Vol. 12 No. 2 (2017)
Articles

Non-native turtles in a peri-urban park in northern Milan (Lombardy, Italy): species diversity and population structure

Claudio Foglini
Indipendent researcher. Via L. B. Alberti 8/A, I-20092 Cinisello Balsamo (MI), Italia
Roberta Salvi
Indipendent researcher . Via A. Moro 1, I-24030 Carvico (BG), Italia

Published 2017-12-31

How to Cite

Foglini, C., & Salvi, R. (2017). Non-native turtles in a peri-urban park in northern Milan (Lombardy, Italy): species diversity and population structure. Acta Herpetologica, 12(2), 151–156. https://doi.org/10.13128/Acta_Herpetol-20700

Abstract

Trachemys scripta (slider turtle) and other freshwater turtle species have been traded worldwide as pets, but they are often released by owners in wild or in semi-natural habitats, especially in suburban and urbanized areas. In four artificial lakes and ponds of a Regional Park in the North outskirt of Milan (Italy, Lombardy), we trapped non native turtles using basking-traps and landing nets from April to August 2013.We captured 156 Trachemys scripta, 10 Graptemys pseudogeographica and four Pseudemys sp.; the capture-mark-recapture approach estimated an overall number of 224 individuals (95% C.I. 195-270). There was also a strong indirect support for a probable in situ reproduction, with small juveniles captured and a nest-digging female observed.

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