Content uploaded by Robert Burroughs
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Robert Burroughs on Jul 03, 2018
Content may be subject to copyright.
Trachemys scripta (Red-Eared Slider), Pseudemys texana (Texas River Cooter), Chelydra serpentina (Snapping Turtle), Feeding Behavior and Scavenging.
... However, RESs in non-native habitats may have greater reproductive output than local turtles; for example, in Japan, RES turtles produce 1-19 eggs per clutch compared to the Japanese pond turtle (Mauremys japonica) clutch sizes of 5-8 eggs, [79]. RESs are also known to scavenge [29,80] and survive in effluent ponds with no emergent vegetation, surviving on detritus that falls into the water [81]. 3. Mineral cycling and bioaccumulation. ...
Exotic species are often vilified as “bad” without consideration of the potential they have for contributing to ecological functions in degraded ecosystems. The red-eared slider turtle (RES) has been disparaged as one of the worst invasive species. Based on this review, we suggest that RES contribute some ecosystem functions in urban wetlands comparable to those provided by the native turtles they sometimes dominate or replace. While we do not advocate for releases outside their native range, or into natural environments, in this review, we examine the case for the RES to be considered potentially beneficial in heavily human-altered and degraded ecosystems where native turtles struggle or fail to persist. After reviewing the ecosystem functions RESs are known to provide, we conclude that in many modified environments the RES is a partial ecological analog to native turtles and removing them may obviate the ecological benefits they provide. We also suggest research avenues to better understand the role of RESs in heavily modified wetlands.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.