Navegando por Autor "Horta, P. A."
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Item Coastal habitat degradation and green sea turtle diets in Southeastern Brazil(2011-06) Santos, R. G.; Martins, A. S; Farias, J. N; Horta, P. A.; Pinheiro, H. T.; Torezani, E.; Baptistotte, C.; Seminoff, J. A.; Balazs, G. H.; Work, T. M.To show the influence of coastal habitat degradation on the availability of food for green turtles (Chelonia mydas), we assessed the dietary preferences and macroalgae community at a feeding area in a highly urbanized region. The area showed low species richness and was classified as degraded. We examined stomach contents of 15 dead stranded turtles (CCL = 44.0 cm (SD 6.7 cm)). The diet was composed primarily of green algae Ulva spp. (83.6%). In contrast, the macroalgae community was dominated by the green alga Caulerpa mexicana. We found a selection for red algae, seagrass and Ulva spp., and avoidance for C. mexicana and brown alga Dictyopteris delicatula. The low diversity of available food items, possibly a result of environmental degradation, likely contributed to the low dietary diversity. The nutritional implications of this restricted diet are unclear.