Investigating diet and diet switching in green turtles (Chelonia mydas)

摘要: Understanding the dietary ecology of animals provides information about their habitat requirements, facilitating informed conservation. We used last-bite diet and stable isotope analysis to assess juvenile adult green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at two different habitats located 10 km apart within Port Curtis, Queensland, Australia. Last-bite indicated that had distinctly diets in these habitats: one was dominated by red macroalgae other seagrass. Only juveniles (n = 12) were caught where diet, while both (n = 9) adults (n = 38) captured seagrass diet. In there no difference between adults, males (n = 17) females (n = 21).Because carbon ratios, it possible detect a change comparing ratio serum epidermal tissue sampled from same turtle. this region, switch would reflect shift foraging habitat. Such comparisons indicate ∼50% switched therefore changed time when blood epidermis formed. This implies switching region is common occurrence, which somewhat surprising because previously thought high site fidelity with relatively small home ranges.