 Honours student
Research Project
Dietary preferences of the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta in Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland
(Supervisors: Lanyon, Kirkwood & Limpus)
Loggerhead turtles feed principally on hard-shelled prey items including crustaceans and molluscs. During ingestion, loggerheads use their powerful beaks and jaws to crush and/or crack the exoskeleton of prey to access the soft tissues. This study examined diet selection of loggerhead turtles in Moreton Bay through analysis of the hard parts of prey (e.g. fish otoliths, mollusc and crustacean exoskeleton) in faecal material. Wild loggerhead turtles were held in captivity until all naturally-ingested prey were eliminated and collected. The type, size and amount of prey ingested was examined in relation to body size of the turtle. Prey consumption was examined in relation to prey availability within known feeding areas.
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