Conservation actions for European pond turtles – a summary of current efforts in distinct European countries

a widely distributed species, occurring not only in the European continent, as suggested by its common name. Its range embraces part of the northern African Maghreb region, much of southern and western Europe, Anatolia and vast parts of eastern Europe and adjacent Asia. It is a genetically deeply structured species, and the Sicilian pond turtle was recognized as a distinct species (E. trinacris) some years ago. The future will show whether additional genetic lineages currently recognized as subspecies of E. orbicularis will be also elevated to species status. In any case, the diversity of genetic and taxonomic structuring corresponds to the diverse habitats in which the turtles occur, ranging from mild Mediterranean climate to severe steppe climate with frosty, long winters. All of this diversity has implications for conservation strategies because the turtles are endangered in much of their range, necessitating individually designed solutions and approaches, depending from the local situation. Pond turtles are often locally already extinct, and where still occurring, imperilled by habitat alteration mainly, but also by introduced neozoa, such as raccoon and raccoon dog. These species are predating turtles in a previously unknown extent, especially in the northern part of their range, where the turtles are more prone to these predators than elsewhere – not least due to their long generation time and low annual reproduction rate. Another imminent danger may be caused by the naturalized red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) and other slider turtles. These relatives of the “European” species may directly outcompete the native turtle, but they also could introduce alien pathogens and harmful parasites. A further risk for Emys could be even arising from well-meant conservation actions, when locally endangered populations are restocked with genetically incompatible individuals. Yet, while the endangered and susceptible status of European pond turtles is generally recognized and also reflected by legislation, the knowledge of its status and local threats varies considerably from country to country. Even worse, despite many conservation actions carried out all over the distribution range, many conservationists are not aware of what is going on in other countries, and concerted actions across political borders remain an exception, despite many similar data being currently collected in the different countries. Ideally, similar data collection methods should be applied and the data obtained possibly being interpreted singularly and all together across the distribution range of the species, to highlight ecological and physiological patterns and processes in this species. This collection of articles on the conservation activities for European pond turtles, published in Herpetology Notes, is intended as a first step to remedy the current situation. We are hopeful that the cork is now out of the bottle and the good genie starts to work! Herpetology Notes, volume 6: 105 (2013) (published online on 22 March 2013)