Dergi makalesi Açık Erişim

Aspect of population structure of the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) in Lake Yayla, western Anatolia, Turkey

2008    Ayaz, Dincer; Fritz, Uwe; Atatur, Mehmet Kutsay; Mermer, Ahmet; Cicek, Kerim; Afsar, Murat

Our main objective was to establish the population size, density, body size, and sex ratio of a local Emys orbicularis population. We examined the population structure of E. orbicularis in Lake Yayla, Buldan (Denizli), Turkey, using capture-recapture methods. The population consisted of 54% males, 42% females, and 4% juveniles. The adult sex ratio was significantly skewed in favor of males. Using the Jolly program, the population size was estimated at 1,462 (95% CI = 1,161-1,763), corresponding to a density of 81 turtles per hectare of optimal habitat. Females were larger than males. In carapace length, the Lake Yayla population resembles other small-sized populations inhabiting the southern parts of the species' range. The conservation status of the Turkish populations and their main threats are also discussed.