovered native and alien species and maps of their distributions. Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) are one of the most diverse insect groups estimated to include half a million species. Being mostly parasitoids of other arthropods, they have been successfully used as biological control agents against serious agricultural pests worldwide. In Cyprus, only 124 species of chalcid wasps have been recorded, with 53 species being alien to the island. Their true biodiversity is predicted to be much larger because the island is both under-sampled and under-researched. A number of biodiversity data platforms focusing on the biodiversity of Cyprus are currently online; however, an online platform dedicated on the chalcid wasps of Cyprus is lacking. In the framework of the Darwin Plus Fellowship (DPLUS202) “Species richness and biological invasions of Chalcid wasps in Akrotiri Peninsula”, the “Chalcid wasps of Cyprus” website (https://sites.google.com/view/chalcidwaspscyprus) is presented. This online, dynamic database aims to: (1) raise public awareness regarding a rather neglected and yet ecologically important insect group, (2) provide data on the morphology, ecology and biodiversity of Chalcidoidea on Cyprus, as well as (3) promote conservation needs by setting a baseline for the future assessment of both native and alien chalcid wasp species. This online platform will be regularly revised in order to provide an up-to-date, user-friendly digital environment to the scientific community, policy-makers and citizens.

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Alien Freshwater Turtles in Greece: Citizen Science Reveals the Hydra-Headed Issue of the Pet Turtle Trade

Cited by 3 publications

References 64 publications

Assessing the invasion risk of Chelydra serpentina in China under current and future climate change scenarios

Assessing the invasion risk of Chelydra serpentina in China under current and future climate change scenarios

Aboriginal Tribe’s Knowledge of the Endangered Freshwater Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Car Nicobar, a Remote Oceanic Island in the Bay of Bengal

Highlighting overlooked biodiversity through online platforms: The “Chalcid Wasps of Cyprus” website

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