Leatherback turtles: the menace of plastic

Mar Pollut Bull. 2009 Feb;58(2):287-9. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.10.018. Epub 2009 Jan 9.

Abstract

The leatherback, Dermochelyscoriacea, is a large sea turtle that feeds primarily on jellyfish. Floating plastic garbage could be mistaken for such prey. Autopsy records of 408 leatherback turtles, spanning 123 years (1885-2007), were studied for the presence or absence of plastic in the GI tract. Plastic was reported in 34% of these cases. If only cases from our first report (1968) of plastic were considered, the figure was 37%. Blockage of the gut by plastic was mentioned in some accounts. These findings are discussed in the context of removal of top predators from poorly understood food chains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / pathology*
  • Plastics / analysis*
  • Time Factors
  • Turtles / physiology*
  • Water Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

  • Plastics
  • Water Pollutants