Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Erazmus, K. R. (2012). Diet and prey choice of female diamond-backed terrapins (malaclemys terrapin) in jamaica bay, new york. Unpublished thesis , Hofstra University, Hempstead.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (30 Jun 2012 22:00:52 UTC) |
| Resource type: Thesis/Dissertation BibTeX citation key: Erazmus2012 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Ernährung = nutrition, Graptemys geographica, Graptemys pulchra, Habitat = habitat, Malaclemys terrapin, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Verhalten = ethology Creators: Erazmus Publisher: Hofstra University (Hempstead) |
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| Abstract |
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The diets of 129 adult female northern diamond-backed terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) were examined by means of fecal analysis and controlled feeding trials during three consecutive nesting seasons at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, New York. Only one thorough dietary study using fecal analysis has been published on Malaclemys diets, and none in the Northeast, where potential prey species differ from those that occur elsewhere in the range. Based on work from other locations in the Malaclemys range and to similarities in head morphology to the alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra), I predicted that JB diamond-backed terrapins would consume primarily gastropods, bivalves and crustaceans. While I found that bivalves and crustaceans do make up 57% of their diet, there was very little evidence of gastropod consumption. I also found a higher abundance of vegetation, especially sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca), than previously documented, however, a correlation test between sea lettuce and soft shelled clams (Mya arenaria) supported the hypothesis that vegetation was accidently ingested when feeding on soft shell clams. Through the use of Monte Carlo simulations I also found that although the diets of Graptemys, Trachemys and Malaclemys were overall more similar than expected by chance, significant differences occurred in prey type consumption between all three species and between other Malaclemys diets studies using 2 tests. My results suggest that Malaclemys diets vary geographically, and cannot be determined from a single study. Multi-year studies throughout the entire range of Malaclemys will be necessary to fully characterize their dietary ecology.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |