Bacterial diversity of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest environment

candan, onur/0000-0002-9254-4122WOS: 000525736600021PubMed: 32325608The green turtle is an endangered species that is highly sensitive to environmental pollution that can adversely affect the healthy development of eggs. Moreover, the presence of some bacteria in nests can be regarded as an indicator of the pollution level in nesting areas. In our study, nest sand and egg contents were collected from Sugozu Beaches (Turkey), in the Mediterranean. Phenotypic and genotypic identification of bacteria were carried out by using conventional phenotypic methods, 16S rRNA gene sequencing respectively. The extended-spectrum beta-lactamase presence and carbapenem resistance of bacteria isolated from egg contents were determined. This is the first report of carbapenem resistance in the eggs. All strains were evaluated in three different categories including growth promoters in agriculture and aquaculture, pathogens that are found in human and animal, and biomonitoring aquatic pollution. According to our analysis, 67 bacterial species were identified from samples. This study is the first record of Alcaligenes, Zobellella, Lysinibacillus, Sphingobacterium, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Alcanivorax, Ochrobactrum, Microbacterium, Rhodococcus, and Stenotrophomonas isolated from sea turtles. Pathogens detected in the bacterial flora can threaten both sea turtles and field workers. These data can contribute to the development of new conservation strategies on the treatment of sea turtles, nest protection, and pollution detection on nesting beaches. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ordu University Scientific Researches Project Coordination Department [AR-1358]; BIL (BOTAS International Limited Co., Turkey)This research was funded by Ordu University Scientific Researches Project Coordination Department (AR-1358). An early finding of this studywas represented at the 35th Annual Symposiumon Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, 18-24 April 2015, Turkey. We thank Fatih Fazlioglu, PhD., and Ryan Chabot, MSc for linguistic advice and criticism, Davut Canli, PhD., for statistical suggestions and Safak Kalindamar, PhD., for comments on the earlier version of this manuscript and volunteers of Sea Turtle Conservation Project supported by BIL (BOTAS International Limited Co., Turkey). We also thank Seaturtle.org team for Maptool