Distribution pattern of anthropogenic marine debris along the gastrointestinal tract of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) as implications for rehabilitation

Colferai, André S.; Silva-Filho, Rodolfo Pinho da; Martins, Aryse; Bugoni, Leandro

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.053

Cited by 33 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The negative consequences of exposure to plastic is only beginning to be understood for a variety of species (Worm et al 2017). For example, marine turtles ingest small plastic particles, causing disruption to their gastrointestinal tract (Colferai et al 2017;Di Bello et al 2013), and the plastic particles have the potential to leach adsorbed chemicals, negatively impacting animal health (Andrady 2011;Rochman et al 2014). Sensitive habitats, such as mangroves and coral reefs, can be damaged by scouring or smothering by larger plastic items (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting the exposure of coastal species to plastic pollution in a complex island archipelago

Critchell

Hamann

Wildermann

et al. 2019

Environmental Pollution

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Plastic pollution in the marine environment is a pervasive and increasing threat to global biodiversity. Prioritising management actions that target marine plastic pollution require spatial information on the dispersal and settlement of plastics from both local and external sources. However, there is a mismatch between the scale of most plastic dispersal studies (regional, national and global) and the scale relevant to management action (local). We use a fine-resolution hydrodynamic model to predict the potential exposure of coastal habitats and species (mangroves, coral reefs and marine turtles) to plastic pollution at the local scale of a management region (the 1,700km 2 Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia). We assessed the potential exposure of mangroves, coral reefs and marine turtles to plastics during the two dominant wind conditions of the region; the trade wind and monsoon wind seasons. We found that in the trade wind season (April to September) all habitats and species had lower exposure than during the monsoon wind season (October to March). In both wind seasons we found a small proportion of coral reef habitat and large area of turtle habitat were in high potential exposure categories. Unlike coral reefs or marine turtles, mangroves had consistent hotspots of high exposure across wind seasons. Local scale management requires data at fine resolution to capture the variability that occurs at this scale. The outputs of our study can inform the development of conservation resources and local scale management action.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting the exposure of coastal species to plastic pollution in a complex island archipelago

Critchell

Hamann

Wildermann

et al. 2019

Environmental Pollution

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“… Homogenise the chyme by manual stirring for one minute with a metal spoon (excessive mechanical stirring or sonication should be avoided to reduce the likelihood of larger brittle plastic items further fragmenting). Thorough homogenisation of the chyme is mandatory especially if analysing only a subsample of the whole chyme, as plastic debris tend to accumulate in some parts of green turtle digestive tract [ 7 , 25 ]. Weigh the chyme sample to determine the number of test tubes and volume of HNO 3 required (see Acid digestion of organic materials).…”

Section: Methods Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of an optimised protocol for quantification of microplastics in heterogenous samples: A case study using green turtle chyme

et al. 2018

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“…Literature citing debris as a cause of death in sea turtles seldom identified a responsible item, due to both lack of specificity in reporting as well as numerous debris deaths involving a bolus of hard and soft plastic items, commonly reported as "plastic" or "plastic fragments". Sea turtle debris literature qualitatively describes film-like plastics-plastic bags, sheets, and packaging-as trapping hard fragments, with the resulting bolus a reoccuring factor in the reported sea turtle deaths (Colferai, Silva-Filho, Martins, & Bugoni, 2017;Vélez-Rubio et al, 2018). Plastic blockages occur in both the stomach and intestines, with fecal compaction commonly recorded (Colferai et al, 2017;Nelms et al, 2016;Rosolem Lima et al, 2018;Wilcox et al, 2018).…”

Section: Sea Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sea turtle debris literature qualitatively describes film-like plastics-plastic bags, sheets, and packaging-as trapping hard fragments, with the resulting bolus a reoccuring factor in the reported sea turtle deaths (Colferai, Silva-Filho, Martins, & Bugoni, 2017;Vélez-Rubio et al, 2018). Plastic blockages occur in both the stomach and intestines, with fecal compaction commonly recorded (Colferai et al, 2017;Nelms et al, 2016;Rosolem Lima et al, 2018;Wilcox et al, 2018). Like cetaceans, sea turtle buoyancy is affected by debris ingestion, which may increase the risk of being struck by ships or boats (Nelms et al, 2016).…”

Section: Sea Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic pollution is killing marine megafauna, but how do we prioritize policies to reduce mortality?

Roman

Schuyler

Wilcox

et al. 2020

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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Pollution by plastic and other debris is a problem affecting the world's oceans and is increasing through time. The problem is so large that prioritizing solutions to effect meaningful change may seem overwhelming to the public and policy makers. Marine megafauna are known to mistakenly eat anthropogenic debris and die from consequent gastrointestinal blockages, perforations and malnutrition, as well as suffer sublethal impacts. We collated information on which specific items were ingested and responsible for causing death across 80 marine species, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea turtles, and seabirds. We evaluated which items were responsible for the highest mortality, and which, if reduced by policy responses or other means, could result in the largest reduction in debris mortality. A limited number of consumer items were shown to be responsible for most megafauna deaths. Flexible plastic is responsible for the largest proportion of debris deaths, primarily due to gastric obstructions. Disproportionately lethal items included plastic bags/sheets/packaging, rope/fishing nets, fishing tackle and balloons/latex. Smaller items, including "microplastics," though abundant, were seldom implicated in mortality. We provide suggestions to directly curb debris deaths of marine megafauna by prioritizing policies that would reduce or eliminate the input of disproportionately hazardous items into the marine system.

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Distribution pattern of anthropogenic marine debris along the gastrointestinal tract of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) as implications for rehabilitation

Cited by 33 publications

References 40 publications

Predicting the exposure of coastal species to plastic pollution in a complex island archipelago

Predicting the exposure of coastal species to plastic pollution in a complex island archipelago

Validation of an optimised protocol for quantification of microplastics in heterogenous samples: A case study using green turtle chyme

Plastic pollution is killing marine megafauna, but how do we prioritize policies to reduce mortality?

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