AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY OF SMALL PONDS BY EMYS ORBICULARIS IN LATVIA

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Current issue: Volume 25, No. 2 (2025)

AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY OF SMALL PONDS BY EMYS ORBICULARIS IN LATVIA

Aija Brakovska*, Jana Paidere, Mihails Pupiņš, Rasma Tretjakova

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59893/abud.25(2).006

Brakovska A., Paidere J., Pupiņš M., Tretjakova R. 2025. Aquatic invertebrate diversity of small ponds by Emys orbicularis in Latvia. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp., 2025(2): x-x. 

Abstract

As shown in many investigations the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is an opportunistic predator and omnivorous with a broad food niche (aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates Coleoptera, Decapoda, Odonata, Heteroptera, Gastropoda and others, and plant matter (algae, macrophytes)). To characterize the food resources of the European pond turtle one of the study aims was to examine taxa composition and observation of frequency of the macroinvertebrates and also taxa composition and quantitative structure of zooplankton communities in turtle ponds of Latvia. The investigated turtle ponds located in the protected nature area in the Southeast of Latvia, are very small (approximately from 0.08 to 0.01 ha) and shallow even dry (in July) with abundant surface and submerged aquatic vegetation. Qualitative macro-invertebrates and quantitative zooplankton samples were obtained using standard methods in June and July 2019 during the reproductive phase of turtles. Simultaneously water physico-chemical parameters were measured using a multi parameter probe (HACH Hydrolab DS5). In total 47 taxa of macroinvertebrates were identified. The most diverse groups were Coleoptera, especially Dytiscidae (15 taxa, mainly adult specimens). Hemiptera (Naucoridae, Ilyocoris cimicoides), Ephemeroptera (Beatidae, Cloeon dipterum), Odonata (Anisoptera, Sympetrum sp.) and Gastropoda (Planorbidae) were the most frequently observed taxa. Zooplankton communities were also taxa abundant, especially by Rotifera (46 taxa). The largest cladocerans (15 taxa) were represented by Scapholeberis mucronata, Ceriodaphnia sp., Chydorus sp., and also Daphnia magna, Polychemus pediculus in a smaller number. Copepoda cyclopoids, calanoids and their development stages (copepodite, nauplii) were quite numerous (6 taxa). In general, the turtle ponds have quite food rich for the European pond turtle.

Keywords: Emys orbicularis habitats, macroinvertebrata taxa diversity, zooplankton diversity.

*Corresponding author: Aija Brakovska. Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Parādes Str. 1a, LV-5401, Daugavpils, Latvia.  E-mail: aija.brakovska@du.lv

Jana Paidere. Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Parādes Str. 1a, LV-5401, Daugavpils, Latvia

Mihails Pupiņš. Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Parādes Str. 1a, LV-5401, Daugavpils, Latvia

Rasma Tretjakova. Institute of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rezekne Academy of Riga Technical University, Atbrīvošanas Aven. 115, Rēzekne, LV-4601, Rezekne, Latvia