LIFE Trachemys: DEMONSTRATION STRATEGY AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE ERADICATION OF INVASIVE FRESHWATER TURTLES

José Teixeira, will present a seminar entitled “LIFE Trachemys: Demonstration strategy and techniques for the eradication of invasive freshwater turtles” on 30th of March, at 14.30, in Campus Agrário de Vairão auditorium.

Introduction of alien invasive species is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. In Europe, the release in natural habitats of the Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta), classified among 100 most harmful invasive species in the world, is of specially concern for freshwater native species. To reduce this impact the LIFE+Trachemys is implementing a set of innovative trapping techniques for control of wild populations of exotic freshwater turtles in 17 pilot areas in Valencia and Algarve. This strategy together with ex-situ reproduction of endangered Emys orbicularisand public awareness campaigns, aiming to avoid the continuous release of exotic turtles in nature, are being developed to control invasive turtle dissemination and preserve autochthonous freshwater biodiversity.

José Teixeira is post-doc on Science Dissemination on Biodiversity and the coordinator of CIBIO-Div.

Right after, at 15:45, Filipa Sampaio will present the Student Seminar on "Phylogeographic patterns in selected worm lizards". Filipa is an MSc student supervised by James Harris, Daniele Salvi and Salvador Carranza.