Impact of accumulated beach litter on Chelonia mydas L. 1758 (green turtle) hatchlings of the Samandag coast, Hatay, Turkey

Ozdilek H. G., YALCIN-OZDILEK Ş., OZANER F., SONMEZ B.

FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, vol.15, no.2, pp.95-103, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Journal Name: FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.95-103
  • Keywords: Asi River, beach litter, coastal pollution, Samandag beaches, solid wastes, MARINE DEBRIS ACCUMULATION, HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL, TEMPORAL VARIATIONS, PLASTIC DEBRIS, INGESTION, ISLANDS
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Samandag coast, located in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean, is specifically used by Chelonia mydas (green turtles) as nesting area. While predators, such as foxes, crabs and dogs, naturally exist in the area, human impact by means of solid waste accumulation on the shoreline helps such predators to prey on more than a quarter of emerged green turtle hatchlings (an estimated value) in the area, entrapping them during their short shoreline trips from their nests to the sea or beach litter.