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Composition of Barnacles from Nesting Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) at<br />

Chagar Hutang, Pulau Redang<br />

Vivien Yeo Shu Jun<br />

Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Hafiz Borkhanuddin<br />

Bachelor of Science (Marine Science)<br />

School of Marine and Environmental Sciences<br />

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu<br />

Barnacles are common epibionts found on turtles and can provide useful information<br />

regarding its host migratory pattern. This study aims to determine species of barnacles<br />

found on green turtles at Chagar Hutang, Pulau Redang and to acquire overview of<br />

the areas occupied by these turtles based on barnacles’ genetic composition. Barnacles<br />

were collected from nesting green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from July to September<br />

2017. Barnacles were found attached on neck, flippers and carapace of turtles. Via<br />

morphological observations and molecular analysis, barnacles were identified as<br />

Chelonibia testudinaria, Lepas sp., and Amphibalanus sp. Due to huge genetic<br />

differences, Amphibalanus sp., is highly regard as new species. In additional, some<br />

genetic variations were found within Chelonibia testudinaria specimens. Phylogenetic<br />

analysis has grouped Chelonibia testudinaria from this study under the Western Pacific<br />

clade, suggesting that our turtle may occupied that region during foraging time after<br />

the nesting season.<br />

1924 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018

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