Fine-scale foraging segregation in a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) feeding ground in the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea Bissau

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) exhibit fine-scale foraging segregation within the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea Bissau, with distinct habitat preferences and dietary patterns. Research reveals that smaller turtles favor sandy shallows rich in seagrass, while larger individuals prefer deeper rocky sites fringed by mangroves, despite both habitats supporting macroalgae-dominated diets. Stable isotope analysis confirmed this dichotomy, showing unique isotopic signatures for seagrass in shallower areas and a consistent preference for rhodophytes across size classes. The study highlights significant spatial heterogeneity in foraging behavior, even at small geographic scales (2.7 km apart), suggesting potential predation risks may limit larger turtles' access to diverse shallow habitats.

Madeira, F. M., Rebelo, R., Catry, P., Neiva, J., Barbosa, C., Regalla, A., & Patrício, A. R. (2022). Fine-scale foraging segregation in a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) feeding ground in the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea Bissau. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.984219