Feeding ecology and ingestion of solid waste for sea turtles in Praia Grande - SP

• Grant number: 12/23005-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Teodoro Vaske Junior
• Grantee: Fernanda Lopes Fonseca da Silva
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sea turtles are reptilian organisms adapted to marine life as they approach the coastal environment to feed and reproduce. Currently, the seven living species are on the endangered species list from the Ministry of Environment (MMA) and Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of the Environment (IUCN) mainly due to the interaction of these organisms with fishing, exploitation trade, destruction of spawning grounds and pollution of the marine environment. The pollution of the oceans ultimately causes threats to marine life, affecting most of the large animals through ingestion, suffocation, entanglement, and other losses. Ingestion of these residues can block appendages necessary for feeding impede the passage of food through the intestinal tract or cause pseudo-quenching, resulting in reduced food intake and consequent weakening of the animal. The present study aims to evaluate the stomach contents of turtles caught by the gill netting fishing community of Playa Grande and determine the pattern of feeding and intake of anthropogenic objects by turtles in the central coast of the state of São Paulo. The turtles will be achieved in partnership with Project BioPesca and analyzed the Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio de Mesquita Filho" - Campus Coastal Paulista.(AU)