scholarly journals Genomic Variation of the Fibropapilloma-Associated Marine Turtle Herpesvirus across Seven Geographic Areas and Three Host Species

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 1125-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Greenblatt ◽  
Sandra L. Quackenbush ◽  
Rufina N. Casey ◽  
Joel Rovnak ◽  
George H. Balazs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Neoplastic Disease ◽  
Geographic Variations ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACT Fibropapillomatosis (FP) of marine turtles is an emerging neoplastic disease associated with infection by a novel turtle herpesvirus, fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus (FPTHV). This report presents 23 kb of the genome of an FPTHV infecting a Hawaiian green turtle (Chelonia mydas). By sequence homology, the open reading frames in this contig correspond to herpes simplex virus genes UL23 through UL36. The order, orientation, and homology of these putative genes indicate that FPTHV is a member of the Alphaherpesvirinae. The UL27-, UL30-, and UL34-homologous open reading frames from FPTHVs infecting nine FP-affected marine turtles from seven geographic areas and three turtle species (C. mydas, Caretta caretta, and Lepidochelys olivacea) were compared. A high degree of nucleotide sequence conservation was found among these virus variants. However, geographic variations were also found: the FPTHVs examined here form four groups, corresponding to the Atlantic Ocean, West pacific, mid-Pacific, and east Pacific. Our results indicate that FPTHV was established in marine turtle populations prior to the emergence of FP as it is currently known.

scholarly journals Chelonia mydas fibropapillomatosis in Baie Blanche, Tintamarre Island Saint Martin (FWI), an environmental sciences and veterinary cross-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire SALADIN
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Neoplastic Disease ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Key West ◽  
Saint Martin

Abstract Chelonia mydas’s fibropapillomatosis is a panzootic neoplastic disease that has been affecting the species since 1930’s, starting in Key West Florida USA. Most likely induced by the Chelonian HerpesVirus 5 (ChHV5), fibropapillomatosis has been recorded as affecting all species of marine turtles, provoking the growth of malignant external and internal round shaped tumors to marine turtles, that share numerous genomic similarities with human cancers. This research focuses on the two pristine bays of Tintamarre island in Saint Martin (French West Indies), Baie Blanche and Lagon, where the early stage of fibropapillomatosis has been observed affecting juvenile Chelonia mydas resident of Tintamarre. The results obtained when cross-analyzing the environmental monitoring and studies performed of Tintamarre island and a veterinary health assessment of Chelonia mydas juvenile and sub-adult marine turtles of Baie Blanche, bring a different perspective to the environmental pressures that may be responsible of the expression of the disease in Chelonia mydas. Macro-algae and Cadmium (Cd) contamination of marine turtles habitat and foraging grounds are environmental parameters that are found as possibly inducing fibropapillomatosis clinical expression in Tintamarre in this research, concurring with previous publications findings. Tintamarre island in Saint Martin (FWI) is a key site to study pertaining to marine turtle fibropapillomatosis.

scholarly journals Dietary analysis of two sympatric marine turtle species in the eastern Mediterranean

2021 ◽  
Vol 168 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Josie L. Palmer ◽  
Damla Beton ◽  
Burak A. Çiçek ◽  
Sophie Davey ◽  
Emily M. Duncan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Turtle ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Dietary Analysis ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Dietary Shift ◽  
Green Turtles ◽  
Loggerhead Turtles

AbstractDietary studies provide key insights into threats and changes within ecosystems and subsequent impacts on focal species. Diet is particularly challenging to study within marine environments and therefore is often poorly understood. Here, we examined the diet of stranded and bycaught loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in North Cyprus (35.33° N, 33.47° E) between 2011 and 2019. A total of 129 taxa were recorded in the diet of loggerhead turtles (n = 45), which were predominantly carnivorous (on average 72.1% of dietary biomass), foraging on a large variety of invertebrates, macroalgae, seagrasses and bony fish in low frequencies. Despite this opportunistic foraging strategy, one species was particularly dominant, the sponge Chondrosia reniformis (21.5%). Consumption of this sponge decreased with increasing turtle size. A greater degree of herbivory was found in green turtles (n = 40) which predominantly consumed seagrasses and macroalgae (88.8%) with a total of 101 taxa recorded. The most dominant species was a Lessepsian invasive seagrass, Halophila stipulacea (31.1%). This is the highest percentage recorded for this species in green turtle diet in the Mediterranean thus far. With increasing turtle size, the percentage of seagrass consumed increased with a concomitant decrease in macroalgae. Seagrass was consumed year-round. Omnivory occurred in all green turtle size classes but reduced in larger turtles (> 75 cm CCL) suggesting a slow ontogenetic dietary shift. Macroplastic ingestion was more common in green (31.6% of individuals) than loggerhead turtles (5.7%). This study provides the most complete dietary list for marine turtles in the eastern Mediterranean.

scholarly journals Plastic ingestion by freshwater turtles: a review and call to action

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam G. Clause ◽  
Aaron J. Celestian ◽  
Gregory B. Pauly
Keyword(s):  
Marine Species ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Implementation Quality ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Conservation Concern

AbstractPlastic pollution, and especially plastic ingestion by animals, is a serious global issue. This problem is well documented in marine systems, but it is relatively understudied in freshwater systems. For turtles, it is unknown how plastic ingestion compares between marine and non-marine species. We review the relevant turtle dietary literature, and find that plastic ingestion is reported for all 7 marine turtle species, but only 5 of 352 non-marine turtle species. In the last 10 years, despite marine turtles representing just 2% of all turtle species, almost 50% of relevant turtle dietary studies involved only marine turtles. These results suggest that the potential threat of plastic ingestion is poorly studied in non-marine turtles. We also examine plastic ingestion frequency in a freshwater turtle population, finding that 7.7% of 65 turtles had ingested plastic. However, plastic-resembling organic material would have inflated our frequency results up to 40% higher were it not for verification using Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, we showcase how non-native turtles can be used as a proxy for understanding the potential for plastic ingestion by co-occurring native turtles of conservation concern. We conclude with recommendations for how scientists studying non-marine turtles can improve the implementation, quality, and discoverability of plastic ingestion research.

scholarly journals Status of Marine Turtles in British Columbia Waters: A Reassessment

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald F. McAlpine ◽  
Stan A. Orchard ◽  
Kelly A. Sendall ◽  
Rod Palm
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Dermochelys Coriacea ◽  
Concerted Effort ◽  
Leatherback Turtles ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Green Turtles

Marine turtles in British Columbia have previously been considered off course stragglers. Here we document 20 new reports for Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas, and Leatherback Turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, for the province. Until recently there had been no concerted effort to acquire data on marine turtle abundance or frequency off British Columbia. Observations presented here allow a reassessment of marine turtle status in British Columbia waters. We suggest Green Turtles and Leatherbacks should be considered rare vagrants and uncommon seasonal residents, respectively, off British Columbia and that they are a natural part of the British Columbia marine environment.

scholarly journals Natal foraging philopatry in eastern Pacific hawksbill turtles

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 170153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Gaos ◽  
Rebecca L. Lewison ◽  
Michael P. Jensen ◽  
Michael J. Liles ◽  
Ana Henriquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Research ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Natal Philopatry ◽  
Eretmochelys Imbricata ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Complex Processes ◽  
Natal Homing ◽  
Hawksbill Turtles

The complex processes involved with animal migration have long been a subject of biological interest, and broad-scale movement patterns of many marine turtle populations still remain unresolved. While it is widely accepted that once marine turtles reach sexual maturity they home to natal areas for nesting or reproduction, the role of philopatry to natal areas during other life stages has received less scrutiny, despite widespread evidence across the taxa. Here we report on genetic research that indicates that juvenile hawksbill turtles ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) in the eastern Pacific Ocean use foraging grounds in the region of their natal beaches, a pattern we term natal foraging philopatry. Our findings confirm that traditional views of natal homing solely for reproduction are incomplete and that many marine turtle species exhibit philopatry to natal areas to forage. Our results have important implications for life-history research and conservation of marine turtles and may extend to other wide-ranging marine vertebrates that demonstrate natal philopatry.

scholarly journals Two hundred years after a commercial marine turtle fishery: the current status of marine turtles nesting in the Cayman Islands

Oryx ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan J. Aiken ◽  
Brendan J. Godley ◽  
Annette C. Broderick ◽  
Timothy Austin ◽  
Gina Ebanks-Petrie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Cayman Islands ◽  
Eretmochelys Imbricata ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Mature Adults ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Sexually Mature ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractLarge populations of marine turtles breeding in the Cayman Islands were drastically reduced in the early 1800s. However, marine turtle nesting still occurs in the islands. The present-day status of this nesting population provides insight into the conservation of marine turtles, a long-lived species. In 1998 and 1999, the first systematic survey of marine turtle nesting in the Cayman Islands found 38 nests on 22 beaches scattered through the three islands. Three species were found: the green Chelonia mydas, hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and loggerhead Caretta caretta turtles. Comparison with other rookeries suggests that the small number of sexually mature adults surviving Cayman's huge perturbations may be impeding population recovery. This shows the need to implement conservation measures prior to massive reductions in population size.

scholarly journals The nesting success of green turtles on beaches at Kazanli, Turkey

Oryx ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie J. Coley ◽  
Andrew C. Smart
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Beach Erosion ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Green Turtles ◽  
Nesting Beaches ◽  
Turkish Society

The green turtle Chelonia mydas is one of two marine turtle species to nest in Turkey. Its three main nesting beaches are in eastern Turkey, with possibly the densest congregation of nesting turtles in the Mediterranean being found at Kazanli. However, beach erosion, hatchling predation, agricultural encroachment and chemical pollution mean that the future of the Kazanli nest site is uncertain. The Turkish Society for the Protection of Nature (Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegi) is making valiant efforts to protect all the turtle nesting beaches in Turkey but lacks detailed information on the numbers of nesting turtles on many beaches. This paper describes a short study of nesting turtles at Kazanli during 1990 and makes recommendations for the conservation of the nesting beach.

scholarly journals Remains of Leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, at Mid-Late Holocene archaeological sites in coastal Oman: clues of past worlds

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e6123
Author(s):  
John G. Frazier ◽  
Valentina Azzarà ◽  
Olivia Munoz ◽  
Lapo Gianni Marcucci ◽  
Emilie Badel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Holocene ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Dermochelys Coriacea ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Leatherback Turtles ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Exploitation And Utilization ◽  
Intense Exploitation ◽  
Human Burials

Small, irregular isolated bones identified as remains of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) were recovered from Mid to Late Holocene sites at Ra’s al-Hamra and Ra’s al-Hadd, coastal Oman. These provide the third instance of this animal being documented from any prehistoric site anywhere, and the records provide one of the oldest, if not the oldest, dates for this distinctive chelonian—even though they do not refer to fossils. Decades of research in this region has yielded vast amounts of archeological information, including abundant evidence of intense exploitation and utilization of marine turtles from about 6,500 to 4,000 BP. During part of this period, turtle remains in human burials have been extraordinary; the turtle involved, Chelonia mydas, has been abundant in the region during modern times. Yet despite intense and varied forms of prehistoric marine resource exploitation, and major, long-term archeological work, no other turtle species has been previously authenticated from these, or other coastal sites. The documentation of remains of the largest and most distinctive of living marine turtles, D. coriacea, at Ra’s al-Hamra and Ra’s al-Hadd, presented herein, provide detailed information that serves as the basis for future interpretations and discussions regarding incomplete, disarticulated remains from the Mid to Late Holocene, particularly in reference to taphonomic questions and diverse environmental conditions.

scholarly journals Emergence of a Novel Pathogenic Poxvirus Infection in the Endangered Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Highlights a Key Threatening Process

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 219
Author(s):  
Subir Sarker ◽  
Christabel Hannon ◽  
Ajani Athukorala ◽  
Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Green Sea Turtle ◽  
Turtle Species

Emerging viral disease is a significant concern, with potential consequences for human, animal and environmental health. Over the past several decades, multiple novel viruses have been found in wildlife species, including reptiles, and often pose a major threat to vulnerable species. However, whilst a large number of viruses have been described in turtles, information on poxvirus in cheloniids remains scarce, with no molecular sequence data available to date. This study characterizes, for the first time, a novel poxvirus, here tentatively designated cheloniid poxvirus 1 (ChePV-1). The affected cutaneous tissue, recovered from a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) captured off the Central Queensland coast of Australia, underwent histological examination, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), DNA extraction and genomic sequencing. The novel ChePV-1 was shown to be significantly divergent from other known poxviruses and showed the highest sequence similarity (89.3%) to avipoxviruses (shearwater poxvirus 2 (SWPV2)). This suggests the novel ChePV-1 may have originated from a common ancestor that diverged from an avipoxvirus-like progenitor. The genome contained three predicted unique genes and a further 15 genes being truncated/fragmented compared to SWPV2. This is the first comprehensive study that demonstrates evidence of poxvirus infection in a marine turtle species, as well as a rare example of an avipoxvirus crossing the avian-host barrier. This finding warrants further investigations into poxvirus infections between species in close physical proximity, as well as in vitro and in vivo studies of pathogenesis and disease.

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