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Shaw KR, Whitney JL, Nalley EM, Schmidbauer MC, Donahue MJ, Black J, Corniuk RN, Teague K, Sandquist R, Pirkle C, Dacks R, Sudnovsky M, Lynch JM. Microplastics absent from reef fish in the Marshall Islands: Multistage screening methods reduced false positives. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115820. [PMID: 38029668 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Island communities, like the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), depend on marine resources for food and economics, so plastic ingestion by those resources is a concern. The gastrointestinal tracts of nine species of reef fish across five trophic groups (97 fish) were examined for plastics >1 mm. Over 2100 putative plastic particles from 72 fish were identified under light microscopy. Only 115 of these from 47 fish passed a plastic screening method using Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (μFTIR) in reflectance mode. All of these were identified as natural materials in a final confirmatory analysis, attenuated total reflectance FTIR. The high false-positive rate of visual and μFTIR methods highlight the importance of using multiple polymer identification methods. Limited studies on ingested plastic in reef fish present challenging comparisons because of different methods used. No plastic >1 mm were found in the RMI reef fish, reassuring human consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Shaw
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA.
| | | | - Eileen M Nalley
- Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA; Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Madeline C Schmidbauer
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Megan J Donahue
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Jesse Black
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA
| | - Raquel N Corniuk
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA
| | - Kellie Teague
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA
| | - Rachel Sandquist
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA
| | - Catherine Pirkle
- Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Rachel Dacks
- Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
| | - Max Sudnovsky
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA; NOAA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Lynch
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA
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Inurria A, Suárez-Pérez A, Calabuig P, Orós J. Citrobacter freundii-associated lesions in stranded loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta). Vet Pathol 2024; 61:140-144. [PMID: 37377060 DOI: 10.1177/03009858231183983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Citrobacter freundii, an opportunistic bacterial pathogen belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, has been sporadically reported in sea turtles. Here, the authors describe 3 unusual lesions associated with C. freundii infection in 3 loggerhead sea turtles stranded on the coast of Gran Canaria Island, Spain. It is possible that these 3 distinct lesions played a major role in the death of these turtles. The first turtle had caseous cholecystitis, a lesion not previously described in sea turtles. The second turtle had large intestinal diverticulitis, a rare condition in loggerheads. The third turtle had bilateral caseous salt gland adenitis. Histologically, numerous gram-negative bacilli were observed at the deepest edge of inflammation in all cases. Pure cultures of C. freundii were obtained from these 3 lesions. Molecular detection of C. freundii DNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from the lesions of the 3 turtles confirmed the microbiological isolation. These cases, in addition to expanding the limited body of knowledge on bacterial infections in sea turtles, highlight the potential pathogenic role of C. freundii in loggerhead turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Inurria
- University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Arucas, Spain
| | - Alejandro Suárez-Pérez
- University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Arucas, Spain
- AnimalLab, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Pascual Calabuig
- Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Jorge Orós
- University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Arucas, Spain
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Kanghae H, Thongprajukaew K, Suraswadi P, Namwang A, Reungkhajorn A, Wongwilai G, Intaring B, Chamnivikaipong C. First successful head-start program of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Thailand and proposed dietary strategy. Zoo Biol 2024; 43:110-122. [PMID: 37584275 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings have previously been kept alive for over a year in captive conditions but these were the few survivors of initially larger groups. In this report, newly hatched leatherback sea turtles were randomly harvested from two nests in Thailand and successfully reared before release back to the wild. In captivity, the survival of the turtles decreased sharply during the first 4 or 5 months, and then steadied until the end of the 12-month trial. The survival of yearlings from one nest was 13.3% and from the other nest 46.7%. Their growth was exponential, reaching 1.36-3.35 kg (n = 9) at the end of program. The causes of death of the reared turtles were accidents (25.0-38.5%) and infections from water and live food (61.5-75.0%). The dietary requirements of the turtles were investigated by determining the digestibility of protein and carbohydrate in vitro, using enzymes from the digestive tracts of hatchlings that had died in an accident (70.1-92.9 g body weight). The results indicated that the most suitable source of protein was wheat gluten, followed by soybean meal, nonruminant meat and bone meal, fish meal, nonruminant meat meal, pork meal, and skimmed milk, while suitable carbohydrate sources were mashed cassava, corn, wheat flour, and alpha starch, followed by cereal meal and rice flour. Findings from the current report provide a practical protocol for head-starting leatherback sea turtles, and indicate the possible basis of an effective artificial diet for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirun Kanghae
- Marine Endangered Species Unit, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket, Thailand
| | - Karun Thongprajukaew
- Division of Health and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Pinsak Suraswadi
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Areeya Namwang
- Marine Endangered Species Unit, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket, Thailand
| | - Aisawan Reungkhajorn
- Marine Endangered Species Unit, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket, Thailand
| | - Guntaphon Wongwilai
- Marine Endangered Species Unit, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket, Thailand
| | - Boontika Intaring
- Marine Endangered Species Unit, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket, Thailand
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Ebani VV. Bacterial Infections in Sea Turtles. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050333. [PMID: 37235416 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea turtles are important for the maintenance of marine and beach ecosystems, but they are seriously endangered due to factors mainly related to human activities and climate change such as pollution, temperature increase, and predation. Infectious and parasitic diseases may contribute to reducing the number of sea turtles. Bacteria are widespread in marine environments and, depending on the species, may act as primary or opportunistic pathogens. Most of them are able to infect other animal species, including humans, in which they can cause mild or severe diseases. Therefore, direct or indirect contact of humans with sea turtles, their products, and environment where they live represent a One Health threat. Chlamydiae, Mycobacteria, and Salmonellae are known zoonotic agents able to cause mild or severe diseases in sea turtles, other animals, and humans. However, other bacteria that are potentially zoonotic, including those that are antimicrobially resistant, are involved in different pathologies of marine turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Virginia Ebani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Centre for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Escobedo Mondragón M, Pérez Luzardo O, Henríquez-Hernández LA, Rodríguez-Hernández Á, Zumbado M, Rosiles Martínez JR, González Farias F, Suzán G, González-Rebeles Islas C. Trophic behavior of inorganic elements in nesting sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Caretta caretta) in Quintana Roo: Biomagnification and biodilution effect in blood and scute tissues. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114582. [PMID: 36634539 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The biomagnification and biodilution of inorganic pollutants, have a close correlation on the structure and function of trophic change behavior; sea turtles represent an excellent bioindicator model to identify their impact in marine ecosystems. To understand pollution effects on marine ecosystems, we quantified the bioconcentration of 50 inorganic elements in the blood and scute tissues of three nesting species of sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata and Caretta caretta), collected in Quintana Roo State from July 2017 to August 2018. As a general trend, essential mineral elements with toxic potential showed the highest concentrations in both tissues; significant increase concentration of arsenic, mercury, and cerium levels was observed with increasing trophic levels indicating its biomagnification while a significant decrease in manganese and bismuth showed a biodilution effect. We expect that our findings can be used as baseline data in future biomonitoring and contamination risk assessment programs in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maribel Escobedo Mondragón
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, C.U., Coyoacán, 04510 CDMX, Mexico
| | - Octavio Pérez Luzardo
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain.
| | - Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Ángel Rodríguez-Hernández
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Manuel Zumbado
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - J René Rosiles Martínez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología, Departamento de Nutrición Animal y Bromatología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, C.U., Coyoacán, 04510 CDMX, Mexico
| | - Fernando González Farias
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cto. Exterior s/n, C.U., Coyoacán, 04510 CDMX, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, C.U., Coyoacán, 04510 CDMX, Mexico
| | - Carlos González-Rebeles Islas
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, C.U., Coyoacán, 04510 CDMX, Mexico
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Blais N, Wells PG. The leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) and plastics in the Northwest Atlantic ocean: A hazard assessment. Heliyon 2022; 8:e12427. [PMID: 36636212 PMCID: PMC9830159 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Atlantic leatherback turtles are faced with multiple threats, such as ship strikes, pollution and predation, throughout their annual migratory routes in the Northwest (NW) Atlantic. The risks associated with encounters with floating and submerged plastic debris are currently unknown. This study is a hazard assessment of plastics for this turtle's sub-population, using 2010-2019 data from the national Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup (GSCS) program, therefore potential exposure, and published evidence on the interactions of plastics and leatherbacks, hence potential effects. The type of plastic items and their abundance along shorelines of three Atlantic Provinces - Nova Scotia (NS), Prince Edward Island (PEI), Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) - were evaluated and compared to plastic items known to interact with leatherbacks. During the 2010-2019 period, a total of 220,590 plastic items were collected from 578 sites, representing 1264 km of shoreline. Plastic bags and rope are in the top ten most common items found on shorelines of NS, PEI, and NL. Pot gear and trap nets are in the top ten for PEI and are the 14th most common plastic item found on all shorelines. Cigarette debris is also commonly found. From the literature, plastic bags, pot gear and trap nets, and rope are known to adversely affect leatherbacks. Assuming that a large proportion of the shoreline debris comes in from the sea, after being in coastal waters for unknown periods, the study shows that such items pose a hazard to leatherbacks through ingestion and entanglement, based on published studies. Evidence is now needed on actual exposure at sea to the most common items to establish the ecological risk of plastics to these turtles in NW Atlantic waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Blais
- Marine Affairs Program, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada,Corresponding author.
| | - Peter G. Wells
- Marine Affairs Program, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada,International Ocean Institute – Canada, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
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Hoare V, Atchison Balmond N, Hays GC, Jones R, Koldewey H, Laloë JO, Levy E, Llewellyn F, Morrall H, Esteban N. Spatial variation of plastic debris on important turtle nesting beaches of the remote Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 181:113868. [PMID: 35835050 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We report Anthropogenic Marine Debris (AMD) in Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, globally amongst the most isolated island groups. AMD on 14 island beaches in five atolls were surveyed in 2019 using two techniques: Marine Debris Tracker (MDT) along littoral vegetation and photoquadrats in open beach. Over 60 % of AMD in both beach zones was composed of plastics, especially bottles and fragments (mean = 44.9 %, 27.2 %, range = 16.5-73.2 %, 4.8-55.9 % respectively in vegetation; mean = 28.7 %, 31.5 %, range = 17.7-40.7 %, 11.6-60.0 % respectively in open beach). The density of plastic debris in littoral vegetation (MDT data: 1995 bottles, 3328 fragments per 100 m2) was 10-fold greater than in open beach (photoquadrat data: 184 bottles, 106 fragments per 100 m2). Significant latitudinal variation in vegetation AMD occurred (8-fold greater in southern atolls, p = 0.006). AMD varied within island zones: most debris observed on oceanside beaches (oceanside vs lagoon, W = 365, p < 0.001; ocean vs island tip, W = 107, p = 0.034). Standardisation of surveys using the open-source MDT App is recommended. Debris accumulation hotspots overlapped with sea turtle nesting habitat, guiding future beach clean-up prioritisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Hoare
- Swansea University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK; Imperial College London, Centre for Environmental Policy, London SW7 1NE, UK
| | - N Atchison Balmond
- British Indian Ocean Territory, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH, UK
| | - G C Hays
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - R Jones
- Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - H Koldewey
- Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - J-O Laloë
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - E Levy
- Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - F Llewellyn
- Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - H Morrall
- Natural England, Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX, UK
| | - N Esteban
- Swansea University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK.
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