Resumo
Feeding behavior of immature green turtles, Chelonia mydas, has been observed on rocky shores along the northern part of State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. This turtle forages on underwater ledges, at depths of 1 to 3 m and grazes on benthic algae. The turtle seems to visually scan the algae during feeding and moves slowly, walking from one patch of vegetation to another. Gut contents of four individuals (331-452 mmCCL) consisted mainly of red and brown algae. Comparisons between gut contents and algae growing at the grazing sites, together with scanning behavior suggest selective feeding. Syntopic large herbivorous fishes of the genera Kyphosus, Sparisma, and Acanthurus showed little feeding overlap with the green turtle.
Feeding behavior; Herbivores; Seaweeds; Gut contents; Grazing; Chelonia mydas; Southeast coast-Brazil
Hábitos alimentares; Herbívoros; Algas; Conteúdo do tubo digestivo; Pastejo; Chelonia mydas; Costa sudeste-Brasil
Feeding behavior; Herbivores; Seaweeds; Gut contents; Grazing; Chelonia mydas; Southeast coast-Brazil
NOTAS
Aspectos de comportamento alimentar e dieta da tartaruga marinha, Chelonia mydas no litoral norte paulista
Some aspects on feeding behaviour of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in the northern littoral of State of São Paulo
Ivan Sazima* (* ) Departamentos de Zoologia e Botânica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6109 - 13100-Campinas, SP. ; Marlies Sazima* (* ) Departamentos de Zoologia e Botânica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6109 - 13100-Campinas, SP.
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Descritores: Hábitos alimentares, Herbívoros, Algas, Conteúdo do tubo digestivo, Pastejo, Chelonia mydas, Costa sudeste-Brasil.
SYNOPSIS
Feeding behavior of immature green turtles, Chelonia mydas, has been observed on rocky shores along the northern part of State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. This turtle forages on underwater ledges, at depths of 1 to 3 m and grazes on benthic algae. The turtle seems to visually scan the algae during feeding and moves slowly, walking from one patch of vegetation to another. Gut contents of four individuals (331-452 mmCCL) consisted mainly of red and brown algae. Comparisons between gut contents and algae growing at the grazing sites, together with scanning behavior suggest selective feeding. Syntopic large herbivorous fishes of the genera Kyphosus, Sparisma, and Acanthurus showed little feeding overlap with the green turtle.
Descriptors: Feeding behavior, Herbivores, Seaweeds, Gut contents, Grazing, Chelonia mydas, Southeast coast-Brazil.
Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.
Full text available only in PDF format.
Agradecimentos
Somos gratos a José de Oliveira e César Aranha, por apoio nos trabalhos de campo e laboratório; a Eurico C. de Oliveira Filho e Da. Mathilde G. Joly, por facilidades e apoio; a J. Semir e C. Zamprogno, por sugestões e leitura do manuscrito; ao CNPq, por apoio financeiro.
(Recebido 12-jul-1983; aceito 26-mar-1984)
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Datas de Publicação
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Publicação nesta coleção
31 Maio 2012 -
Data do Fascículo
1983
Histórico
-
Aceito
26 Mar 1984 -
Recebido
12 Jul 1983