Comparative Nutrition and Physiology of Turtles: Mechanistic Insights for Sustainable Aquaculture and Conservation

Turtles play critical ecological and economic roles, but wild populations face increasing threats, driving interest in sustainable farming practices. Nutrition is a key determinant of turtle health and aquaculture productivity. This review summarizes current knowledge on turtle nutritional requirements across species and life stages, emphasizing elevated protein demands during early growth phases and the critical importance of mineral balance for skeletal health. It further examines the composition and application of natural compared with artificial feeds, the impact of feed formulation on metabolic processes, and the role of feed additives such as probiotics, enzymes, and trace elements in enhancing growth and immune function. Recent technological innovations, including precision farming, intelligent feed management, and aquaponics, are discussed as promising approaches to improve feed efficiency and sustainability. Finally, emerging research directions in genomics-based nutrition, alternative protein sources, and comparative interspecific studies are highlighted. By synthesizing comparative physiological traits and cross-species nutritional data, this review establishes a framework for deriving evidence-based nutritional inferences tailored to the unique metabolic and digestive profiles of diverse turtle taxa. Collectively, these advances provide a foundation for developing balanced, sustainable, and species-specific diets that can improve turtle welfare in captivity while contributing to conservation and ecofriendly aquaculture.