New insights in Southwestern Atlantic Ocean Oegops

Authors: G M VélezRubio J Tomás R MíguezLozano J C Xavier G MartinezSouza A Carranza

Publish Date: 2014/10/03

Volume: 45, Issue: 4, Pages: 701-709

PDF Link

Abstract

A total of 52 cephalopod beaks were found in the stomachs and intestines of 17 out of 54 green turtles Chelonia mydas stranded on the Uruguayan coast between 2009 and 2013 frequency of occurrence = 315  Upper and lower beaks were assigned to at least six Oegopsid species of four different genera Chiroteuthis Histioteuthis Onykia = Moroteuthis and Mastigoteuthis Although the presence of cephalopods in the diet of green turtles has been reported previously it has been quoted as a sporadic or less important diet category Our findings suggest that this intake of cephalopods by juvenile green turtles during their oceanic stages may be more common in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean waters than previously thought According to our records two of the six Oegopsid squid species found would have a more extended distribution than previously reported ranging from circumpolar subAntarctic areas to the BrazilMalvinas confluence zone We highlight the potential of diet analysis of pelagic predators as a tool to enhance our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of poorly known cephalopod speciesWe would like to thank the volunteers and Karumbe members specially Andrés Estrades Alejandro Fallabrino Virginia Ferrando Daniel González Luciana Alonso Virginia Borrat and Natalia Teryda for their collaboration in the study and green turtle diet analyses We also thank the support of the Marine Zoology Unit of the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology University of Valencia Spain specially Ohiana Revuelta Natalia Fraija and Ana Born The authors are really grateful to all the persons and institutions that collaborated in the Uruguay marine turtle stranding network local fishermen government institutions DINARA and DINAMA naval prefectures lifeguard service rangers civil organizations particularly SOCOBIOMA citizens and tourist We also acknowledge the financial support from IFAW and Rufford Small Grants to GVR and Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación ANII to AC JT is supported by projects CGL201130413 of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Prometeo UVCI12151 of the Generalitat Valenciana This research was conducted under license No 200/04 073/08 and 323/11 from the Fauna DepartmentMinistry of Cattle Agriculture and Fishing of Uruguay

Keywords: