First records of 5 allochthonous species and subspecies of Turtles ( Trachemys scripta troostii , Mauremys caspica , Mauremys rivulata , Pelodiscus sinensis , Testudo horsfieldii ) and new records of subspecies Trachemys scripta elegans in Latvia

Hypotheses of the research. The main hypothesis of the research that has been carried out since 2004 is based on the assumption that there are also allochthonous turtles in the nature of Latvia besides autochthonous turtles. The following assumptions have been formul ated as addi t ional hypotheses: 1) allochthonous turtles are mainly represented by aquatic species in Latvia; 2) allochthonous turtles may appear in groups; 3) some species of allochthonous turtles may pass the winter in Latvia.

appearance of allochthonous species of turtles in the nature of Latvia (Pupiņš & Pupiņa 2007b).
Hypotheses of the research.
The main hypothesis of the research that has been carried out since 2004 is based on the assumption that there are also allochthonous turtles in the nature of Latvia besides autochthonous turtles.The following assumptions have been f o r mul a t e d a s a ddi t io n a l hypotheses: 1) allochthonous turtles are mainly represented by aquatic species in Latvia; 2) allochthonous turtles may appear in groups; 3) some species of allochthonous turtles may pass the winter in Latvia.

Problems for Management.
Management of allochthonous turtles in Latvia is necessary for preservation of autochthonous biodiversity.The main aim of the management is to prevent allochthonous turtles from appearance in the nature of Latvia.
This aim may be achieved by the efficient removal of allochthonous species from the nature and preventing them from appearing in the nature.

Problems for Management
Anthropogenic spreading and invasion of allochthonous (Kabish 1990) species of reptiles is an issue of world importance for preserving natural biodiversity (Kraus 2009).
Historically, only two species of turtles are registered in Latvia: Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus 1758) and Caretta caretta (Linnaeus 1758) (Siliņš & Lamsters 1934) caught in 1829.Only Emys orbicularis permanently inhabits Latvian territory, at the northern edge of its European area in Latvia (Meeske et al. 2006), all through its life cycle.
This species is extremely rare and preserved in Latvia (Ministru kabinets 2000;Bērziņš 2003); it is sensitive to the influence of negative factors of anthropogenic nature (Pupiņš & Pupiņa 2007b).
One of such factors may be

Abstract
The

Materials and Methods
The main idea of the present Trachemys scripta elegans in the nature of Latvia (Table 1).

Discussion
Reasons for getting in the nature. The viability of found turtles.In course of research, five new allochthonous species and subspecies of the turtles were recorded for the first time, and new data were obtained about finding Trachemys scripta elegans in the nature of Latvia.Most of the registered animals (80%) were removed from the nature.Since allochthonous turtles get there in the result of escape from pet-lovers and, apparently, illegal introduction into nature by their owners, education of population is of great importance.
research and management of allochthonous turtles in Latvia is an active involvement of specially educated population.In order to cover the whole territory of Latvia, and due to the small number of allochthonous turtles in Latvia and difficulty searching for some water species of turtles, we have purposefully prepared (work with mass media) and used local population of Latvia for receiving information on turtles and capturing them.Herewith, almost all mentioned cases (except for 2) of encountering and capturing of which the turtle was caught, coordinates of catching (in Results, coordinates are specified up to minutes).The place of catching was closely examined; the biotope in which the turtle had been caught was described and photographed.Additional interviews with other locals were held.Stage 4. Laboratory study.with the help of reference books (Terentyev & Chernov 1949; Bannikov et al. 1977; Obst 1983) and in consultation with specialists (C.Ayres, pers.com.);morphometric measurement for approximate determination of the individual's stage of development (juvenile, subadultus, young adultus, adultus, old adultus), and assessment of viability of the caught allochthonous turtles.In the present research, the definition of D.C. Wareham: "Viable -capable of normal growth and development; capable of living, as in viable eggs" (Wareham 2005) was used as a basis.Viability was defined as sufficient if during the 2 weeks of being kept in the laboratory under standard conditions of zoo-culture the turtle remained mobile and actively fed.Results In course of the research, five new allochthonous species and subspecies of the turtles were 98 recorded for the first time, and new data were obtained about finding

Trionychoidea
flooded near the place of their connection with the river Misa.The maximal length of the lake is 121 m, and the width is 64 m.The coast line is 361 m, the banks are poorly structured.The maximal depth of the lake is 2-3 m, the bottom is slimy.Such fish species as Carassius carassius, Tinca tinca, Esox lucius are found in the lake which is used for recreation and fishing.In the second case (# PeSi0002), the respondent, a teacher of biology, watched a juvenile turtle in the lake Racenu, near the bank; according to the description (it was described as a swimming light-coloured turtle not more than 10 cm in length with a carapax devoid of individual scutes), it possible have been a case of Pelodiscus sinensis which we failed to acquire.The lake is 931 m long and 717 m wide; its coast line is 3,716 m; the banks grown with forest and bushes .Average depth is 4.6 m (Ezeri.lv2011).The lake is rich with fish and is used for recreation.caught in November 2010 in the central part of the country, in the forest road not far from a stream overgrown with bushes and grass.4.Pelodiscus sinensis(Wiegmann,
reason for the allochthonous turtles to get into the nature of Latvia, as stated in the research, was escape from their owners when the latter walked them over.Since groups of allochthonous turtles were also encountered in the nature of Latvia, illegal introduction of unwanted animals that had become boring to their owners into the nature might be assumed.For people in Latvia who love pets, a source of acquiring turtles is their legal sail in zoo-shops both in Latvia (DinoZoo Centre 2011) and other EU countries (Drews 2005; Kitowski & Pachol 2009), as well as private legal and illegal trading business (SS.LV 2011).It is well known that in other countries restaurant visitors choose among living turtles, that is why restaurant owners might import living Pelodiscus sinensis (Webb et al. 2008) and other species part of which animals can consequently get free.Illegal catching of turtles in their natural habitats or in

Table 1 .
New findings of allochthonous species and subspecies of turtles in Latvia.
*data concerning this finding were presented at the conference in University of Latvia in 2009 and published in the conference abstracts, ** this species was determined following the description of the respondent.