Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health?
Marketed globally, freshwater turtles are popular pets. Two species of the Chelydridae family are increasingly reported in Italy: the snapping turtle (<i>Chelydra serpentina</i>) and the alligator snapping turtle (<i>Macrochelys temminckii</i>). Both pose potential threats to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-08-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2057 |
| _version_ | 1797440029263396864 |
|---|---|
| author | Giuseppe Esposito Luciano Di Tizio Marino Prearo Alessandro Dondo Carlo Ercolini Gianpiero Nieddu Angelo Ferrari Paolo Pastorino |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Esposito Luciano Di Tizio Marino Prearo Alessandro Dondo Carlo Ercolini Gianpiero Nieddu Angelo Ferrari Paolo Pastorino |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Esposito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Marketed globally, freshwater turtles are popular pets. Two species of the Chelydridae family are increasingly reported in Italy: the snapping turtle (<i>Chelydra serpentina</i>) and the alligator snapping turtle (<i>Macrochelys temminckii</i>). Both pose potential threats to public safety and habitat biodiversity. This update reports on their distribution and impact on biodiversity and human health. The recent increase in the number of <i>C. serpentina</i> in urban and rural areas suggests illegal importation into the country. Findings are reported for the north (35% and 100% for <i>C. serpentina</i> and <i>M. temminckii</i>, respectively) and the central-northern regions (60% for <i>C. serpentina</i>), predominantly Umbria and Latium, and the Tiber River catchment area in particular. Because omnivorous, Chelydridae species can affect native biodiversity; because they are carriers of pathogens, they endanger public health. Monitoring plans need to take account of this neglected threat. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:01:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e68298ad78b44325b91bd94128f2a4e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:01:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-e68298ad78b44325b91bd94128f2a4e32023-11-30T23:03:47ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-08-011216205710.3390/ani12162057Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health?Giuseppe Esposito0Luciano Di Tizio1Marino Prearo2Alessandro Dondo3Carlo Ercolini4Gianpiero Nieddu5Angelo Ferrari6Paolo Pastorino7The Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy<i>Societas Herpetologica Italica</i>, Personal Address: Via Federico Salomone 112, 66100 Chieti, ItalyThe Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, ItalyThe Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, ItalyThe Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, ItalyFreelance Veterinarian, Via Alcide De Gasperi 15, 27100 Pavia, ItalyThe Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, ItalyThe Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, ItalyMarketed globally, freshwater turtles are popular pets. Two species of the Chelydridae family are increasingly reported in Italy: the snapping turtle (<i>Chelydra serpentina</i>) and the alligator snapping turtle (<i>Macrochelys temminckii</i>). Both pose potential threats to public safety and habitat biodiversity. This update reports on their distribution and impact on biodiversity and human health. The recent increase in the number of <i>C. serpentina</i> in urban and rural areas suggests illegal importation into the country. Findings are reported for the north (35% and 100% for <i>C. serpentina</i> and <i>M. temminckii</i>, respectively) and the central-northern regions (60% for <i>C. serpentina</i>), predominantly Umbria and Latium, and the Tiber River catchment area in particular. Because omnivorous, Chelydridae species can affect native biodiversity; because they are carriers of pathogens, they endanger public health. Monitoring plans need to take account of this neglected threat.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2057alien speciesbiological invasionfreshwaterreptilestestudineszoonoses |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Esposito Luciano Di Tizio Marino Prearo Alessandro Dondo Carlo Ercolini Gianpiero Nieddu Angelo Ferrari Paolo Pastorino Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health? Animals alien species biological invasion freshwater reptiles testudines zoonoses |
| title | Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health? |
| title_full | Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health? |
| title_fullStr | Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health? |
| title_short | Non-Native Turtles (Chelydridae) in Freshwater Ecosystems in Italy: A Threat to Biodiversity and Human Health? |
| title_sort | non native turtles chelydridae in freshwater ecosystems in italy a threat to biodiversity and human health |
| topic | alien species biological invasion freshwater reptiles testudines zoonoses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2057 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giuseppeesposito nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth AT lucianoditizio nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth AT marinoprearo nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth AT alessandrodondo nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth AT carloercolini nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth AT gianpieronieddu nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth AT angeloferrari nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth AT paolopastorino nonnativeturtleschelydridaeinfreshwaterecosystemsinitalyathreattobiodiversityandhumanhealth |