Plastic ingestion in oceanic-stage loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) off the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Issue 1 (15th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pham, Christopher K.; Rodríguez, Yasmina; Dauphin, Axelle; Carriço, Rita; Frias, João P.G.L.; Vandeperre, Frederic; Otero, Vanessa; Santos, Marco R.; Martins, Helen R.; Bolten, Alan B.; Bjorndal, Karen A.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 121:Issue 1/2(2017)
• Page Start: 222
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2017-08-15
• Subjects: Plastic -- Sea turtles -- Caretta caretta -- Azores -- Oceanic-stage -- North-Atlantic subtropical gyre; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.06.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Juvenile oceanic-stage sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to the increasing quantity of plastic coming into the oceans. In this study, we analysed the gastrointestinal tracts of 24 juvenile oceanic-stage loggerheads ( Caretta caretta ) collected off the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, in the Azores region, a key feeding ground for juvenile loggerheads. Twenty individuals were found to have ingested marine debris (83%), composed exclusively of plastic items (primarily polyethylene and polypropylene) identified by μ-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Large microplastics (1–5 mm) represented 25% of the total number of debris and were found in 58% of the individuals sampled. Average number of items was 15.83 ± 6.09 (± SE) per individual, corresponding to a mean dry mass of 1.07 ± 0.41 g. The results of this study demonstrate that plastic pollution acts as another stressor for this critical life stage of loggerhead turtles in the North Atlantic. Highlights: Ingestion of marine debris was investigated for oceanic-stage loggerhead turtles off the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Incidence of plastic ingestion in oceanic-stage loggerheads was 83%. Large microplastics (1–5 mm) accounts for 25% of the total number. Plastic pollution represents a significant risk for juvenile loggerheads of the North Atlantic.