Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WR > WR05081
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(8)

Dietary preferences of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on a tropical reef flat

Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes A B , Ivan R. Lawler A and Emma Gyuris A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Douglas, Qld 4811, Australia.

B Corresponding author: Email: mariana.fuentes@jcu.edu.au

Wildlife Research 33(8) 671-678 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR05081
Submitted: 12 September 2005  Accepted: 20 October 2006   Published: 19 December 2006

Abstract

We offer the first published description of the feeding choices made by juvenile green turtles on a tropical feeding ground, in this case a reef flat environment. We collected 85 lavage samples from 76 turtles and compared the food eaten to the food resources available. Resampling of some individuals enabled us to gain preliminary insights into diet switching by juvenile turtles. The area of the reef flat at Green Island, Queensland, Australia, had similar proportions of coverage by seagrasses (52%) and by algae (48%). Seven species of seagrass and at least 26 species of algae were identified. The dominant seagrasses, on an area basis, were Cymodocea sp. (29.7%), Halodule sp. (11.1%), Thalassia sp. (6.4%) and Syringodium sp. (4.5%). The most dominant algae were Halimeda spp. (10.2%). and Galaxaura sp. (7.25%). Most juvenile green turtles ate primarily seagrass, but some individuals ate predominantly algae. The turtles showed clear preferences for the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii and the algae Gracilaria spp., Gelidiella sp., Hypnea spp. despite their low abundance in many cases. Ways to improve our understanding of preferences and possible diet switching, and potential factors affecting them, are discussed.


Acknowledgments

This project was undertaken in collaboration with the broader research project of Mr Ian Bell of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Permission for the stomach lavages was granted under his permit (G03/9866.1). Further permits for this study included Marine Park Permit (G04/12081.1) and animal ethics approval (A881_04) from James Cook University. Mr Ian Osborn, the QPWS Ranger in Charge at Green Island, generously offered accommodation, access to the boat and personal assistance in the field-based component of the project. Dr Kirsten Heimann of the School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, gave advice on the identification of algae.


References

André, J. , Gyuris, E. , and Lawler, I. R. (2005). Comparison of the diets of sympatric dugongs and green turtles on the Orman Reefs, Torres Strait Wildlife Research 32, 53–62.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Anon.  (1995). ‘Prefer: statistical package for comparisons of resource preference.’ (USFWS: Northern Prairie Research Center: Jamestown, ND.)

Bjorndal, K. A. (1980). Nutrition and grazing behavior of the green turtle Chelonia mydas. Marine Biology 56, 147–154.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Bjorndal K. A. (1997). Foraging ecology and nutrition of sea turtles. In ‘The Biology of Sea Turtles’. (Eds P. L. Lutz and J. A. Musick.) pp. 199–231. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL.)

Bjorndal K. A. (1999). Priorities for research in foraging habitats. In ‘Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles’. (Eds K. A. Eckert, K. A. Bjorndal, F. A. Abreu-Grobois and M. Donnely.) IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication No. 4.

Brand S. J. (1995). Diet selection by juvenile green turtles, Chelonia mydas, in sub-tropical Flathead Gutter, Moreton Bay. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, University of Queensland.

Brand-Gardner, S. J. , Lanyon, J. M. , and Limpus, C. J. (1999). Diet selection by immature green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in subtropical Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland. Australian Journal of Zoology 47, 181–191.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Channels P., and Morissey J. (1981). Technique for analysis of seagrass genera present in dugong stomachs, including a key to North Queensland seagrasses based on cell details. In ‘The Dugong’. (Ed. H. Marsh.) pp. 176–179. (James Cook University of North Queensland: Townsville.)

Cribb A. B. (1996). ‘Seaweeds of Queensland: a Naturalist’s Guide.’ (The Queensland Naturalists’ Club Inc.: Brisbane.)

Cribb A. B., and Cribb J. W. (1985). ‘Plant Life of the Great Barrier Reef and Adjacent Shores.’ (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane.)

Forbes G. A. (1996). The diet and feeding ecology of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in an algal-based coral reef community. Ph.D. Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.

Forbes, G. A. , and Limpus, C. J. (1993). A non-lethal method for retrieving stomach contents from sea turtles. Wildlife Research 20, 339–343.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Limpus C. J. (1997). Marine Turtle populations of southeast Asia and the western Pacific region: distribution and status. In ‘Workshop on Marine Turtle Research and Management in Indonesia. Jember, East Java.’ (Eds Y. R. Noor, R. I. Lubis, R. Ounsted, S. Troeng and A. Abdullah.) (Wetlands international/PHPA/Environment Australia.)

Limpus, C. J. , and Walter, D. G. (1980). The growth of immature green turtles (Chelonia mydas) under natural conditions. Herpetologica 36, 162–165.
Littler D. S., and Littler M. M. (2000). ‘Caribbean Reef Plants – An Identification Guide to the Reef Plants of the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida and Gulf of Mexico.’ (Offshore Graphics Inc.: Washington, DC.)

López-Mendilaharsu, L. M. , Gardner, S. , Seminoff, J. A. , and Riosmena-Rodriguez, R. (2005). Identifying critical foraging habitats of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) along the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. Aquatic Conservation: Marine & Freshwater Ecosystems 15, 259–269.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Lutcavage M. E., Plotkin P., Witherington B., and Lutz P. (1997). Human impacts on sea turtle survival. In ‘The Biology of Sea Turtles’. (Eds P. Lutz and J. A. Musick.) pp. 387–404. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL.)

Makowski, C. , Seminoff, J. A. , and Salmon, M. (2006). Home range and habitat use of juvenile Atlantic green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) on shallow reef habitats in Palm Beach, Florida, USA. Marine Biology 148, 1167–1179.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Moran K., Bjorndal K. A., and Bolten A. B. (2002). Green Turtle Grazing: Effects on Structure and Productivity in Seagrass Ecosystems. Final Project Report for the Archie Carr Center for sea turtle research.www.sefsc.noaa.gov/PDFdocs/CR_Moran_etal_ 2002.pdf)

Mortimer, J. (1981). The feeding ecology of the west Caribbean green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Nicaragua. Biotropica 13, 49–58.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Price I. A., and Scott F. J. (1992). ‘The Turf Algal Flora of the Great Barrier Reef – Part I. Rhodophyta.’ (James Cook University: Townsville, Qld.)

Read M. A. (1991). Observations on the feeding ecology of immature green turtles, Chelonia mydas, in the Moreton Banks region of Moreton Bay, south east Queensland. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, University of Queensland.

Ross, J. P. (1985). Biology of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, on an Arabian feeding ground. Journal of Herpetology 19, 459–468.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Seminoff J. A. (2004). MTSG global assessment of green turtles for the IUCN Red List. Submitted to IUCN Species Survival Commission, April 2004.

Seminoff, J. A. , Resendiz, A. , and Nichols, W. J. (2002). Home range of green turtles, Chelonia mydas, at a coastal foraging area in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Marine Ecology Progress Series 242, 253–265.
Whiting S. D. (2000). The ecology of immature green and hawksbill turtles foraging on two reef systems in north-western Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, Northern Territory University, Darwin.