Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mauro Esposito, Silvia Canzanella, Doriana Iaccarino, Angela Pepe, Fabio Di Nocera, Teresa Bruno, Laura Marigliano, Donato Sansone, Sandra Hochscheid, Pasquale Gallo, Fulvio Maffucci
Summary: This study investigated the marine pollution in the nesting area of sea turtles in the western Mediterranean. It found that mother turtles transfer contaminants to their unhatched eggs, but the concentrations of these chemicals do not affect reproductive success. The study confirms the use of turtle eggs as a pollution monitoring tool and contributes to the scientific knowledge needed for the conservation of sea turtle populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Javier Hernandez-Fernandez, Andres Pinzon-Velasco, Ellie Anne Lopez, Pilar Rodriguez-Becerra, Leonardo Marino-Ramirez
Summary: Exposure of loggerhead turtle erythrocytes to MeHg led to changes in gene expression patterns, affecting cellular processes such as cell cycle regulation, lysosomal activity, autophagy, and mitochondrial function. Despite a low response of antioxidant machinery to MeHg, the RBCs maintained constitutive expression of proteins for defense against ROS induced by MeHg.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
L. Cardona, J. San Martin, L. Benito, J. Tomas, E. Abella, J. Eymar, M. Aguilera, J. A. Esteban, A. Tarrago, A. Marco
Summary: The ranges of many species are shifting poleward as global warming intensifies, but this process might be less intense in philopatric species, i.e. those with the tendency to reproduce at their natal sites. Marine turtles are highly philopatric and their vulnerability to global warming is exacerbated by aspects of their life history. Increased detection of nesting events in the Western Mediterranean Sea could be a response to global warming or increased sampling effort. Temperature data studies in Spanish beaches reveal that sand temperature is currently high enough for the incubation of loggerhead turtle clutches, but suitable conditions for regular nesting have only existed since 2010. The future establishment of a self-sustained population would require further temperature increases, but this process may be threatened by sea level rise impacts.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alberto Arencibia, Aday Melian, Jorge Oros
Summary: This study developed an interactive 2D atlas viewing software for the head of loggerhead sea turtles, providing 55 images for anatomical learning. The software can be a useful resource for veterinarians, biologists, researchers, and students involved in sea turtle conservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosa E. Rodriguez-Martinez, Guadalupe Quintana-Pali, Karla Trujano-Rivera, Roberto Herrera, Maria del Carmen Garcia-Rivas, Antonio Ortiz, Gerardo Castaneda, Gisela Maldonado, Eric Jordan-Dahlgren
Summary: The study assessed the nesting and hatching of loggerhead and green sea turtles along the Mexican Caribbean coast after massive influx of sargasso, finding that there was no significant impact on the turtles' numbers, with some indicators actually showing an increase.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Fanny Claire Capri, Elena Prazzi, Giulia Casamento, Delia Gambino, Giovanni Cassata, Rosa Alduina
Summary: Microbial communities play a crucial role in understanding host ecology and can be used as a tool to enhance species conservation efforts. However, microbial infections can negatively impact host development and viability. This study analyzed and compared the microbial composition of two nests of the widespread marine turtle species Caretta caretta with different hatching success rates from an Italian nesting beach. The results identified dominant bacterial phyla and suggested certain bacterial families as potential causes of hatching failures. Additionally, the study revealed the active role of the nests in shaping the bacterial communities in the sand. These findings highlight the importance of microbiological analysis in monitoring nests and implementing preventive measures to reduce hatching failures.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonia Solomando, Francisca Pujol, Antoni Sureda, Samuel Pinya
Summary: Plastic waste has become prevalent in the seas and oceans, posing a threat to marine species. A study on loggerhead turtles in the Balearic Islands revealed a high occurrence of plastic debris ingestion, particularly plastic sheets.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arthur D. Barraza, Kimberly A. Finlayson, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Colin J. Limpus, Jason P. van de Merwe
Summary: Research on loggerhead turtles in Mon Repos and Wreck Island revealed that scute uranium and blood molybdenum were significantly higher in Wreck Island turtles compared to Mon Repos turtles, while arsenic was higher in Wreck Island turtles foraging north and Mon Repos turtles foraging south. Additionally, significant correlations were found between certain trace elements and organic contaminants in eggs and blood.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ludovica Di Renzo, Maria Elisabetta De Angelis, Marina Torresi, Valeria Di Lollo, Giovanni Di Teodoro, Daniela Averaimo, Sabrina Vanessa Patrizia Defourny, Federica Di Giacinto, Chiara Profico, Vincenzo Olivieri, Francesco Pomilio, Cesare Camma, Nicola Ferri, Gabriella Di Francesco
Summary: This study reports the first case of severe septicaemic infection of Listeria monocytogenes in a stranded loggerhead sea turtle and the first detection of Listeria in the marine environment. The strain of Listeria was analyzed in detail, and antibiotic resistance genes were identified. This research is of great importance for understanding the transmission and infection mechanisms of Listeria in wild species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pilar Santidrian Tomillo, Francisca Pujol, Guillem Felix, Veronica Nunez-Reyes, Vincent Saba, Jesus Tomas, Adolfo Marco
Summary: Climate change can affect sea turtles' nesting beaches and their survival. In this study, the suitability of the Balearic Islands as a climate refuge for loggerhead turtles was assessed under different climate change scenarios. The results suggest that most beaches in the region could provide viable temperatures and predominantly produce male hatchlings. However, active management is necessary to protect nesting populations due to the popularity of these beaches as tourist destinations.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Esra Deniz Candan, Onur Candan, Yasemin Numanoglu Cevik
Summary: This study conducted in Turkey collected egg samples from loggerhead and green turtle nests and used different methods to identify and analyze the bacteria. It is the first study in Turkey on bacterial variability in turtle eggs, providing valuable references for assessing bacterial threats and establishing suitable conservation measures and treatment processes.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Antoine Laforge, Philippe Gaspar, Anne Barat, Olivier Bousquet, Stephane Ciccione, Claire Jean, Katia Ballorain, Mayeul Dalleau, Rui Coelho, Sylvain Bonhommeau, Jerome Bourjea
Summary: Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) exhibit ontogenetic shifts, using different habitats at different life stages. A study in the Indian Ocean revealed that late juvenile turtles traveled to the Northwestern Indian Ocean, predominantly using neritic habitats in the continental shelf. Three types of movements were identified, associated with traveling, wandering, and foraging behaviors. The study highlights the importance of understanding the strategies and behaviors of loggerhead turtles to protect this endangered species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Janice M. Blumenthal, Jane L. Hardwick, Timothy J. Austin, Annette C. Broderick, Paul Chin, Lucy Collyer, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Leah Grant, Lorri D. Lamb, Jeremy Olynik, Lucy C. M. Omeyer, Alejandro Prat-Varela, Brendan J. Godley
Summary: The study reports on sea turtle nest monitoring in the Cayman Islands over a 22-year period, showing significant increases in green and loggerhead turtle nest numbers in recent years, with hawksbill nest numbers remaining low. The captive breeding operation in Grand Cayman contributed to the increase in green turtle population, while loggerhead turtles began to increase after a traditional turtle fishery became inactive. The study highlights the continued threats faced by sea turtles, including illegal harvesting, artificial lighting on nesting beaches, and inundation of nests by seawater.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diana Sousa-Guedes, Sara C. Cunha, Jose O. Fernandes, Diana Semedo, Neftali Sillero, Adolfo Marco, Filipa Bessa
Summary: Plastic pollution is a global environmental issue that affects sea turtle nesting grounds. The study found that plastic debris on the surface can leak contaminants and contaminate turtle nests, while buried plastics do not have this issue.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah E. Hirsch, Madison Toonder, Jennifer D. Reilly, Shelby R. Hoover, Justin R. Perrault
Summary: Analyzing sea turtle nesting trends is crucial in understanding the impacts on these vulnerable species. The introduction of hard-armoring structures poses a threat to sea turtles, resulting in habitat loss and negative effects on nesting behavior. Green turtles exhibited the most significant differences between the study sites.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)