Gerald R. Johnston
Travis M. Thomas
Hardin Waddle
Susan Walls
Kristen Hart
Mathew Denton
2023
<div class="div0"><div class="row ArticleContentRow"><p id="ID0EF" class="first"><i>Macrochelys suwanniensis</i><span> </span>(Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) coexists with 2 other native large omnivorous turtle species (<i>Chelydra serpentina</i><span> </span>[Snapping Turtle] and<span> </span><i>Trachemys scripta scripta</i><span> </span>[Yellow-bellied Slider]) in a 9-km section of the Santa Fe River in northern Florida. A major shift in dominant submersed aquatic vegetation prompted us to quantify trophic position and niche overlap among these 3 species. Here, we examine carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of these turtles and their potential food resources within the changing riverine system. We provide evidence of low isotopic niche overlap between<span> </span><i>M. suwanniensis</i><span> </span>and<span> </span><i>C. serpentina</i>, whereas<span> </span><i>T. s. scripta</i><span> </span>occupied a discrete niche having lower carbon and nitrogen values.</p></div></div>
application/pdf
10.1656/058.022.0sp1221
en
BioOne
Dietary niche of three omnivorous turtle species in a northern Florida river: Insights from stable isotope analysis
article