Phenology and population structure of the Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) in the Reghaïa Lake (northern Algeria)

• Escoriza, Daniel ^[1] ; Bakhouche, Badis ^[2] ; Ghoulam, Tiar ^[3] ; Imed, Djemadi ^[4] ; khalil, Draidi ^[5]
  1. [1] Universitat de Girona

     Universitat de Girona

     Gerona, España

     
  2. [2] Laboratoire Dynamique et Biodiversité, Université Houari Boumediene, BP 32 El Alia 16111, Algiers, Algeria
  3. [3] Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, University Chadli Bendjedid, El Tarf, BP 36100 El Tarf, Algeria; Research Laboratory “Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems”, University Badji Mokhtar, Annaba, Algeria
  4. [4] Research Laboratory “Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems”, University Badji Mokhtar, Annaba, Algeria; Food Science and Agri-Food Industries college, Ahmed Hamidouche Route de Beaulieu, El Harrach 16200, Algiers, Algeria.
  5. [5] Research Laboratory “Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems”, University Badji Mokhtar, Annaba, Algeria

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• Localización: Basic and Applied Herpetology (B&AH), ISSN 2255-1468, ISSN-e 2255-1476, Nº. 33, 2019, págs. 43-51
• Idioma: inglés
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  •     The Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin is a freshwater turtle widely distributed in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa, but whose natural history is little known. In this study we investigated the ecology of a population in northern Algeria (Reghaïa Lake Ramsar Reserve), with special emphasis on its phenology, demographic structure and diet, based on capture and recapture methods. Our results indicated that there is a short inactivity period in January and possibly the activity is also reduced during the month of August. The best Jolly-Seber model indicated that the population within the survey station had a minimum size of 653 specimens. The population contained a higher proportion of males (0.68 - 0.76) and a proportion of juveniles between 0.02 - 0.16. Females were larger and relatively heavier than males. Analysis of stomach contents showed that M. leprosa feeds with high frequency on aquatic arthropods. Specifically, we found insects: Diptera (Chironomidae, Culicidae, Dixidae, Syrphidae), Heteroptera (Corixidae, Notonectidae) and Coleoptera (Dytiscidae), crustaceans (Branchiopoda, Ostracoda), plant matter (Typha angustifolia), fish (Gambusia holbrooki), and unidentified materials.