Epibiotic Diatoms Are Universally Present on All Sea Turtle Species.
The macro-epibiotic communities of sea turtles have been subject to growing interest in recent years, yet their micro-epibiotic counterparts are almost entirely unknown. Here, we provide the first evidence that diatoms are epibionts for all seven extant species of sea turtle. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, we inspected superficial carapace or skin samples from a single representative of each turtle species. We distinguished 18 diatom taxa from these seven individuals, with each sea turtle species hosting at least two diatom taxa. We recommend that future research is undertaken to confirm whether diatom communities vary between sea turtle species and whether these diatom taxa are facultative or obligate commensals.
The Leatherback Trust, Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station, Playa Grande, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.|Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States of America.
Nathan J
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7384-3576
NJ
Robinson
BioNEM Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Roksana
R
Majewska
Division of Invertebrate Zoology, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
Eric A
EA
Lazo-Wasem
Institute For Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Ronel
R
Nel
The Leatherback Trust, Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station, Playa Grande, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.|Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States of America.
Frank V
FV
Paladino
Division of Invertebrate Zoology, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
Lourdes
L
Rojas
Department of Biology, The Citadel, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, United States of America.
John D
JD
Zardus
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, Connecticut, United States of America.
Theodora
T
Pinou
D000818:Animals; D017377:Diatoms / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014426:Turtles / Q000382:microbiology*