Anthropogenic debris ingestion by sea turtles in the northern coast of Bahia, Brazil/Ingestao de residuos antropogenicos por tartarugas marinhas no litoral norte do estado da Bahia, Brasil

This study investigates the presence of anthropogenic debris in the digestive tract of sea turtles in the Northern Coast of Bahia, Brazil. Necropsies were performed on 45 turtles, 36 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 9 hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), found dead between january 2006 and october 2007. Debris was found in 60% of the animals, especially those related to fishing activities. Litter could be found throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract, but it was found predominantly in the large intestine (47.53%). The ingestion of debris by turtles from the Northern coast of Bahia may lead these animals to starvation, weakness and even death. Key words: Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, debris, necropsy. Este trabalho descreve a presenca de residuos antropogenicos no trato digestorio de tartarugas marinhas no Litoral Norte da Bahia, Brasil. Foram realizadas necropsias no trato digestorio de 45 tartarugas marinhas encontradas mortas (Chelonia mydas n=36; Eretmochelys imbricata n=9), no periodo de janeiro de 2006 a outubro de 2007. Em 60% (27/45) das tartarugas necropsiadas foram encontrados residuos, especialmente aqueles relacionados a atividade de pesca. Os residuos encontravam-se ao longo de todo o trato gastrointestinal, com predominancia no intestino grosso. A ingestao de residuos pelas tartarugas marinhas do Litoral Norte da Bahia pode levar a debilidade e ate mesmo provocar a morte destes animais. Palavras-chave: Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, lixo, necropsia.