Ching Xin Li, Samsol Syamsyahidah, Rusli Mohd Uzair, Aqmal-Naser Mohamad, Bidai Joseph Anak, Sonne Christian, Wu Xin, Ma Nyuk Ling
Bioses Research Interest Group, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU), Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Chemosphere. 2025 Apr;375:144223. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144223. Epub 2025 Mar 5.
In this study, we studied the environment factors such as plastics and heavy metals affecting the blood and cloacal microbiome of green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) in captivity. By non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, data has shown that the environment factors (p = 0.02), rather than species differences (p = 0.06), significantly influenced the composition of the cloacal microbiota of green and hawksbill turtles. The cloacal microbiota of both captive green and hawksbill turtles was dominated by several similar dominant phyla at differential abundance. Green turtles' cloacal microbiome was made up of 46% of Proteobacteria, 31% of Bacteroidota, 11% of Campylobacterota and 4% of Firmicutes, while the hawksbill turtles' cloacal microbiome was made up of 33% of Bacteroidota, 18% of Firmicutes, 17% of Proteobacteria, and 2% of Campylobacterota. Water conductivity, salinity, microplastic polymers (polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene), and copper are positively associated (p < 0.05) with blood urea nitrogen. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were found also negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with water pH, polyethylene terephthalate, iron, lead and zinc. The correlations established in this study shed light on the intricate interplay between water quality and the physiological responses of sea turtles. Recognizing these relationships is pivotal for monitoring and preserving the well-being of sea turtles in their natural habitats.
在本研究中，我们研究了塑料和重金属等环境因素对圈养绿海龟（蠵龟）和玳瑁泄殖腔微生物群的影响。通过非度量多维尺度分析，数据表明环境因素（p = 0.02）而非物种差异（p = 0.06）对绿海龟和玳瑁泄殖腔微生物群的组成有显著影响。圈养绿海龟和玳瑁的泄殖腔微生物群在不同丰度下由几个相似的优势门类主导。绿海龟的泄殖腔微生物群由46%的变形菌门、31%的拟杆菌门、11%的弯曲杆菌门和4%的厚壁菌门组成，而玳瑁的泄殖腔微生物群由33%的拟杆菌门、18%的厚壁菌门、17%的变形菌门和2%的弯曲杆菌门组成。水电导率、盐度、微塑料聚合物（聚碳酸酯、聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯、聚苯乙烯）和铜与血尿素氮呈正相关（p < 0.05）。还发现血细胞比容和血红蛋白与水的pH值、聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯、铁、铅和锌呈负相关（p < 0.05）。本研究建立的相关性揭示了水质与海龟生理反应之间的复杂相互作用。认识到这些关系对于监测和保护海龟在其自然栖息地的健康至关重要。
