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Blood and cloacal microbiome profile of captive green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata): Water quality and conservation implications
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Researchers analyzed the gut and blood microbiomes of captive green and hawksbill sea turtles and found that environmental factors — including microplastic polymer exposure and heavy metals — significantly shaped microbial community composition and correlated with blood health markers, underscoring the role of water quality in sea turtle conservation.
In this study, we studied the environment factors such as plastics and heavy metals affecting the blood and cloacal microbiome of green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) in captivity. By non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, data has shown that the environment factors (p = 0.02), rather than species differences (p = 0.06), significantly influenced the composition of the cloacal microbiota of green and hawksbill turtles. The cloacal microbiota of both captive green and hawksbill turtles was dominated by several similar dominant phyla at differential abundance. Green turtles' cloacal microbiome was made up of 46% of Proteobacteria, 31% of Bacteroidota, 11% of Campylobacterota and 4% of Firmicutes, while the hawksbill turtles' cloacal microbiome was made up of 33% of Bacteroidota, 18% of Firmicutes, 17% of Proteobacteria, and 2% of Campylobacterota. Water conductivity, salinity, microplastic polymers (polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene), and copper are positively associated (p < 0.05) with blood urea nitrogen. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were found also negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with water pH, polyethylene terephthalate, iron, lead and zinc. The correlations established in this study shed light on the intricate interplay between water quality and the physiological responses of sea turtles. Recognizing these relationships is pivotal for monitoring and preserving the well-being of sea turtles in their natural habitats.
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Researchers developed and validated a sequential extraction protocol for recovering microplastics from green sea turtle intestinal contents, finding microplastics in turtles from the Great Barrier Reef. The validated method enables more consistent and accurate assessment of microplastic contamination in sea turtles, which are both ecologically important and frequently exposed to marine debris.
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Researchers examined wild juvenile green sea turtles from two Ecuadorian national parks to assess plastic pollution in their feces and its relationship to health metrics. Using infrared spectroscopy, they identified various plastic polymers in fecal samples from both the Galapagos and Machalilla populations. The study provides evidence that plastic ingestion is widespread among young sea turtles, even in protected marine areas.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.