Current Distribution and Status of Non-Native Freshwater Turtles in the Wild, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Globally, an increase in the transportation and expansion of the pet market is the most important cause of the invasion of non-native species. Invasion of non-native species disturbs native ecosystems and leads to socio-economic problems. The pet trade involving turtles has been globally recognized as the route through which non-native species enter ecosystems. As a result, the invasion of non-native turtles worldwide is causing problems such as competition, predation, transmission of parasites, and hybridization with native turtles. Every year, both the number of non-native turtles imported as pets in the Republic of Korea and the number of introduced species found in the wild is increasing. However, the current status of non-native turtles in the wild is not well known, posing major challenges to their management. In this study, we aimed to determine the current status of non-native turtles introduced into the wild in Korea. We analyzed the factors associated with the detection and distribution of non-native turtles. In total, 1587 of non-native turtles (three families, six genera, and 13 species including subspecies) were found in 648 sites in Korea: Chelydra serpentina, Mauremys sinensis, Chrysemys picta bellii, Graptemys ouachitensis, G. pseudogeographica pseudogeographica, G. p. kohni, Pseudemys concinna, P. nelsoni, P. peninsularis, P. rubriventris, Trachemys scripta elegans, T. s. scripta, and T. s. troostii. There was relationship between the distribution of non-native turtles and environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature. Moreover, human factors such as number of human populations and size of region were significantly related with the distribution and number of non-native turtles. In conclusion, it is likely that human factors are associated with the influx of invasive turtles to the natural habitat, while the possibility of survival and adaption for the turtles is associated mainly with environmental factors. Our result will be an essential guideline not only for understanding the current status of non-native turtles in Korea, but also for establishing strategies for management and control.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Cumberland slider (Trachemys scripta troostii, Testudienes: Emydidae) in Korea

“…With some morphological characters such as the shape of head, and the color pattern of carapace and plastron bone, we identified it as T. s. troostii. According to a recent study, about 1.2% of non-native turtles corresponded to T. s. troostii in Korea (Koo et al 2020). Compared to other T. scripta subspecies, there is lack of genetic research about T. s. troostii in the world.…”

“…The Cumberland slider (Trachemys scripta troostii) is native in Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, from south-eastern Virginia and Kentucky to north-eastern Alabama in the United States (Cagle 1950). Trachemys scripta was traded by pet market worldwideincluding Austria, Poland, and Korea, but some were deliberately released to the field (Kitowski 2013;Kleewein 2014;Koo et al 2020). We collected the turtle which is not native in Korea.…”

Complete mitochondrial genome of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans, Testudines: Emydidae) in Korea

“…Thus, this turtle has been designated as the invasive species in International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN; http://www.iucn.org) (Parham et al 2013). The species would compete with native species, preoccupy prey, transfer diseases, and thus reduce the number of native species (Hayes et al 2018, Koo et al 2020. In addition, the turtles can cause genetic contamination of native species through hybridization with native species (Parham et al 2013).…”

“…In addition, the turtles can cause genetic contamination of native species through hybridization with native species (Parham et al 2013). The import of red-eared sliders for pet into Korea began in the late 1980s at first (Koo et al 2020). While nonnative red-eared sliders have inhabited in Korea for about 40 years, genetic variation could occur in their genome.…”

Complete mitochondrial genome of the distinct red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta ssp., Testudines: Emydidae) in Korea

“…The invasive species can lead to hybridization with native species, causing genetic contamination of native species (Koo et al. 2020 ; Parham et al. 2020 ).…”