Epibiotic Diatoms Are Universally Present on All Sea Turtle Species

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 3;11(6):e0157011. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157011. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The macro-epibiotic communities of sea turtles have been subject to growing interest in recent years, yet their micro-epibiotic counterparts are almost entirely unknown. Here, we provide the first evidence that diatoms are epibionts for all seven extant species of sea turtle. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, we inspected superficial carapace or skin samples from a single representative of each turtle species. We distinguished 18 diatom taxa from these seven individuals, with each sea turtle species hosting at least two diatom taxa. We recommend that future research is undertaken to confirm whether diatom communities vary between sea turtle species and whether these diatom taxa are facultative or obligate commensals.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diatoms / classification
  • Diatoms / isolation & purification*
  • Diatoms / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Turtles / microbiology*

Grants and funding

This study was funded by a WCSU-AAUP grant (#241290) to Theodora Pinou. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.