首页|Correlation between trace element concentrations in the blood of female hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and egg quality in nesting populations of Sao Tome Island

Correlation between trace element concentrations in the blood of female hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and egg quality in nesting populations of Sao Tome Island

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  • NETL
  • NSTL
  • Elsevier
Metals and metalloids can pose a significant threat to sea turtles, as these contaminants tend to accumulate in their bodies over time, due to their long lifespans and varied feeding habits. Sao Tome and Principe's archipelago hosts the last remaining rookery for hawksbill sea turtles {Eretmochelys imbricata) in the region. The study aimed to determine the levels of metals and metalloids accumulated by this population and to investigate their possible genotoxicity in nesting females' blood as well as potential effects on their eggs in terms of morphometric characteristics and the quality of their lipidic reserves, essential for embryo development. Higher levels of Hg were found to be correlated with increased "lobed-shaped nuclei" in erythrocytic count, suggesting genotoxicity effects in this population. Higher levels of Se were correlated with thicker and heavier eggshells, while Pb levels were associated with the reduction of the egg's diameter. Metal contamination in females' blood significantly affected yolk polar fatty acids. Significant negative correlations were found between general metal contamination (PLI) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), while positive correlations were observed for essential omega-6 fatty acids (n6), mostly influenced by Cu, Fe, and Hg concentrations. This suggests that these omega-6 fatty acids are being synthesized from SFA, potentially indicating stress response by metal exposure. The present results point to some potential alterations in the normal embryonic development of these turtle eggs, influenced by metal contamination, which should raise some concerns about the future of this critically endangered species and call for additional conservation efforts in the region.

Egg reservesErythrocyte nuclear abnormalitiesFatty acidsMetalsReptilesWildlife ecotoxicology

Ines F.C. Morao、Tiago Simoes、Roger B. Casado、Sara Vieira、Betania Ferreira-Airaud、Ilaria Caliani、Agata Di Noi、Silvia Casini、Maria C. Fossi、Marco F.L. Lemos、Sara C. Novais

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MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & AKNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politecnico de Leiria, Portugal||Faculdade de Ciencias & CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal

MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & AKNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politecnico de Leiria, Portugal

Associacao Programa Tato, Avenida Marginal 12 de Julho, Ilha de Sao Tome, Cidade de Sao Tome, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe||Centra de Ciencias do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy

Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy||Santa Chiara Lab, University of Siena, via Valdimontone, 1, 53100, Siena, Italy

Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy||NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy

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2025

10.1016/j.envres.2025.121594

Environmental research

Environmental research

SCI
ISSN：0013-9351
年,卷(期)：2025.279(Pt.1)
  • 144