Turtle cleaners: reef fishes foraging on epibionts of sea turtles in the tropical Southwestern Atlantic, with a summary of this association type

Abstract

In the present study we record several instances of reef fish species foraging on epibionts of sea turtles (cleaning symbiosis) at the oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and near a shipwreck, both off the coast of Pernambuco State, northeast Brazil. Nine reef fish species and three turtle species involved in cleaning are herein recorded. Besides our records, a summary of the literature on this association type is presented. Postures adopted by turtles during the interaction are related to the habits of associated fishes. Feeding associations between fishes and turtles seem a localized, albeit common, phenomenon.No presente estudo registramos diversos episódios de peixes recifais alimentando-se de epibiontes sobre o corpo de tartarugas marinhas (simbiose de limpeza) nas ilhas oceânicas do arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha e próximo a um naufrágio na costa de Pernambuco, nordeste do Brasil. Nove espécies de peixes recifais e três espécies de tartarugas envolvidas nas associações são aqui registradas. Além de nossos registros, apresentamos também um resumo da literatura sobre o tema. As posturas adotadas pelas tartarugas durante as interações estão relacionadas com os hábitos dos peixes associados. Associações alimentares entre peixes e tartarugas podem ser consideradas como um fenômeno local, embora comum.

First record of the silver porgy ( Diplodus argenteus) cleaning green turtles ( Chelonia mydas) in the south-west Atlantic

“…Reef fish cleaning sea turtles has been claimed to be a localized phenomenon, restricted to particular populations and/or individuals (Losey et al, 1994). However, data from literature and the present study indicate that reef fish that graze on, clean, or use sea turtles as feeding grounds otherwise, are more common than the available records would indicate (Sazima et al, 2010).…”

“…In a recent overview of fish that clean sea turtles (Sazima et al, 2010), 18 reef fish species in seven families are recorded as cleaners/grazers of epibionts of three turtle species of the Cheloniidae. Nine of these fish species (50%) are recorded for the south-west Atlantic (Sazima et al, 2010).…”

“…In a recent overview of fish that clean sea turtles (Sazima et al, 2010), 18 reef fish species in seven families are recorded as cleaners/grazers of epibionts of three turtle species of the Cheloniidae. Nine of these fish species (50%) are recorded for the south-west Atlantic (Sazima et al, 2010). The only sparid recorded associated with sea turtles is the sheepshead bream (Diplodus puntazzo), cleaning the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean Sea off Greece (Schofield et al, 2006).…”

Welfare and Environmental Implications of Farmed Sea Turtles

“…This questionable arrangement includes introduced direct risk of cross-contamination of potentially pathogenic microbes and macroparasites to many animals and represented a persistent and enduring animal health risk. Under natural conditions, marine algae may establish and grow in patches on sea turtle shells and provide incidental food for symbiotes such as fishes that predate on ectoparasites (Losey et al 1994;Sazima et al 2010). However, in the absence of symbiotic grazer species and the presence of certain concomitant environmental and immune scenarios, such algae growth is capable of degrading keratinised shell layers and result in significant morbidity among farmed turtles.…”

Under sea turtles: yellow jacks, Carangoides bartholomaei, use swimming turtles as shelter in the tropical south-western Atlantic

“…This bay has an inlet with an inner protected reef flat and shallow area near shore, and an outer reef slope leading to deeper parts (Sazima et al, 2010). Depths vary from 1 to 5 m (see Maida & Ferreira, 1997;Sazima et al, 2004 for more details and area figure).…”