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INVASIVE SPECIES
Plants, animals, and microbes not native to a region
which, when introduced either accidentally or
intentionally, out-compete native species for available
resources, reproduce prolifically, and dominate
regions and ecosystems. Because they often arrive in
new areas unaccompanied by their native predators,
invasive species can be difficult to control. Left
unchecked, many invasives have the potential to
transform entire ecosystems, as native species and
those that depend on them for food, shelter, and
habitat, disappear.
RED – EARED SLIDER TURTLE
BIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE RED-EARED SLIDER
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Subspecies of pond slider family
Reddish stripe behind its eyes, may also be yellow
Body is dark olive with thin yellow stripes on its shell
Semi aquatic with webbed feet
Average length 5 to 13 inches
Males are smaller than females and have curved
claws and also have longer and thicker tails
Live in lakes, streams, swamps, ponds and rivers
Omnivores
Cold blooded
Active from April to September
Native to Southern and Midwestern United States
Alaska
Hawaii
Puerto Rico &
Guam Saipan
Virgin Islands
Red ear slider Turtle laying eggs. - YouTube
Just hatched red ear slider
turtles, pet turtle hatchling - YouTube
PR0S
Small, manageable and cute,
habitat is contained.
PROS AND CONS
CONS
Become too large to contain
and feed, looses appearance,
may carry diseases.
NOTICE!
Red Ear Slider Turtle
DO NOT RELEASE INTO THE WILD!!
What identifies this turtle from others?
A RED STRIPE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE EYE .
This turtle will inhabit most fresh water lakes, ponds, streams and
rivers. Red Ear Sliders will push other native species out of a habitat
and will not leave a habitat until conditions for them are dire.
Red Ear Sliders can bring bacteria and parasites to other native species
and wreck havoc on their population.
If you come across a Red Ear Slider Turtle, do not take it to keep as a
pet. This turtle can live as long as 30 years!
Please call (856) 555-1214 and the National Turtle Foundation (aka NTF)
will come and pick up the turtle at no charge.
WHAT ARE THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS ON
INVASIVE SPECIES?
 Competition with local species.
 Change to ecosystems, in which even a whole
food web can change.
 Domination of ecosystems by an introduced
species is an extreme case.
 Disease: invasive species may carry diseases to
which native species are not adapted.
 Hybridization : introduced species may not be
quite genetically separated from a native species, and
can then proceed to hybridize. This process may
mean the end of a genetically somewhat, but not
quite, separated local population.
INVASIVE SPECIES: HOW SERIOUS A PROBLEM ARE THEY?
Estimate: costs of invasive species in the United States ~$125140 billion each year.
Estimate: 25% of US agriculture gross national product lost to
foreign pests.
Nearly half of the species listed as threatened or endangered
under the Endangered Species Act are at risk due to
competition with or predation by non-native species.
WE CAN THUS CONCLUDE THAT INVASIVE SPECIES ARE:
A major threat to ecosystem health (especially where
ecosystems are already impacted)
A major factor in species extinction, especially in tropical
climates and on islands
A major threat for global biodiversity, because the transport
of species in essence creates one global ecosystem
The cause of major financial damages
Hardly or not limited in spread by international treaties
It should also be noted that there is not much support for
measures by the 'average citizen' (especially if an invasive
animal species is cute, an invasive plant species
beautiful), and that the severity of the problem is strongly
underestimated.