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1 December 2015 Diet Analysis of Subadult Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) Turtles from West-Central Florida
Jennifer A. Servis, Gretchen Lovewell, Anton D. Tucker
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Abstract

The present study is the first to characterize Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) diets between the west-central Florida estuaries of Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor. We analyzed the stomach contents of 20 stranded subadult L. kempii and found that their diets were primarily carnivorous, consisting mostly of calico crab (Hepatus epheliticus), stone crab (Menippe mercenaria), and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). In addition, we found uncommon prey items including fish and horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), suggesting these L. kempii are opportunistic feeders. When separated into 2 size classes (25–45 [n = 9] and > 45 [n = 11] cm straight carapace length), there was a significant difference in the turtles’ diet composition. These new insights into the ecology and life history of a critically endangered sea turtle reveal essential prey resources used by a poorly studied yet crucial subadult life stage.

© 2015 Chelonian Research Foundation
Jennifer A. Servis, Gretchen Lovewell, and Anton D. Tucker "Diet Analysis of Subadult Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) Turtles from West-Central Florida," Chelonian Conservation and Biology 14(2), 173-181, (1 December 2015). https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1177.1
Received: 23 July 2015; Accepted: 1 September 2015; Published: 1 December 2015
KEYWORDS
HAB
Harmful Algal Bloom
Red Tide
Reptilia
Testudines
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