How marine debris ingestion differs among megafauna species in a tropical coastal area

Ana Paula Madeira Di Beneditto, Danielle Rodrigues Awabdi, How marine
debris ingestion differs among megafauna species in a tropical coastal
area, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 23 September 2014,
ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.09.020.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14006134)
Abstract: The marine debris ingested by megafauna species (Trichiurus
lepturus, Chelonia mydas, Pontoporia blainvillei, and Sotalia
guianensis) was recorded in a coastal area of southeastern Brazil
(21?23°S). Marine debris was recorded in all species, mainly consisting
of plastic material (flexible and hard plastics ? clear, white, and
colored- and nylon filaments). The ?pelagic predators? T. lepturus and
S. guianesis showed the lowest percent frequencies of debris ingestion
(0.7% and 1.3%, respectively), followed by the ?benthic predator? P.
blainvillei (15.7%) and the ?benthic herbivorous C. mydas (59.2%). The
debris found in C. mydas stomachs was opportunistically ingested during
feeding activities on local macroalgal banks. In the study area, the
benthic environment accumulates more anthropogenic debris than the
pelagic environment, and benthic/demersal feeders are more susceptible
to encounters and ingestion. The sub-lethal effects observed in C.
mydas, such as intestinal obstruction due to hardened fecal material,
should be considered a local conservation concern.
Keywords: Marine debris; Megafauna; Fish; Turtle; Dolphins; Brazilian
coastal area

How marine debris ingestion differs among megafauna species in a tropical coastal area