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comparative cytogenetics of four sea turtle species (cheloniidae): g-banding pattern and in situ localization of repetitive dna units.sea turtles are considered flagship species for marine biodiversity conservation and are considered to be at varying risk of extinction globally. cases of hybridism have been reported in sea turtles, but chromosomal analyses are limited to classical karyotype descriptions and a few molecular cytogenetic studies. in order to compare karyotypes and understand evolutive mechanisms related to chromosome dif-ferentiation in this group, chelonia mydas, caretta caretta, eretmochelys imbricata, and lepi ...202033120383
newly emerging diseases of marine turtles, especially sea turtle egg fusariosis (seft), caused by species in the fusarium solani complex (fssc).sea turtles are presently considered severely endangered species that are historically threatened by many environmental factors. recently, additional threats to sea turtles from two pathogenic species of fungi in the fusarium solani species complex (f. falciforme and f. keratoplasticum) have been identified. these species infect marine turtle eggs, causing sea turtle egg fusariosis, and kill their embryos, with recent reports of hatch-failure in seven globally distributed species of endangered s ...202033062381
ocular ultrasonography of sea turtles.environmental changes contribute to the development of ophthalmic diseases in sea turtles, but information on their eye biometrics is scarce. the aim of this study was to describe ophthalmic ultrasonographic features of four different sea turtle species; caretta caretta (loggerhead turtle; n = 10), chelonia mydas (green turtle; n = 8), eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle; n = 8) and lepidochelys olivacea (olive ridley; n = 6) under human care. corneal thickness, scleral ossicle width and th ...202032912266
environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting nesting site selection by sea turtles.understanding the environmental and anthropogenic factors that affect nesting site selection by sea turtles is key to maintaining priority conservation areas. the species lepidochelys olivacea, caretta caretta, and eretmochelys imbricata nest annually on the island of comandatuba (una, northeastern brazil), where this survey was conducted. we evaluated the temporal and spatial distribution of nests during the seasons 2008/2009 to 2014/2015 and 2017/2018. in the last season, we further examined t ...202032836012
genomic evidence of recent hybridization between sea turtles at abrolhos archipelago and its association to low reproductive output.hybridization between sea turtle species occurs with particularly high frequency at two adjacent nesting areas in northeastern brazil. to understand the outcomes of hybridization and their consequences for sea turtle conservation, we need to evaluate the extent of hybridization occurrence and possible deleterious effects in the hybrid progeny. thus, we investigated the hypothesis of the existence of a new hybrid spot offshore of brazil's northeastern coast. the abrolhos archipelago is surrounded ...202032733067
new genetic insights about hybridization and population structure of hawksbill and loggerhead turtles from brazil.an extremely high incidence of hybridization among sea turtles is found along the brazilian coast. this atypical phenomenon and its impact on sea turtle conservation can be elucidated through research focused on the evolutionary history of sea turtles. we assessed high-quality multilocus haplotypes of 143 samples of the 5 species of sea turtles that occur along the brazilian coast to investigate the hybridization process and the population structure of hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) and logg ...202032710544
global phylogeography of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata).the hawksbill turtle is a broadly distributed, highly migratory and critically endangered sea turtle species. the paucity of studies restricts the comprehension of its behavior and life history. in this work, we performed a global phylogeographic analysis using a compilation of previously published mitochondrial haplotype data to understand the dynamics and diversity of hawksbill populations worldwide. our results revealed a complex demographic pattern associated to hawksbill phylogeography sinc ...202032555943
data on environmental contaminants in sea turtle eggs at venu island, kaimana - west papua, indonesia.long-range atmospheric transport of contaminants can result in contamination of aquatic systems in otherwise pristine areas. contaminants enter aquatic systems largely as inorganic pollutants that often are microbially transformed. the result can be a potent neurotoxin with a strong tendency to biomagnify within food chains. the general human population is exposed to contaminants such as mercury, predominantly through food consumption. here, we report data on contaminants from a sample of green ...202032551349
buried treasure-marine turtles do not 'disguise' or 'camouflage' their nests but avoid them and create a decoy trail.after laying their eggs and refilling the egg chamber, sea turtles scatter sand extensively around the nest site. this is presumed to camouflage the nest, or optimize local conditions for egg development, but a consensus on its function is lacking. we quantified activity and mapped the movements of hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback (dermochelys coriacea) turtles during sand-scattering. for leatherbacks, we also recorded activity at each sand-scattering position. for hawksbills, ...202032537227
comparative analysis of tear composition in humans, domestic mammals, reptiles, and birds.tears are an important component of the ocular surface protection mechanism and are in close contact with the corneal epithelium and the environment. their composition is well-known in humans; however, there are few investigations on the composition and function of tears in reptiles, birds and others mammals, which would elucidate the mechanisms governing the maintenance of ocular homeostasis. in this work, electrophoretic profiles and an evaluation of total protein, albumin, urea, glucose, and ...202032528986
combined use of mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers further reveal immature marine turtle hybrids along the south western atlantic.marine turtle hybridization is usually sporadic and involves reports of only a few individuals; however, brazilian populations have high hybridization rates. here we investigated the presence of hybrids in morphologically identified immature hawksbills (eretmochelys imbricata) along the south western atlantic (swa). we sequenced one mitochondrial (d-loop) and three nuclear dna (rag1, rag2, and cmos) markers to better understand the patterns and characteristics of hybrids. we identified 22 hybrid ...202032353097
impacts of a shallow shipwreck on a coral reef: a case study from st. brandon's atoll, mauritius, indian ocean.shallow shipwrecks, can have severe ecological and toxicological impacts on coral atolls. in 2012, a tuna longliner ran aground on the reef crest of st brandon's atoll, mauritius, broke up into three pieces which was moved by currents and storms into the lagoon. in the months following the grounding, the coral around the wreck became dead and black. down-current from the wreck, a dense bloom of filamentous algae (ulva sp.) attached to coral occurred. to determine the ecological effects of the wr ...202032174336
twenty-three years of sea turtle stranding/ bycatch research in taiwan.coastal sea turtle stranding and bycatch are common phenomena worldwide and have received more attention in recent years. they are caused by both natural and anthropogenic factors. one thousand and seventy-two turtles were reported to be victims of these phenomena from march 1997 to november 2019 in taiwan. number of stranding/bycatch were variable and infrequent for the first 14 years, but increased each year after 2012 and peaked in 2019 with 217 cases. most turtles were juveniles to subadults ...201931966345
data on heteroplasmic mutations in mitochondrial genomes of loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles: first approach.the populations of loggerhead (caretta caretta) and hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles are suffering an exponential decline due to anthropic and environmental actions that threaten their survival. in these turtle populations, the degree of heteroplasmic mutations commonly related with pathologies, has not been studied. in this data report, the specifications of each heteroplasmic site (region, mutation, length) and the percentage of heteroplasmy of each gene for four mitochondrial ge ...202031867420
preserved collagen reveals species identity in archaeological marine turtle bones from caribbean and florida sites.advancements in molecular science are continually improving our knowledge of marine turtle biology and evolution. however, there are still considerable gaps in our understanding, such as past marine turtle distributions, which can benefit from advanced zooarchaeological analyses. here, we apply collagen fingerprinting to 130 archaeological marine turtle bone samples up to approximately 2500 years old from the caribbean and florida's gulf coast for faunal identification, finding the vast majority ...201931824722
fidelity to foraging sites after long migrations.patterns of animal movement associated with foraging lie at the heart of many ecological studies and often animals face decisions of staying in an environment they know versus relocating to new sites. the lack of knowledge of new foraging sites means there is risk associated with a decision to relocate (e.g. poor foraging) as well as a potential benefit (e.g. improved foraging). using a unique long-term satellite tracking dataset for several sea turtle species, combined with capture-mark-recaptu ...202031785174
first report of pyelosomum cochlear looss 1899 (digenea: pronocephalidae) in a hawksbill turtle - eretmochelys imbricata l. found in brazilian coast.pyelosomum cochlear looss 1899 (digenea: pronocephalidae) is a parasite exclusive to sea turtles, having been described in the green turtle (chelonia mydas) in egypt, the usa, panama, costa rica and brazil as well as the olive ridley turtle (lepidochelys olivacea) in brazil. the present note describes the first occurrence of p. cochlear in a hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) found on the coast of brazil.201931708675
pharmacokinetics of tolfenamic acid in hawksbill turtles (eretmochelys imbricata) after single intravenous and intramuscular administration.to the best of our knowledge, limited pharmacokinetic information to establish suitable therapeutic plans is available for hawksbill turtles. therefore, the present study aimed to assess the pharmacokinetic features of tolfenamic acid (ta) in hawksbill turtles, eretmochelys imbricata, after single intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administration at dosage 4 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). the study (parallel design) used 10 hawksbill turtles randomly divided into equal groups. blood samples ...202031705691
vulnerability of sea turtles and fishes in response to two catastrophic caribbean hurricanes, irma and maria.extreme weather events (e.g., cyclones, floods, droughts) are capable of changing ecosystems and altering how animals obtain resources. understanding the behavioural responses of animals being impacted by these natural events can help initiate and ameliorate conservation or management programs. this study investigated short- and long-term space-use of the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata), as well as five species of fishes and stingrays, in response to two of th ...201931582770
densities and drivers of sea turtle populations across pacific coral reef ecosystems.sea turtle populations are often assessed at the regional to sub-basin scale from discrete indices of nesting abundance. while this may be practical and sometimes effective, widespread in-water surveys may enhance assessments by including additional demographics, locations, and revealing emerging population trends. here, we describe sea turtle observations from 13 years of towed-diver surveys across 53 coral islands, atolls, and reefs in the central, west, and south pacific. these surveys covere ...201931017916
the historical development of complex global trafficking networks for marine wildlife.the complexity of trade networks is a major challenge to controlling wildlife trafficking and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (iuu) fishing. these networks may not be modern inventions, but have developed over centuries, from integrated global markets that preceded modern regulatory policies. to understand these linkages, we curated 150 years of tortoiseshell transactions and derived biologically informed harvest models to estimate the trade in critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles (e ...201930957017
potential limitations of behavioral plasticity and the role of egg relocation in climate change mitigation for a thermally sensitive endangered species.anthropogenic climate change is widely considered a major threat to global biodiversity, such that the ability of a species to adapt will determine its likelihood of survival. egg-burying reptiles that exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination, such as critically endangered hawksbill turtles (eretmochelys imbricata), are particularly vulnerable to changes in thermal regimes because nest temperatures affect offspring sex, fitness, and survival. it is unclear whether hawksbills possess suffi ...201930847059
assessing karenia brevis red tide as a mortality factor of sea turtles in florida, usa.data on karenia brevis red tides (≥105 cells l-1) and on dead or debilitated (i.e. stranded) kemp's ridleys lepidochelys kempii, loggerheads caretta caretta, green turtles chelonia mydas, hawksbills eretmochelys imbricata, and leatherbacks dermochelys coriacea documented in florida during 1986-2013 were evaluated to assess red tides as a sea turtle mortality factor. unusually large numbers of stranded sea turtles were found coincident with red tides primarily along florida's gulf coast but also ...201930628577
organochlorines contaminants in eggs of hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) and green sea turtles (chelonia mydas) from mexico coast.the investigation of organochlorine pesticides (ocps) levels in sea turtles is an important issue in conservation research, due to the harmful effects of these chemicals. in the present study, ocps concentrations were determined in the eggs of two sea turtle species (eretmochelys imbricata and chelonia mydas) collected from the punta xen and isla aguada (mexican coast) in 2014 and 2015. concentrations of 20 ocps were analysed, including isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane, aldrin, chlordanes, endos ...201930600338
comparative cranial morphology of the late cretaceous protostegid sea turtle desmatochelys lowii.the phylogenetic placement of cretaceous marine turtles, especially protostegidae, is still under debate among paleontologists. whereas protostegids were traditionally thought to be situated within the clade of recent marine turtles (chelonioidea), some recent morphological and molecular studies suggest placement along the stem of cryptodira. the main reason why the evolution of marine turtles is still poorly understood, is in part due to a lack of insights into the cranial anatomy of protostegi ...201830568851
warmer and wetter conditions will reduce offspring production of hawksbill turtles in brazil under climate change.climate change is expected to impact animals that are heavily reliant on environmental factors, such as sea turtles, since the incubation of their eggs, hatching success and sex ratio are influenced by the environment in which eggs incubate. as climate change progresses it is therefore important to understand how climatic conditions influence their reproductive output and the ramifications to population stability. here, we examined the influences of five climatic variables (air temperature, accu ...201830408043
complete mitochondrial genome of the nesting colombian caribbean hawksbill turtle.the hawksbill turtle, eretmochelis imbricata (linnaeus, 1766), is an endangered sea turtle in colombian caribbean beach. in this study, we report the complete mitochondrial dna sequences of hawksbill turtle. the entire genome comprised 16,386 base pairs, and a nucleotide frequency of t: 25.6%, c: 26.9%, a: g 35.4% and 12.1%. the mitogenome sequence of hawksbill turtle would contribute to better understand population genetics, and evolution of sea turtles. molecule was deposited at the genbank da ...201730370335
first record of the marine turtle leech (ozobranchus margoi) on hawksbill turtles (eretmochelys imbricata) in the inner granitic seychelles.ozobranchus spp. are leeches that feed solely on turtle blood. they are common ectoparasites found on a range of marine turtle species, with some species of the leech being implicated as vectors of fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus (fpthv). green (chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) turtles are the two commonly occurring species in the inner granitic islands of the seychelles. routine monitoring of nesting turtles on cousine island, seychelles, allowed for opportuni ...201830198282
nesting ecology of hawksbill turtles, eretmochelys imbricata, in an extreme environmental setting.relatively few details of hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) nesting ecology exist within the arabian gulf. moreover, little is known about how their nesting dynamics compare to nesting populations throughout the rest of the world. due to the extreme environmental setting, nesting ecology of hawksbills in the arabian gulf is of significant interest to researchers and conservationists. the current research reports on a long-term tagging and monitoring program undertaken at fuwairit beach, ...201830192801
ingested micronizing plastic particle compositions and size distributions within stranded post-hatchling sea turtles.from july 2015 to november 2016, 96 post-hatchling sea turtles were collected from 118 km of the atlantic coastline in florida, usa, including loggerhead, green, and hawksbill sea turtle species. forty-five of the recovered turtles were rehabilitated and released, but the remaining 52 died and were frozen. at necropsy, the gastrointestinal tracts of most the turtles contained visible plastic, and collected particles of 27 individuals were chemically characterized by raman microscopy as polyethyl ...201830118591
the early ontogeny of carapace armoring in hawksbill sea turtles (eretmochelys imbricata), with comparisons to its close relatives (loggerhead, caretta caretta; kemp's ridley, lepidochelys kempii).in this study, we compare and contrast armoring strategies during early ontogeny among three related species of marine turtles: the hawksbill, a species that diverged about 29 mya from the loggerhead and kemp's ridley, which diverged from one another about 16 mya. our purpose was to determine whether there was a correlation between divergence time and the evolution of unique morphological armoring specializations among these species. to find out, we completed a more detailed analysis of shell mo ...201830105840
conjunctival bacterial flora and antimicrobial susceptibility of captive and free-living sea turtles in brazil.to describe the aerobic conjunctival bacterial flora of 3 especies of free-living and under human care sea turtles and determine its antimicrobial susceptibility in vitro.201929953719
oxidative stress biomarkers and organochlorine pesticides in nesting female hawksbill turtles eretmochelys imbricata from mexican coast (punta xen, mexico).because of their vulnerable population status, assessing exposure levels and impacts of toxicants on the health status of gulf of mexico marine turtle populations is essential, and this study was aimed to obtain baseline information on oxidative stress indicators in hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata). in order to evaluate the health status of sea turtles and the effect of organochlorine compounds (oc) in the southern part of the gulf of mexico, we searched for relationships between ca ...201829876855
combined use of two supervised learning algorithms to model sea turtle behaviours from tri-axial acceleration data.accelerometers are becoming ever more important sensors in animal-attached technology, providing data that allow determination of body posture and movement and thereby helping to elucidate behaviour in animals that are difficult to observe. we sought to validate the identification of sea turtle behaviours from accelerometer signals by deploying tags on the carapace of a juvenile loggerhead (caretta caretta), an adult hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) and an adult green turtle (chelonia mydas) a ...201829661804
measuring behavioral responses of sea turtles, saltwater crocodiles, and crested terns to drone disturbance to define ethical operating thresholds.drones are being increasingly used in innovative ways to enhance environmental research and conservation. despite their widespread use for wildlife studies, there are few scientifically justified guidelines that provide minimum distances at which wildlife can be approached to minimize visual and auditory disturbance. these distances are essential to ensure that behavioral and survey data have no observer bias and form the basis of requirements for animal ethics and scientific permit approvals. i ...201829561901
a review of bottom-up vs. top-down control of sponges on caribbean fore-reefs: what's old, what's new, and future directions.interest in the ecology of sponges on coral reefs has grown in recent years with mounting evidence that sponges are becoming dominant members of reef communities, particularly in the caribbean. new estimates of water column processing by sponge pumping activities combined with discoveries related to carbon and nutrient cycling have led to novel hypotheses about the role of sponges in reef ecosystem function. among these developments, a debate has emerged about the relative effects of bottom-up ( ...201829404224
profiles of environmental contaminants in hawksbill turtle egg yolks reflect local to distant pollution sources among nesting beaches in the yucatán peninsula, mexico.knowledge of spatial variation in pollutant profiles among sea turtle nesting locations is limited. this poses challenges in identifying processes shaping this variability and sets constraints to the conservation management of sea turtles and their use as biomonitoring tools for environmental pollutants. we aimed to increase understanding of the spatial variation in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (pah), organochlorine pesticide (ocp) and polychlorinated biphenyl (pcb) compounds among nesting be ...201829395262
data of firstde-novotranscriptome assembly of a non-model species, hawksbill sea turtle,eretmochelys imbricate, nesting of the colombian caribean.the hawksbill sea turtle,eretmochelys imbricata,is an endangered species of the caribbean colombian coast due to anthropic and natural factors that have decreased their population levels. little is known about the genes that are involved in their immune system, sex determination, aging and others important functions. the data generated represents rna sequencing and the first de-novo assembly of transcripts expressed in the blood of the hawksbill sea turtle. the raw fastq files were deposited in ...201729071295
chelonitoxism in breast-fed child: cases in mahajanga, madagascar.chelonitoxism is a form of food poisoning due to the consumption of sea turtle flesh or viscera, which contain marine toxins called chelonitoxins. because the passage of these toxins into breast milk is thought to be fatal to breastfed babies, we sought to confirm the possibility of this transmission of toxins through breastfeeding and to determine the symptoms of mothers and the severity of poisoning in babies. a recent case of collective consumption of sea turtle meat from the species eretmoch ...201728947412
natal foraging philopatry in eastern pacific hawksbill turtles.the complex processes involved with animal migration have long been a subject of biological interest, and broad-scale movement patterns of many marine turtle populations still remain unresolved. while it is widely accepted that once marine turtles reach sexual maturity they home to natal areas for nesting or reproduction, the role of philopatry to natal areas during other life stages has received less scrutiny, despite widespread evidence across the taxa. here we report on genetic research that ...201728878969
evidence of opposing fitness effects of parental heterozygosity and relatedness in a critically endangered marine turtle?how individual genetic variability relates to fitness is important in understanding evolution and the processes affecting populations of conservation concern. heterozygosity-fitness correlations (hfcs) have been widely used to study this link in wild populations, where key parameters that affect both variability and fitness, such as inbreeding, can be difficult to measure. we used estimates of parental heterozygosity and genetic similarity ('relatedness') derived from 32 microsatellite markers t ...201728787533
the current situation of inorganic elements in marine turtles: a general review and meta-analysis.inorganic elements (pb, cd, hg, al, as, cr, cu, fe, mn, ni, se and zn) are present globally in aquatic systems and their potential transfer to marine turtles can be a serious threat to their health status. the environmental fate of these contaminants may be traced by the analysis of turtle tissues. loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta) are the most frequently investigated of all the sea turtle species with regards to inorganic elements, followed by green turtles (chelonia mydas); all the other sp ...201728688307
blood gases, biochemistry and haematology of galápagos hawksbill turtles (eretmochelys imbricata).the hawksbill turtle,eretmochelys imbricata, is a marine chelonian with a circum-global distribution, but the species is critically endangered and has nearly vanished from the eastern pacific. although reference blood parameter intervals have been published for many chelonian species and populations, including nesting atlantic hawksbills, no such baseline biochemical and blood gas values have been reported for wild pacific hawksbill turtles. blood samples were drawn from eight hawksbill turtles ...201728496982
ecological regime shift drives declining growth rates of sea turtles throughout the west atlantic.somatic growth is an integrated, individual-based response to environmental conditions, especially in ectotherms. growth dynamics of large, mobile animals are particularly useful as bio-indicators of environmental change at regional scales. we assembled growth rate data from throughout the west atlantic for green turtles, chelonia mydas, which are long-lived, highly migratory, primarily herbivorous mega-consumers that may migrate over hundreds to thousands of kilometers. our dataset, the largest ...201728378354
spongivory on caribbean reefs releases corals from competition with sponges.competition for space is an important process on tropical coral reefs. few studies have examined the role sponges play in community structure despite the fact that many sponges are competitively superior to reef-building corals in space acquisition. surveys conducted throughout the florida keys indicated that chondrilla nucula was involved in about 30% of all coral-sponge interactions; this sponge has also been observed in 40-50% of coral-sponge interactions on other caribbean reefs. c. nucula i ...199828308480
relationship between organochlorine pesticides and stress indicators in hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at punta xen (campeche), southern gulf of mexico.data on the impact of environmental pollution on the homeostasis of sea turtles remains scarce, particularly in the southern gulf of mexico. as many municipalities along the coastline of the yucatan peninsula do not rely on a waste treatment plant, these organisms could be particularly vulnerable. we searched for relationships between the presence of organochlorine pesticides (ocp) and the level of several oxidative and pollutant stress indicators of the hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbric ...201728025743
detection of salmonella enterica serovar montevideo and newport in free-ranging sea turtles and beach sand in the caribbean and persistence in sand and seawater microcosms.salmonellae are gram-negative zoonotic bacteria that are frequently part of the normal reptilian gastrointestinal flora. the main objective of this project was to estimate the prevalence of non-typhoidal salmonella enterica in the nesting and foraging populations of sea turtles on st. kitts and in sand from known nesting beaches. results suggest a higher prevalence of salmonella in nesting leatherback sea turtles compared with foraging green and hawksbill sea turtles. salmonella was cultured fro ...201628009107
food-poisoning outbreak and fatality following ingestion of sea turtle meat in the rural community of ndrondroni, mohéli island, comoros, december 2012.on 24-december-2012 newspapers reported food-poisoning cases in ndrondroni, comoros. the authors conducted an investigation and a case-control study to identify the source and control the outbreak. they identified eight cases. a 6-month breastfed infant died. the results suggest consumption of eretmochelys imbricata caused the outbreak. a bio-toxin ingested by the turtle might be the source. the local authorities informed the population on the danger of turtle-meat consumption. cooking does not ...201627452931
mitochondrial dna profiling of illegal tortoiseshell products derived from hawksbill sea turtles.the hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) is a highly endangered species, commonly poached for its ornate shell. "tortoiseshell" products made from the shell are widely, although illegally, available in many countries. hawksbills have a circumglobal distribution; thus, determining their origin is difficult, although genetic differences exist geographically. in the research presented, a procedure was developed to extract and amplify mitochondrial dna from tortoiseshell items, in an effort ...201627364288
ghrelin and leptin modulate the feeding behaviour of the hawksbill turtle eretmochelys imbricata during nesting season.female sea turtles have rarely been observed foraging during the nesting season. this suggests that prior to their migration to nesting beaches the females must store sufficient energy and nutrients at their foraging grounds and must be physiologically capable of undergoing months without feeding. leptin (an appetite-suppressing protein) and ghrelin (a hunger-stimulating peptide) affect body weight by influencing energy intake in all vertebrates. we investigated the levels of these hormones and ...201327293600
the developmental biogeography of hawksbill sea turtles in the north pacific.high seas oceanic ecosystems are considered important habitat for juvenile sea turtles, yet much remains cryptic about this important life-history period. recent progress on climate and fishery impacts in these so-called lost years is promising, but the developmental biogeography of hawksbill sea turtles (eretmochelys imbricata) has not been widely described in the pacific ocean. this knowledge gap limits the effectiveness of conservation management for this globally endangered species. we addre ...201627110350
hawksbill turtle terra incognita: conservation genetics of eastern pacific rookeries.prior to 2008 and the discovery of several important hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) nesting colonies in the ep (eastern pacific), the species was considered virtually absent from the region. research since that time has yielded new insights into ep hawksbills, salient among them being the use of mangrove estuaries for nesting. these recent revelations have raised interest in the genetic characterization of hawksbills in the ep, studies of which have remained lacking to date. between 2 ...201626941950
first record of hybridization between green chelonia mydas and hawksbill eretmochelys imbricata sea turtles in the southeast pacific.hybridization among sea turtle species has been widely reported in the atlantic ocean, but their detection in the pacific ocean is limited to just two individual hybrid turtles, in the northern hemisphere. herein, we report, for the first time in the southeast pacific, the presence of a sea turtle hybrid between the green turtle chelonia mydas and the hawksbill turtle eretmochelys imbricata. this juvenile sea turtle was captured in northern peru (4°13's; 81°10'w) on the 5(th) of january, 2014. t ...201626925333
male hatchling production in sea turtles from one of the world's largest marine protected areas, the chagos archipelago.sand temperatures at nest depths and implications for hatchling sex ratios of hawksbill turtles (eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtles (chelonia mydas) nesting in the chagos archipelago, indian ocean are reported and compared to similar measurements at rookeries in the atlantic and caribbean. during 2012-2014, temperature loggers were buried at depths and in beach zones representative of turtle nesting sites. data collected for 12,546 days revealed seasonal and spatial patterns of sand tempe ...201626832230
genetic variation, multiple paternity, and measures of reproductive success in the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata).the yucatán peninsula in mexico contains some of the largest breeding groups of the globally distributed and critically endangered hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata). an improved understanding of the breeding system of this species and how its genetic variation is structured among nesting areas is required before the threats to its survival can be properly evaluated. here, we genotype 1195 hatchlings and 41 nesting females at 12 microsatellite loci to assess levels of multiple paternity, ...201526811751
time in tortoiseshell: a bomb radiocarbon-validated chronology in sea turtle scutes.some of the most basic questions of sea turtle life history are also the most elusive. many uncertainties surround lifespan, growth rates, maturity and spatial structure, yet these are critical factors in assessing population status. here we examine the keratinized hard tissues of the hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) carapace and use bomb radiocarbon dating to estimate growth and maturity. scutes have an established dietary record, yet the large keratin deposits of hawksbills evoke a reliable ...201626740617
impact of jaguar panthera onca (carnivora: felidae) predation on marine turtle populations in tortuguero, caribbean coast of costa rica.little is known about the effects of jaguars on the population of marine turtles nesting in tortuguero national park, costa rica. this study assessed jaguar predation impact on three species of marine turtles (chelonia mydas, dermochelys coriacea and eretmochelys imbricata) that nest in tortuguero beach. jaguar predation data was obtained by using two methodologies, literature review (historical records prior the year 2005) and weekly surveys along the 29 km stretch of beach during the period 20 ...201526666135
phylogeography, genetic diversity, and management units of hawksbill turtles in the indo-pacific.hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) populations have experienced global decline because of a history of intense commercial exploitation for shell and stuffed taxidermied whole animals, and harvest for eggs and meat. improved understanding of genetic diversity and phylogeography is needed to aid conservation. in this study, we analyzed the most geographically comprehensive sample of hawksbill turtles from the indo-pacific ocean, sequencing 766 bp of the mitochondrial control region from 13 ...201626615184
comparative cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of soluble and particulate hexavalent chromium in human and hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) skin cells.chromium is both a global marine pollutant and a known human health hazard. in this study, we compare the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of both soluble and particulate chromate in human and hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) skin fibroblasts. our data show that both soluble and particulate cr(vi) induce concentration-dependent increases in cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and intracellular cr ion concentrations in both human and hawksbill sea turtle fibroblasts. based on administered conce ...201526440299
risk analysis reveals global hotspots for marine debris ingestion by sea turtles.plastic marine debris pollution is rapidly becoming one of the critical environmental concerns facing wildlife in the 21st century. here we present a risk analysis for plastic ingestion by sea turtles on a global scale. we combined global marine plastic distributions based on ocean drifter data with sea turtle habitat maps to predict exposure levels to plastic pollution. empirical data from necropsies of deceased animals were then utilised to assess the consequence of exposure to plastics. we mo ...201626365568
evidence of fluconazole-resistant candida species in tortoises and sea turtles.the aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal susceptibility of candida spp. recovered from tortoises (chelonoidis spp.) and sea turtles (chelonia mydas, caretta caretta, lepidochelys olivacea, eretmochelys imbricata). for this purpose, material from the oral cavity and cloaca of 77 animals (60 tortoises and 17 sea turtles) was collected. the collected specimens were seeded on 2% sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol, and the identification was carried out by morphological and bioc ...201526363919
mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, federated states of micronesia, 2010.marine turtles of all species are capable of being toxic. on 17 october 2010, health authorities in the federated states of micronesia were notified of the sudden death of three children and the sickening of approximately 20 other people on murilo atoll in chuuk state. the illnesses were suspected to be the result of mass consumption of a hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata). an investigation team was assembled to confirm the cause of the outbreak, describe the epidemiology of cases and pro ...201726045970
core and body surface temperatures of nesting leatherback turtles (dermochelys coriacea).leatherback turtles (dermochelys coriacea) are the largest species of marine turtle and the fourth most massive extant reptile. in temperate waters they maintain body temperatures higher than surrounding seawater through a combination of insulation, physiological, and behavioural adaptations. nesting involves physical activity in addition to contact with warm sand and air, potentially presenting thermal challenges in the absence of the cooling effect of water, and data are lacking with which to ...201525965013
solomon islands largest hawksbill turtle rookery shows signs of recovery after 150 years of excessive exploitation.the largest rookery for hawksbill turtles in the oceanic south pacific is the arnavon islands, which are located in the manning strait between isabel and choiseul province, solomon islands. the history of this rookery is one of overexploitation, conflict and violence. throughout the 1800s roviana headhunters from new georgia repeatedly raided the manning strait to collect hawksbill shell which they traded with european whalers. by the 1970s the arnavons hawksbill population was in severe decline ...201525853880
trace elements distribution in hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtle (chelonia mydas) tissues on the northern coast of bahia, brazil.concentrations of elements (as, al, ba, ca, cd, co, cr, cu, fe, hg, k, mg, mn, mo, na, ni, pb, sb, se, sr, v, zn) were determined in liver, kidneys and bones of eretmochelys imbricata and chelonia mydas specimens found stranded along the northern coast of bahia, brazil. results showed that the concentrations of cd, cu, ni and zn in the liver and kidneys of juvenile c. mydas were the highest found in brazil. we also observed a significant difference (p<0.05) on the bioaccumulation of trace elemen ...201525796544
helminth parasites of the juvenile hawksbill turtle eretmochelys imbricata (testudines: cheloniidae) in brazil.the helminth fauna of 31 juvenile specimens of eretmochelys imbricata from the brazilian coast was examined. seventeen individuals were infected with helminths (54.8%). the helminths found were: diaschistorchis pandus, cricocephalus albus, metacetabulum invaginatum, pronocephalus obliquus (pronocephalidae), cymatocarpus solearis (brachycoeliidae), styphlotrema solitaria (styphlotrematidae), carettacola stunkardi, amphiorchis caborojoensis (spirorchiidae), orchidasma amphiorchis (telorchiidae), a ...201525738321
signals of vitellogenesis and estrus in female hawksbill turtles.this study reports a viable means of identifying the vitellogenic cycle and limited estrus period in hawksbill turtles for the purposes of developing captive breeding program, based on the combination of blood metabolite parameters (triglyceride, total protein, and calcium levels), feeding status, and ovary condition. follicle size of two focal captive females showed clear seasonal changes, with major development occurring between march and may (19.0-24.4 mm), and exceeding 25 mm between june an ...201525660704
comparison of organochlorine pesticides and pcb residues among hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) and green (chelonia mydas) turtles in the yucatan peninsula and their maternal transfer.organochlorine pesticides and pcb (pops) concentrations were determined in the blood and eggs of green and hawksbill turtles. we compared concentrations between species, analyzed the relationship between turtle size and the pops concentrations and the relationship between the concentrations in the blood of the nesting turtles and their eggs. we expected higher concentrations in the hawksbill turtle because of its higher trophic level, but concentrations were not higher in all the cases. signific ...201525549825
age and body size of captive hawksbill turtles at the onset of follicular development.the aim of this study was to record the age and body size of 23 captive female hawksbill turtles at the onset of follicular development. the age, straight carapace length (scl), and body mass (bm) of the turtles were recorded between 2006 and 2014 at follicular development (determined via ultrasonography) these parameters were 17.7 ± 1.7 years (range: 13-20 years), 77.7 ± 3.3 cm (73.3-83.5 cm), and 61.1 ± 8.0 kg (48.2-76.1 kg), respectively. when the year of the onset of follicular development w ...201625536010
characterization of a subtropical hawksbill sea turtle (eretmocheyles imbricata) assemblage utilizing shallow water natural and artificial habitats in the florida keys.in order to provide information to better inform management decisions and direct further research, vessel-based visual transects, snorkel transects, and in-water capture techniques were used to characterize hawksbill sea turtles in the shallow marine habitats of a marine protected area (mpa), the key west national wildlife refuge in the florida keys. hawksbills were found in hardbottom and seagrass dominated habitats throughout the refuge, and on man-made rubble structures in the northwest chann ...201425517946
reefs and islands of the chagos archipelago, indian ocean: why it is the world's largest no-take marine protected area.the chagos archipelago was designated a no-take marine protected area (mpa) in 2010; it covers 550 000 km(2), with more than 60 000 km(2) shallow limestone platform and reefs. this has doubled the global cover of such mpas.it contains 25-50% of the indian ocean reef area remaining in excellent condition, as well as the world's largest contiguous undamaged reef area. it has suffered from warming episodes, but after the most severe mortality event of 1998, coral cover was restored after 10 years.c ...025505830
induction of oviposition by the administration of oxytocin in hawksbill turtles.we set out to develop an oviposition induction technique for captive female hawksbill turtles eretmochelys imbricata. the infertile eggs of nine females were induced to develop by the administration of follicle-stimulating hormone, after which we investigated the effects of administering oxytocin on oviposition. seven of the turtles were held in a stationary horizontal position on a retention stand, and then oxytocin was administrated (0.6-0.8 units/kg of body weight; 5 ml). the seven turtles we ...201425483795
patterns and inferred processes associated with sea turtle strandings in paraíba state, northeast brazil.this study analysed sea turtle strandings on the coast of paraíba state, northeastern brazil, from august 2009 to july 2010. a total of 124 strandings were recorded in this period: green turtle chelonia mydas (n = 106), hawksbill eretmochelys imbricata (n = 15), olive ridley lepidochelys olivacea (n = 2) and loggerhead caretta caretta (n = 1). of all turtles for which the curved carapace length (ccl) was measured (n = 122), only 12 individuals (9.7%) were adults. twenty individuals had synthetic ...201425166312
spatio-temporal variation in the incubation duration and sex ratio of hawksbill hatchlings: implication for future management.climate change poses a unique threat to species with temperature dependent sex determination (tsd), such as marine turtles, where increases in temperature can result in extreme sex ratio biases. knowledge of the primary sex ratio of populations with tsd is key for providing a baseline to inform management strategies and to accurately predict how future climate changes may affect turtle populations. however, there is a lack of robust data on offspring sex ratio at appropriate temporal and spatial ...201425086976
hexavalent chromium is cytotoxic and genotoxic to hawksbill sea turtle cells.sea turtles are a charismatic and ancient ocean species and can serve as key indicators for ocean ecosystems, including coral reefs and sea grass beds as well as coastal beaches. genotoxicity studies in the species are absent, limiting our understanding of the impact of environmental toxicants on sea turtles. hexavalent chromium (cr(vi)) is a ubiquitous environmental problem worldwide, and recent studies show it is a global marine pollutant of concern. thus, we evaluated the cytotoxicity and gen ...201424952338
high rates of growth recorded for hawksbill sea turtles in anegada, british virgin islands.management of species of conservation concern requires knowledge of demographic parameters, such as rates of recruitment, survival, and growth. in the caribbean, hawksbill turtles (eretmochelys imbricata) have been historically exploited in huge numbers to satisfy trade in their shells and meat. in the present study, we estimated growth rate of juvenile hawksbill turtles around anegada, british virgin islands, using capture-mark-recapture of 59 turtles over periods of up to 649 days. turtles wer ...201424834324
unravelling the microbiome of eggs of the endangered sea turtle eretmochelys imbricata identifies bacteria with activity against the emerging pathogen fusarium falciforme.habitat bioaugmentation and introduction of protective microbiota have been proposed as potential conservation strategies to rescue endangered mammals and amphibians from emerging diseases. for both strategies, insight into the microbiomes of the endangered species and their habitats is essential. here, we sampled nests of the endangered sea turtle species eretmochelys imbricata that were infected with the fungal pathogen fusarium falciforme. metagenomic analysis of the bacterial communities ass ...201424743166
determination and maternal transfer of heavy metals (cd, cu, zn, pb and hg) in the hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) from a nesting colony of qeshm island, iran.this study was conducted to determine trace metal concentrations (cd, cu, zn, pb and hg) in blood and three egg fractions from eretmochelys imbricata nesting on qeshm island in iran. the results showed detectable levels of all analytes in all fractions. pb and hg were detectable in the blood and eggs, reflecting a maternal transfer. with the exception of cu and pb, analyzed elements in eggs were concentrated in yolk. only zn in blood had a significant correlation with the body size and weight (p ...201424705701
hawksbill × loggerhead sea turtle hybrids at bahia, brazil: where do their offspring go?hybridization between hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerhead (caretta caretta) breeding groups is unusually common in bahia state, brazil. such hybridization is possible because hawksbill and loggerhead nesting activities overlap temporally and spatially along the coast of this state. nevertheless, the destinations of their offspring are not yet known. this study is the first to identify immature hawksbill × loggerhead hybrids (n = 4) from this rookery by analyzing the mitochondrial d ...201424688839
plasma biochemical and pcv ranges for healthy, wild, immature hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles.in recent years, the use of blood chemistry as a diagnostic tool for sea turtles has been demonstrated, but much of its effectiveness relies on reference intervals. the first comprehensive blood chemistry values for healthy wild hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles are presented. nineteen blood chemistry analytes and packed cell volume were analysed for 40 clinically healthy juvenile hawksbill sea turtles captured from a rocky reef habitat in northern australia. we used four statistica ...201424675772
molecular identification and first report of mitochondrial coi gene haplotypes in the hawksbill turtle eretmochelys imbricata (testudines: cheloniidae) in the colombian caribbean nesting colonies.hawksbill sea turtles eretmochelys imbricata are found extensively around the world, including the atlantic, pacific, and indian oceans; the persian gulf, and the red and mediterranean seas. populations of this species are affected by international trafficking of their shields, meat, and eggs, making it a critically endangered animal. we determined the haplotypes of 17 hawksbill foraging turtles of islas del rosario (bolivar) and of the nesting beach don diego (magdalena) in the colombian caribb ...201424634300
fishery gear interactions from stranded bottlenose dolphins, florida manatees and sea turtles in florida, u.s.a.documenting the extent of fishery gear interactions is critical to wildlife conservation efforts, especially for reducing entanglements and ingestion. this study summarizes fishery gear interactions involving common bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus truncatus), florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) and sea turtles: loggerhead (caretta caretta), green turtle (chelonia mydas), leatherback (dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata), kemp's ridley (lepidochelys kemp ...201424613263
monitoring organic and inorganic pollutants in juvenile live sea turtles: results from a study of chelonia mydas and eretmochelys imbricata in cape verde.despite the current environmental concern regarding the risk posed by contamination in marine ecosystems, the concentrations of pollutants in sea turtles have not been thoroughly elucidated. in the current study, we determined the concentrations of 18 organochlorine pesticides (ocps), 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) and 11 inorganic elements (cu, mn, pb, zn, cd, ni, cr, as, al, hg and se) for the first time in two sea turtle species (chelonia mydas ...201424602915
genetic structure and natal origins of immature hawksbill turtles (eretmochelys imbricata) in brazilian waters.understanding the connections between sea turtle populations is fundamental for their effective conservation. brazil hosts important hawksbill feeding areas, but few studies have focused on how they connect with nesting populations in the atlantic. here, we (1) characterized mitochondrial dna control region haplotypes of immature hawksbills feeding along the coast of brazil (five areas ranging from equatorial to temperate latitudes, 157 skin samples), (2) analyzed genetic structure among atlanti ...201424558419
in vitro thermal effects on embryonic cells of endangered hawksbill turtle eretmochelys imbricata.the hawksbill turtle is an ectotherm, whose sex is determined by temperature during embryonic development. this study aimed to determine whether embryonic hawksbill turtle cells respond differently to temperature than mammalian cells. embryonic hawksbill turtle cells were established in culture, and thermal effects on these cells were investigated in vitro. cells were maintained in dulbecco's modified eagle medium supplemented with non-essential amino acids, vitamin solution, sodium pyruvate, an ...201324320182
global analysis of anthropogenic debris ingestion by sea turtles.ingestion of marine debris can have lethal and sublethal effects on sea turtles and other wildlife. although researchers have reported on ingestion of anthropogenic debris by marine turtles and implied incidences of debris ingestion have increased over time, there has not been a global synthesis of the phenomenon since 1985. thus, we analyzed 37 studies published from 1985 to 2012 that report on data collected from before 1900 through 2011. specifically, we investigated whether ingestion prevale ...201423914794
contextualising the last survivors: population structure of marine turtles in the dominican republic.nesting by three species of marine turtles persists in the dominican republic, despite historic threats and long-term population decline. we conducted a genetic survey of marine turtles in the dominican republic in order to link them with other rookeries around the caribbean. we sequenced a 740bp fragment of the control region of the mitochondrial dna of 92 samples from three marine turtle species [hawksbill (n = 48), green (n = 2) and leatherback (n = 42)], and incorporated published data from ...201323840394
attitudes and local ecological knowledge of experts fishermen in relation to conservation and bycatch of sea turtles (reptilia: testudines), southern bahia, brazil.the use of ethnoecological tools to evaluate possible damage and loss of biodiversity related to the populations of species under some degree of threat may represent a first step towards integrating the political management of natural resources and conservation strategies. from this perspective, this study investigates fishermen's ecological knowledge about sea turtles and attitudes towards the conservation and bycatch in ilhéus, southern bahia, brazil.201323448503
reconstructing paternal genotypes to infer patterns of sperm storage and sexual selection in the hawksbill turtle.postcopulatory sperm storage can serve a range of functions, including ensuring fertility, allowing delayed fertilization and facilitating sexual selection. sperm storage is likely to be particularly important in wide-ranging animals with low population densities, but its prevalence and importance in such taxa, and its role in promoting sexual selection, are poorly known. here, we use a powerful microsatellite array and paternal genotype reconstruction to assess the prevalence of sperm storage a ...201323379838
efficient establishment of primary fibroblast cultures from the hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata).the hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered species at a risk of extinction. preservation of the genomic and cellular information of endangered animals is important for future genetic and biological studies. here, we report the efficient establishment of primary fibroblast cultures from skin tissue of the hawksbill sea turtle. we succeeded in establishing 19 primary cultures from 20 hawksbill sea turtle individuals (a success rate of 95%). these cells exhibited a ...201223150139
re-examination of population structure and phylogeography of hawksbill turtles in the wider caribbean using longer mtdna sequences.management of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle in the wider caribbean (wc) has been hampered by knowledge gaps regarding stock structure. we carried out a comprehensive stock structure re-assessment of 11 wc hawksbill rookeries using longer mtdna sequences, larger sample sizes (n = 647), and additional rookeries compared to previous surveys. additional variation detected by 740 bp sequences between populations allowed us to differentiate populations such as barbados-windward and guadel ...201223045611
anatomy of the fully formed chondrocranium of emydura subglobosa (chelidae): a pleurodiran turtle.the chondrocranium is a cartilaginous structure that forms around and protects the brain and sensory organs of the head. through ontogeny, this skeletal structure may become more elaborate, remodeled and reabsorbed, and/or ossified. though considerable attention has been given to the formation of the chondrocranium and a great amount of data has been gathered on the development of this structure among many craniates, the anatomy of this structure in turtles often is neglected. we describe the ma ...201322972700
relationships between carapace sizes and plasma major and trace element status in captive hawksbill sea turtles (eretmochelys imbricata).the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between carapace parameters as indicators of age and plasma elements in 25 captive hawksbill sea turtles. particle-induced x-ray emission allowed detection of 23 trace and major elements. there were significant but weak correlations between the virtual carapace surface area and plasma bromide (r = -0.552, p<0.01), phosphorus (r = 0.547, p<0.01), lead (r =-0.434, p<0.05) and strontium (r = 0.599, p<0.01), while there were no significant corr ...201222864474
to eat or not to eat? debris selectivity by marine turtles.marine debris is a growing problem for wildlife, and has been documented to affect more than 267 species worldwide. we investigated the prevalence of marine debris ingestion in 115 sea turtles stranded in queensland between 2006-2011, and assessed how the ingestion rates differ between species (eretmochelys imbricata vs. chelonia mydas) and by turtle size class (smaller oceanic feeders vs. larger benthic feeders). concurrently, we conducted 25 beach surveys to estimate the composition of the deb ...201222829894
ovarian follicular development in the hawksbill turtle (cheloniidae: eretmochelys imbricata l.).ovarian follicular development is an essential process in the determination of maturation stages associated with size. this association acquires importance when managing populations of threatened species. we histologically processed 11 prepubescent ovaries, four pubescent ovaries, and one breeding adult ovary with vitellogenic follicles using specific staining techniques to identify the follicular stages of eretmochelys imbricata. follicular stages were compared with maturation stages [including ...201222821844
enhancing the use of argos satellite data for home range and long distance migration studies of marine animals.accurately quantifying animals' spatial utilisation is critical for conservation, but has long remained an elusive goal due to technological impediments. the argos telemetry system has been extensively used to remotely track marine animals, however location estimates are characterised by substantial spatial error. state-space models (ssm) constitute a robust statistical approach to refine argos tracking data by accounting for observation errors and stochasticity in animal movement. despite their ...201222808241
factors affecting hatch success of hawksbill sea turtles on long island, antigua, west indies.current understanding of the factors influencing hawksbill sea turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) hatch success is disparate and based on relatively short-term studies or limited sample sizes. because global populations of hawksbills are heavily depleted, evaluating the parameters that impact hatch success is important to their conservation and recovery. here, we use data collected by the jumby bay hawksbill project (jbhp) to investigate hatch success. the jbhp implements saturation tagging protoco ...201222802928
nuclear markers reveal a complex introgression pattern among marine turtle species on the brazilian coast.surprisingly, a high frequency of interspecific sea turtle hybrids has been previously recorded in a nesting site along a short stretch of the brazilian coast. mitochondrial dna data indicated that as much as 43% of the females identified as eretmochelys imbricata are hybrids in this area (bahia state of brazil). it is a remarkable find, because most of the nesting sites surveyed worldwide, including some in northern brazil, presents no hybrids, and rare caribbean sites present no more than 2% o ...201222780882
the role of turtles as coral reef macroherbivores.herbivory is widely accepted as a vital function on coral reefs. to date, the majority of studies examining herbivory in coral reef environments have focused on the roles of fishes and/or urchins, with relatively few studies considering the potential role of macroherbivores in reef processes. here, we introduce evidence that highlights the potential role of marine turtles as herbivores on coral reefs. while conducting experimental habitat manipulations to assess the roles of herbivorous reef fis ...201222768189
ultrastructural study of the male gamete of pleurogonius truncatus prudhoe, 1944 (platyhelminthes, digenea, pronocephalidae) parasite of eretmochelys imbricata (linnaeus, 1766).in pronocephaloidea, the spermatozoa of only two species have been studied today. because of this, we present in this work data concerning to a third specie, pleurogonius truncatus prudhoe, 1944. the mature spermatozoon of p. truncatus possesses two axonemes with the 9+"1" pattern typical of trepaxonemata, mitochondrion, nucleus, parallel cortical microtubules, spinelike bodies, cytoplasmic expansion and an external ornamentation of the plasma membrane. a particularity of the spermatozoon of p. ...201222578569
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