Dear Attendees of the EMYS Symposium at Košice - Fauna Carpatica

ECOLOGY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS
48 individuals was studied intensively. A total of 119 sithings were made,
including basking and nesting behaviour. Migration of 3 individuals captured at the
coastal zone of the Taman peninsula showed the ability of the turtles to migrate
over large distances. Probably the most important causes of population decline are
fishing and wetland draining.
ORAL PRESENTATION - 20 April, 09:00 - 09:20
Results of a radiotracking study of Emys orbicularis orbicularis
in Lithuania
ANNE-CLAIRE MARTINA MEESKE 1,2 and KRZYSZTOF RYBCZYNSKI 1
1 Centre for Nature Conservation, University of Goettingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 2, 37075
Goettingen, Germany
2 Corresponding author for abstract [E-mail: mmeeske@gwdg.de]
Between 1997 and 2001 investigations on a local population of the European pond
turtle Emys orbicularis (L.) were led in the herpetological reserve Kuculishkes and
its surroundings. The study area lies in south-western Lithuania (23°90'E, 54°40'N)
and includes different types of ponds, partly seasonally wetland areas and sandy dry
areas, deciduous and afforested pine forests and agricultured land with extensive
use. Turtles were captured with aquatic and land traps and every individual was
measured, weighed and colour marked. Radio transmitters (weight: 8-10 g, duration
of life: 6-12 months) were glued onto the carapace of a total of 31 adults (8 males,
23 females). In the water bodies animals were located up to three times each day.
Their positions were determined by triangulation using a receiver (Stabo XR 100)
connected to a hand operated unidirectional antenna. Direct migration routes, e.g.
during the nesting period, were established by walking in the direction indicated by
the antenna (Homing-in-on the-Animal). During May and October habitat use,
activities, migrations, activity ranges (the area used by the animals in one single
pond) and home ranges (encompassing more than one water body and the nesting
area for females) were recorded by radiotracking, capture/recapture and direct
observation. The lithuanian turtles prefered standing waters with a soft and muddy
bottom and abundant floating aquatic vegetation. The two largest water bodies in
Kuculishkes were permanent ponds. The animals of the local population used most
of the ponds and areas in larger ponds only during spring and summer. There was a
concentration of animals in the permanent ponds in late summer and autumn. In
winter turtles stayed only in small areas of these ponds. Throughout the activity
season juveniles were also observed to migrate among ponds. During the 5 study
years 3 of 10 males shifted their home ponds, but no females. At least 3 of 13
females changed their nesting area in different years.
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