В реке Лахиш можно найти черепаху “Красноухая черепаха”,
Научное название: Trachemys scripta elegans.
The red-eared slider is a species of freshwater turtle, a close relative of the egg-snapping turtle found in our country. This species has a red spot near the ear, hence its name. The red-eared turtle is an invasive species in Israel.
What are invasive species?
Invasive species are species that are not part of the native ecosystem and enter it through migration.
Not every new species that enters an ecosystem (a foreign species) becomes invasive. First it needs to survive, reproduce and take root in its new environment. If it manages to pass these stages, it becomes an invasive species.
Invasive species undermine the stability of an ecosystem and can lead to the extinction of other species and even the collapse of the ecosystem. This is possible because these species did not evolve with the ecosystem, they have no natural enemies, diseases or other regulators in their new environment, and they can establish and reproduce without disturbing the ecosystem.
Invasive species harm not only natural ecosystems, but also humans. We can see this, for example, in the case of the tiny fire ant ( Wasmannia auropunctata ), whose bites can land an adult in the hospital and pose a danger to small children; Asian reed jellyfish ( Rhopilema nomadica ), which has migrated from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal and is preventing us from enjoying swimming in the sea. They can also be detrimental to agriculture, like the carmer parakeet ( Psittacula krameri ), which damages crops due to its ability to exploit opportunities (opportunistically) and its large numbers. And there are those that can damage buildings and equipment, such as clam shellfish (Dreissena polymorpha ), which fortunately did not come to Israel, but in the United States it has harmed water supplies and water resources.
Most invasive species are not responsible for their occurrence. They were introduced intentionally or unintentionally by people:
There are species, such as the Indian starling ( Acridotheres tristis ), that have been introduced by humans as pets. Two pairs of starlings that escaped from their cages were able to take root, breed and spread throughout the country. Others, such as the fire ant, “hitchhiked” due to man’s ability to move. In this case, the ants were caught as hidden passengers with a load of construction trees, or the Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus ) that came along with the “lucky bamboo”. But there are also those that were brought into the country deliberately, before the consequences of their introduction were understood, such as the Australian camaldulensis ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which was considered useful for drying eggs, or Lantana camara , which was introduced for beauty in gardens and “escaped” into nature.
Others, such as nutria ( myocastor coypus ) (a species of beaver), were brought for trade. After it became clear that it was impossible to develop fur production in Israel, the nutria were released without responsibility towards nature.
Controlling invasive species that have entered and taken root, and managing the problems they cause, is costly to the Israeli economy. Although systematic studies have not yet been conducted, estimates of the global cost of invasive species are $1.4 trillion per year (trillion is the number with thirteen zeros).
What to do?
First: we choose local residents! We do not trade in foreign species of animals and plants that are not local, that is, they are not part of the ecosystem that surrounds us.
We take responsibility for the animals we raise and do not “release” them into the wild if we no longer want to care for them. These animals are not part of the ecosystem and can harm it.
We act to reduce the phenomenon!
Have you encountered an invasive species? Report this to the relevant authorities and ask them to take action.
If we take action, we can prevent foreign species from entering our country and control them before they become established and become invasive species. In this way, we can prevent future invasions and ensure the safety of our ecosystems, our health and reduce costs in the country’s economy.
Get to know the invasive species around the Lachish River
Red-eared turtle ( Trachemys scripta elegans )
Carmer parakeet ( Psittacula krameri )
Indian starling ( Acridotheres tristis )
Asian reed jellyfish ( Aedes Stegomyia albopictus )
Macaldully waste tree ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis )
Challenge: Go for a short walk along the river. Try to find a red-eared slider.
If you manage to find the turtle, you will receive the title of outstanding observer because this task is very difficult.
This project was created with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Association of Cities for Environmental Quality of Ashdod, Hevel Yavne and the Municipality of Ashdod.
