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Stable isotope composition of multiple tissues and individual amino acids reveals dietary variation among life stages in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Ningaloo Reef

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Abstract

Diet is fundamental to an individual’s biology because energy acquired from food constrains growth and reproduction, which subsequently influences survival. It is, therefore, important to have a strong understanding of a population’s diet for species of conservation concern, such as the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). While the diet of adult green turtles is generally characterised as primarily herbivorous, growing evidence suggests variation in diet between and within populations is prevalent. We use complementary stable isotope analysis techniques to elucidate diet variation within a C. mydas population (ranging from small juveniles to adults) foraging at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Analyses of multiple tissues and samples from ten individuals recaptured between 4 months and 4.5 years apart revealed that adults showed the highest levels of individual specialisation and consistency in diet over time. Analysis of red blood cell δ13C and δ15N values revealed macroalgae is likely the dominant food source for all size classes, and sub-adult and adults also ate animals (probably jellyfish). Compound-specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids indicated the main sources of essential amino acids for Ningaloo C. mydas were macroalgae or bacteria. Taken together, these results suggest C. mydas at Ningaloo conform to the general description of adult C. mydas diet as predominantly herbivorous, but diet varies with size and between adult individuals. Consideration of within-population diet variation will be important for predicting responses to stressors such as climate change, that directly affect foraging resources, as fitness consequences may vary for individuals with different diets.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Doug Ford and Grzegorz Skrzypek at the West Australian Biogeochemistry Centre (WABC) for measuring bulk tissue isotope ratios and we thank Mina Brock for assistance in preparing samples for AA-CSIA. We thank the many volunteers and CSIRO staff that assisted in the field sampling turtles. In addition, we thank Norman Lai and Natalie Robson for assistance in sample preparation.

Funding

This study was supported by the BHP-CSIRO Ningaloo Outlook Marine Research Partnership. JS was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and BHP Marine Research Scholarship at The University of Western Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Jessica L. Stubbs

  2. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Oceans and Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Jessica L. Stubbs & Mathew A. Vanderklift

  3. CSIRO, Oceans and Atmosphere, Battery Point, TAS, 7004, Australia

    Andrew T. Revill

  4. CSIRO, Oceans and Atmosphere, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia

    Richard D. Pillans

Authors
  1. Jessica L. Stubbs
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  2. Andrew T. Revill
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  4. Mathew A. Vanderklift
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Contributions

JS and MV conceptualised the study. JS, MV, and RP collected the samples; JS, MV, and AR performed the laboratory work. JS performed the statistical analyses, JS wrote the manuscript with contributions from all the authors. All the authors reviewed, edited, and approved the article.

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Correspondence to Jessica L. Stubbs.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics

This research was conducted under WA Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) permits (SF008922, SF009590, SF010221, SF010794, 08-000539-2, 08-000539-3, SW016071), Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development exemptions (3141, 3218), and CSIRO Ecosystem Science animal ethics committee approval 2014-07.

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Stubbs, J.L., Revill, A.T., Pillans, R.D. et al. Stable isotope composition of multiple tissues and individual amino acids reveals dietary variation among life stages in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Ningaloo Reef. Mar Biol 169, 72 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04055-6

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