Project: Revealing behavioral, ecological and reproductive strategies of Emys orbicularis by combining advanced biologgers with genomic pedigree analysis (2025-2028)

The European pond turtle Emys orbicularis is a small freshwater turtle native to Central Europe. It relies on both aquatic and terrestrial environments for ensuring its physiological and reproductive needs. As an ectotherm, its activity is highly dependent on the ambient temperature making this species directly impacted by climate change. Additionally, global changes, including climate and human activities, have been dramatically impacting its habitats and natural populations. Nowadays, the European pond turtle is considered as the reptile that has suffered the most dramatic decline in Europe. The species is of conservation concern and benefits from conservation initiatives, including reintroductions. The success of reintroduction depends on both intrinsic (individual quality, population genetics) and extrinsic (environmental conditions, habitat quality, food resource availability) factors. The monitoring of Emys orbicularis behavior and ecology in the wild through traditional capture-mark-recapture methods is challenging mainly due to its cryptic, discrete, and mostly aquatic lifestyle and nocturnal nesting behavior. Furthermore, the polygamous mating strategy of E. orbicularis makes it difficult to assess the actual drivers of a populations‘ genetic structure. A good understanding of the turtles‘ behavior, habitat use and reproductive strategies (including nesting site selection and mating selection) is the basis for effective land management and conservation initiatives as well as for assessing their capacity to adapt to global and climatic changes. In this project we aim to expand this knowledge by incorporating data from advanced biologgers and genomic pedigree analysis.

Project members:       DR. KATHRIN THEISSINGER     DR. JEAN-YVES GEORGES     STEFANIE KNELL