Agnaldo Silva Martins Julyana da Nobrega Farias Antunes Paulo Horta Hudson Tercio Pinheiro Cecilia Baptistotte Jeffrey A. Seminoff George H. Balazs Thierry M. Work Robson G. Santos 2011 <p>To show the influence of coastal habitat degradation on the availability of food for green turtles (Chelonia mydas), we assessed the dietary preferences and macroalgae community at a feeding area in a highly urbanized region. The area showed low species richness and was classified as degraded. We examined stomach contents of 15 dead stranded turtles (CCL = 44.0 cm (SD 6.7 cm)). The diet was composed primarily of green algae Ulva spp. (83.6%). In contrast, the macroalgae community was dominated by the green alga Caulerpa mexicana. We found a selection for red algae, seagrass and Ulva spp., and avoidance for C. mexicana and brown alga Dictyopteris delicatula. The low diversity of available food items, possibly a result of environmental degradation, likely contributed to the low dietary diversity. The nutritional implications of this restricted diet are unclear.</p> application/pdf 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.03.004 en Elsevier Coastal habitat degradation and green sea turtle diets in Southeastern Brazil article