Abstract:
This study was conducted at Upeh Island and Chagar Hutang rookeries. Epibiotics
communities from green and hawksbill turtle were collected by scrapper and preserved in
70% alcohol. Samples were brought back to lab for further analysis and identification.
Fourteen epibionts were classified form five different phyla. The sample was classified to
the lowest taxon possible. The most dominant species was C. testudinaria that appeared
on both turtles with high occurrence. C. testudinaria was the pioneer of the colonization
and eventually develop complex microhabitats on the carapace turtle. The most colonized
part of hawksbill and green turtles that have been colonized by epibionts were the
anterior part of the carapace that contrast from the infections of epibiotic of other sea
turtle species. Heavy occurrence of the epibiotic organisms could affects the health of sea
turtles and their swimming behavior.
