Fine-scale foraging ecology and habitat use of sympatric green and hawksbill turtles in the Western Indian ocean

Green and hawksbill turtles at Aldabra Atoll exhibit distinct foraging ecologies with minimal niche overlap, highlighting the ecological importance of seagrass and mangrove habitats. Stable isotope analysis revealed that green turtles primarily consume seagrass and brown algae, while hawksbills focus on mangroves and invertebrates. A dietary shift in green turtles was observed with size, suggesting age-related changes in foraging behavior. The study also found evidence of small-scale foraging site fidelity, indicating that turtle tissues reflect site-specific prey consumption. This research underscores the unique role of these species in controlling algal biomass at Aldabra, a relatively undisturbed atoll in the Seychelles, and provides the first detailed examination of their foraging ecology in the Western Indian Ocean.

Sanchez, C. L., Casale, P., Bunbury, N., A’Bear, L., Banane, V., Benstrong, F., Bielsa, M., Jones, C. W., Koester, A., Murasko, S., van Rooyen, M. C., Fleischer-Dogley, F., & Ceriani, S. A. (2024). Fine-scale foraging ecology and habitat use of sympatric green and hawksbill turtles in the Western Indian ocean. Marine Environmental Research, 198, 106529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106529