Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-20-2021
Publication Title
Regional Studies in Marine Science
Keywords
Sea turtle, Carbon, Nitrogen, Stable isotopes, LMM
ISSN
2352-4855
Volume
48
First Page
102011
Abstract
Evaluating resource use patterns for imperiled species is critical for understanding what supports their populations. Here we established stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) values for the endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) population found within the boundaries of Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO), south Florida, USA. There is little gene flow between turtles sampled at DRTO and in other rookeries in Florida, underscoring the need to study this distinct population. Between 2008 and 2015 we collected multiple sample types (skin [homogenized epidermis/dermis], whole blood, red blood cells, plasma, carapace) from 151 unique green turtles, including 43 nesting females and 108 in-water captures; some individuals were resampled multiple times across years to evaluate consistency of isotope signatures. Isotopic ratios ranged from -27.3 to -5.4 for δ13C and 3.7 to 10.6 for δ15N. Using linear mixed models, we evaluated covariates (sample type, turtle size and year) that best explained the isotope patterns observed in turtle tissues. Predictions from the top model for δ13C indicated a slight decrease over time and for δ15N a slight increase in the middle sampling years (2010–2012); results indicated that turtle size appeared to be the driver behind the range in δ13C and δ15N observed in turtle skin. We found a pattern in stable carbon isotope values that are indicative of an ontogenetic change from an omnivorous diet in smaller turtles to a seagrass-based diet in larger turtles. When we compared the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of the samples collected from turtles with that of seagrasses found in DRTO, we found that turtles > 65 cm SCL had similar stable carbon isotope values to the seagrass species present. Results of this study suggest stable isotope analysis coupled with data for available resources can be useful for tracking and detecting future changes in green turtle resource shifts in DRTO.
Additional Comments
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
NSUWorks Citation
David C. Roche, Michael S. Cherkiss, Brian J. Smith, Derek A. Burkholder, and Kristen M. Hart. 2021. Stable isotopes used to infer trophic position of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Dry Tortugas National Park, Gulf of Mexico, United States .Regional Studies in Marine Science : 102011 . https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/1198.
ORCID ID
0000-0001-6315-6932
DOI
10.1016/j.rsma.2021.102011
COinS
Comments
We acknowledge past and present employees and volunteers for assistance in the field and lab, Kelsey Roberts for help with editing our revised manuscript files, and Will Jenkins for careful review of an earlier draft of the manuscript. All work was permitted under the following permits issued to K. Hart: USGS Animal Care permit USGS-SESC-2014-03, NMFS Scientific Research Permits 13307, 17381, Florida Marine Turtle Permit 176 and Dry Tortugas Scientific Research Permits DRTO-2008-SCI-0008, DRTO-2010-SCI-0009, DRTO-2012-SCI-0008, DRTO-2014-SCI-0004, and DRTO-2016-SCI-0008. Data generated during this study are available as a USGS data release (Roche et al., 2019). Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Financial support
Funding for portions of this study were provided by the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program, USA, USGS Ecosystems Program, USA, the USGS Priority Ecosystem Studies Program, USA, and the U.S. National Park Service .