Eight genera and 14 species of fungi were isolated from soil and eggshells samples collected from the nesting site of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at Ras Al Jinz Reserve, Oman. The genus Aspergillus was the commonly represented, including 6 species: A. flavus, A. niger, A. terrus, A. nidulas, A. fumigatus, and A. ochraceus. Seventy-five percent of A. flavus strains isolated from eggshells were aflatoxigenic, producing aflatoxins in a concentration range of 0.3–28 ppb. The growth of fungi on turtle eggs and secretions of mycotoxins may affect embryonic development and possibly contribute to the green turtle egg mortality.
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Chelonian Conservation and Biology
Vol. 6 • No. 2
December 2007
Vol. 6 • No. 2
December 2007