Population dynamics of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) with changes in the population dependent carrying capacity in Republic of Korea

Yunju Wi,Ha-Cheol Sung,Hee-Jin Kang,Seung-Ju Cheon,Gyujin Oh,Hong-Sung Jin

doi:10.5141/jee.21.00073

Yunju Wi, Ha-Cheol Sung + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5141/jee.21.00073

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Abstract

Population dynamics of the red-eared slider (<i>Trachemys scripta elegans</i>) with changes in the population dependent carrying capacity in Republic of Korea

Highlights

From the late 1970s, large quantities of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) were imported into the Republic of Korea until the country’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) banned the species by declaring it an ecological disturbance in 2001 (MOE 2016)
In this study, we proposed that the population dynamics of non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) depends on the species’ habitat extension and survivorship
Based on the urbanization increase rate of 3% in Korea from 1980 to 2000, we assumed an annual spread of 3% to simulate the population dynamics of the red-eared slider

Summary

Introduction

From the late 1970s, large quantities of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) were imported into the Republic of Korea until the country’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) banned the species by declaring it an ecological disturbance in 2001 (MOE 2016). Red-eared sliders are able to adapt to various ecological conditions, and can cause severe ecosystem disturbance and damage (Gibbons 1990; Jung and Lee 2019). Several studies on this non-native species have been carried out, focusing on the distribution status (Koo et al 2017; Koo et al 2020; Oh et al 2017), population monitoring (Lee et al 2015), migration patterns, and habitat use (Jo et al 2017). We proposed that the population dynamics of non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) depends on the species’ habitat extension and survivorship. The present carrying capacity depends on the red-eared slider population of the previous year. It is important to reduce the species’ survivorship by restoring disturbed ecosystems and maintaining healthy ecosystems

Results

Discussion

Conclusion