| Abstrakt: |
This study explored the diet and food composition of the European Pond Turtle, Emys orbicularis, population in Anzali Lagoon, located in the South Caspian region. A total of 186 turtles were captured during both the pre- and post-breeding seasons to analyse their stomach contents. The analysis revealed that the diet primarily consisted of Arthropoda (76.2%), followed by Mollusca (12.2%), fish (4.6%), aquatic plant material (6.0%), and Annelida (0.9%). The average number of food items during the breeding season was 14 per sample, which significantly decreased to 2.5 in the post-breeding season. On average, male turtles consumed three food items, while females consumed six during the study period. The Pianka Index indicated a high degree of dietary overlap among males, females, and juveniles. Moreover, the Shannon Index revealed food item diversity values of 1.1 for males, 0.94 for females, and 0.62 for juveniles. These findings suggest that the European Pond Turtle in Anzali Lagoon is an opportunistic feeder, with its diet ranging from carnivorous to omnivorous, depending on environmental conditions, season changes, and food availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
