Carapace epibionts of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at Canaveral National Seashore, Florida

Abstract

A survey of the epibionts inhabiting the carapace of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta (Linnaeus) nesting on Canaveral National Seashore, Florida was conducted from 2003–2004. Epibionts were sampled and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Eleven newly documented epibiont species were observed from 52 individual loggerheads. We present the first records of sea urchins as loggerhead epibionts. Data are presented on the behavioural, physical, and ecological characteristics of some of these newly documented species to understand better the relationship between loggerhead turtles and their epibiota.

Keywords:

• epibiont
• loggerhead
• sea turtle
• Caretta caretta
• nesting

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Nick Osman and John Stiner for their assistance in the field. This project was funded by Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and was conducted under permits issued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the University of Florida Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The PADI Foundation provided the microscopy equipment used for this study.