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Plastic pollution alters sea turtle microbiota in Rio de Janeiro

marine pollution microbiota green sea turtles plastic waste environmental research

Scientific research conducted by the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) and the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) has revealed that plastic pollution is altering the microbiota of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Rio de Janeiro. A study published in Environmental Pollution indicates that the microorganisms found in these turtles are more closely related to those found on plastic waste than to the bacteria in their natural habitat or their primary food source, algae.

Researchers, including Professor Filipe Berbeti, suggest that plastic acts as a vector for potentially harmful microorganisms. When turtles interact with floating plastic through ingestion or physical contact, they absorb a microbial load that disrupts their biological balance.

In a separate environmental concern in Espírito Santo, researchers from the Instituto de Pesquisa e Conservação Marinha (IPCMar) reported instances of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) becoming disoriented by artificial light. After nesting, these turtles were found wandering into urban areas instead of returning to the ocean, a phenomenon caused by light pollution that interferes with their natural navigation.

Entities

Anchieta · Caretta caretta · Chelonia mydas · Filipe Berbeti · Instituto de Pesquisa e Conservação Marinha · Rio de Janeiro · Universidade Federal Fluminense · Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Plastic acts as a vector for transporting potentially harmful microorganisms to marine fauna. fatopaulista.com.br
  • [● 2 SOURCES] An adult loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) was rescued in Anchieta, Espírito Santo, after being disoriented by artificial light and wandering into an urban street after nesting. www.piranot.com.br · tribunaonline.com.br
  • [● 2 SOURCES] The sea turtle nesting season in Espírito Santo runs from September to mid-March. www.piranot.com.br · tribunaonline.com.br
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] A study published in Environmental Pollution found that green turtles in Rio de Janeiro have microbiota more similar to plastic waste bacteria than to their natural habitat or diet. fatopaulista.com.br

Sources

Estudo revela que plástico altera microbiota de tartarugas no litoral do Rio de Janeiro [fatopaulista.com.br]
Pesquisa encontra resíduos de plástico em tartarugas no Rio – MAUÁ AGORA! [mauaagora.com.br]
Pesquisa encontra resíduos de plástico em tartarugas no Rio – PB INFORMA [paraibainforma.com.br]
Tartaruga segue luz artificial após desova e para em rua de Anchieta, no ES [www.piranot.com.br]
Tartaruga “gigante” se perde e atravessa rua em praia no Sul do ES [tribunaonline.com.br]