Robson Guimarães Santos, Ryan Andrades, Marcillo Altoé Boldrini, Agnaldo
Silva Martins, Debris ingestion by juvenile marine turtles: An
underestimated problem, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 5
March 2015, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.02.022.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15001125)
Abstract: Marine turtles are an iconic group of endangered animals
threatened by debris ingestion. However, key aspects related to debris
ingestion are still poorly known, including its effects on mortality and
the original use of the ingested debris. Therefore, we analysed the
impact of debris ingestion in 265 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) over a
large geographical area and different habitats along the Brazilian
coast. We determined the death rate due to debris ingestion and
quantified the amount of debris that is sufficient to cause the death of
juvenile green turtles. Additionally, we investigated the original use
of the ingested debris. We found that a surprisingly small amount of
debris was sufficient to block the digestive tract and cause death. We
suggested that debris ingestion has a high death potential that may be
masked by other causes of death. An expressive part of the ingested
debris come from disposable and short-lived products.
Keywords: Anthropogenic debris; Chelonia mydas; Debris ingestion;
Garbage; Green turtle; Plastic debris