Food composition of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in Lake Sülüklü (Western Anatolia, Turkey)
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2011
Yazarlar: Kerim ÇİÇEK, Dinçer AYAZ
Journal of Freshwater Ecology, SCI Expanded İndekslerine Giren Dergi, Uluslararası, Wos, 2011, cilt 26, ss 1-8
DOI: 10.1080/02705060.2011.580536
Özet
We examined the seasonal changes in the food composition of the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis in Lake Sülüklü (Manisa, Turkey) during spring and summer 2010. The stomach contents of 110 (40 ♂♂, 62 ♀♀, eight juveniles) E. orbicularis individuals were analyzed, and 461 prey items were found. Gastropods (2.2%), earthworms (0.4%), insects (67.2%), fishes (6.9%), amphibians (15.0%), and plant material (8.2%) constituted the food of the species. Food consisted primarily of insects and other invertebrates during the breeding season and of vertebrate and plant material (especially seeds and roots) during the post-breeding season. Based on these results, the European pond turtle is a generalist opportunistic omnivore whose diet is most strongly influenced by prey availability.