Suchergebnisse

International audience ; The European Union categorises pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) as invasive species for which all member countries have to develop an action plan. To date it has been assumed that the climate in Germany is too cold for T. scripta to survive for long or to reproduce. Data collected annually from 2016 to 2020 showed that the population of exotic pond turtles in an oxbow lake (Althrein of Kehl, Germany) did not decrease but increased. In addition, the diversity of species released was found to be high, five other exotic species in addition to T. scripta were observed. The population of T. scripta in particular appeared to be increasing, with no indication of high mortality due to cold winters and apparently regular successful reproduction (hatchlings observed in four out of five study years and caught in two years). The current action plan in Germany for T. scripta will have to change if potential negative impacts are to be avoided. Other west and central European countries might also have to modify their action plans accordingly.

International audience ; The European Union categorises pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) as invasive species for which all member countries have to develop an action plan. To date it has been assumed that the climate in Germany is too cold for T. scripta to survive for long or to reproduce. Data collected annually from 2016 to 2020 showed that the population of exotic pond turtles in an oxbow lake (Althrein of Kehl, Germany) did not decrease but increased. In addition, the diversity of species released was found to be high, five other exotic species in addition to T. scripta were observed. The population of T. scripta in particular appeared to be increasing, with no indication of high mortality due to cold winters and apparently regular successful reproduction (hatchlings observed in four out of five study years and caught in two years). The current action plan in Germany for T. scripta will have to change if potential negative impacts are to be avoided. Other west and central European countries might also have to modify their action plans accordingly.

Preventing the over-exploitation of natural resources is vital to ensure that biodiversity is protected and conserved. Legislation and regulations are therefore necessary to manage resource utilisation, but overly stringent legislation and regulations can have unintended negative consequences. For example, biodiversity research, much of which is state funded, is now subject to excessive red tape to the extent that overregulation is impeding progress. Researchers must navigate a myriad of laws, rules, permit requirements, ethics clearances and approvals, many of which require annual renewal, progress reporting, and submission of amendment applications for ongoing projects. Excessive red tape particularly hinders field-based research, and in our experience, has a negative impact on research productivity in South Africa. If current levels of bureaucracy and managerialism persist, we believe that the impact on biodiversity research in the country will be debilitating. Former South African Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, has acknowledged the negative impact of red tape on small business enterprise and economic growth in South Africa, and there are now attempts to reduce it. So too, excessive red tape and overregulation of research should be rationalised to enhance knowledge generation and application. ; http://www.sajs.co.za ; hj2021 ; Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies ; Mammal Research Institute ; Paraclinical Sciences ; Zoology and Entomology