title: Marine debris ingestion by sea turtles (Testudines) on the Brazilian coast: an underestimated threat?
abstract: Assessment of marine debris ingestion by sea turtles is important, especially to ensure their survival. From January to December 2011, 23 specimens of five species of sea turtles were found dead or dying after being rehabilitated, along the coast of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To detect the presence of marine debris in the digestive tract of these turtles, we conducted a postmortem examination from the esophagus until the distal portion of the large intestine for each specimen. Of the total number of turtles, 39% had ingested marine debris such as soft plastic, hard plastic, metal, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle caps, human hair, tampons, and latex condoms. Five of the seven sea turtles species are found along the Brazilian coast, where they feed and breed. A large number of animals are exposed to various kinds of threats, including debris ingestion.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Comportamento e Biologia Animal da UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil. Electronic address: robsonhc1000@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Robson Henrique
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Instituto Ecológico Búzios de Mata Atlântica, Armação de Búzios, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Dutra
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia - UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: da Silva Mendes
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia - UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Corrêa
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia - UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paschoalini
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Comportamento e Biologia Animal da UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia - UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prezoto
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Comportamento e Biologia Animal da UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia - UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG CEP: 36.036-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernadete Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: de Sousa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy; D001938:Brazil; D004435:Eating; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D053566:Hygiene Products; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000737:chemistry; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000032:analysis; D014426:Turtles; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D053566:Hygiene Products; D008670:Metals; D010969:Plastics; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Caretta caretta; Chelonia mydas; Plastic; Pollution; Rio de Janeiro; Waste