The current state and future directions of marine turtle toxicology research

Finlayson, Kimberly A.; Leusch, Frédéric D.L.; Merwe, Jason P. van de

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2016.05.013

Cited by 67 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 95 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, the effects of high cadmium levels on turtle physiological processes and their implications on turtle survival and reproduction remain unknown. Recently, Finlayson et al (2016) stressed the need for further research on marine turtle ecotoxicology, particularly using non-invasive in vitro methods. In addition, considering the transoceanic range of loggerhead turtles, ecotoxicology studies should be accompanied by the assessment of diet variation and health markers across life cycle stages, from pelagic juveniles to neritic adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace elements in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded in mainland Portugal: Bioaccumulation and tissue distribution

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pollution is among the most significant threats that endanger sea turtles worldwide. Waters off the Portuguese mainland are acknowledged as important feeding grounds for juvenile loggerheads. However, there is no data on trace element concentrations in marine turtles occurring in these waters. We present the first assessment of trace element concentrations in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) occurring off the coast of mainland Portugal. Also, we compare our results with those from other areas and discuss parameters that may affect element concentrations. Trace element concentrations (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Se, Zn) were determined in kidney, liver and muscle samples from 38 loggerheads stranded between 2011 and 2013. As was the only element with higher concentrations in muscle (14.78 μg g ww) than in liver or kidney. Considering non-essential elements, Cd presented the highest concentrations in kidney (34.67 μg g) and liver (5.03 μg g). Only a weak positive link was found between renal Cd and turtle size. Inter-elemental correlations were observed in both liver and kidney tissues. Hepatic Hg values (0.30 ± 0.03 μg g) were higher than values reported in loggerheads in the Canary Islands but lower than in Mediterranean loggerheads. Cd concentrations in the present study were only exceeded by values found in turtles from the Pacific. Although many endogenous and exogenous parameters related with complex life cycle changes and wide geographic range may influence trace element accumulation, the concentrations of Cd are probably related to the importance of crustaceans in loggerhead diet in the Portuguese coast.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace elements in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded in mainland Portugal: Bioaccumulation and tissue distribution

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As adults, the turtles leave the foraging ground periodically for mating and egg-laying at their mating/nesting location before returning back to their foraging ground (Lutz and Musick, 1997). These coastal foraging habitats are critical for the recovery and support of green turtle populations, yet many of these areas have been heavily impacted by urbanization thus presenting health risks with anthropogenic stressors such as pollution from trace metals (Gardner and Oberdorster, 2005;Finlayson et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace metals in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) inhabiting two southern California coastal estuaries

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Foraging aggregations of east Pacific green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) inhabit the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (SBNWR) and San Diego Bay (SDB), two habitats in southern California, USA, located near urbanized areas. Both juvenile and adult green turtles forage in these areas and exhibit high site fidelity, which potentially exposes green turtles to anthropogenic contaminants. We assessed 21 trace metals (TM) bioaccumulated in green turtle scute and red blood cell (RBC) samples collected from SBNWR (n = 16 turtles) and SDB (n = 20 turtles) using acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Principal component analyses of TM composition indicate that SBNWR and SDB turtles have location-specific contaminant signatures, characterized by differences in cadmium and selenium concentrations: SBNWR turtles had significantly more cadmium and selenium in RBC and more selenium in scute samples, than SDB turtles. Cadmium and selenium concentrations in RBC had a strong positive relationship, regardless of location. SBNWR turtles had higher selenium in RBCs than previously measured in other green turtle populations globally. Due to different retention times in blood vs. scute, these results suggest that SBNWR turtles have high long-and short-term selenium exposure. Turtles

show abstract

“…Understanding the effects of pollutants on marine turtles has been elevated to a global research priority (Hamann et al, 2010;Rees et al, 2016). A recent publication reviewed toxicity studies in marine turtles and found 49 toxicology studies relating to marine turtles, and of those, 33 identified toxic effects of various contaminants (e.g., inorganic and organic; Finlayson et al, 2016). Furthermore, just four of these studies examined correlations with toxic elements and health parameters (loggerheads: Day et al, 2007;Camacho et al, 2013; green turtles, Chelonia mydas: Komoroske et al, 2011;Kemps' ridley, Lepidochelys kempii: Innis et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, just four of these studies examined correlations with toxic elements and health parameters (loggerheads: Day et al, 2007;Camacho et al, 2013; green turtles, Chelonia mydas: Komoroske et al, 2011;Kemps' ridley, Lepidochelys kempii: Innis et al, 2008). Since the publication of Finlayson et al (2016), three additional studies examined correlations between hematological and plasma biochemistry analytes and toxic elements in marine turtles (green turtles: Villa et al, 2016;Perrault et al, 2017;loggerheads: Ley-Quiñónez et al, 2017;Kemp's ridleys: Perrault et al, 2017). These seven studies documented correlations between toxic elements and indicators of disease (e.g., fibropapillomatosis), body condition, organ function, immune function, ion regulation, oxidative stress, and overall health; however, these results are often not discussed due to confounding factors (e.g., size, season, sex) or due to lack of understanding of reptilian toxicology ( Innis et al, 2008;Komoroske et al, 2011;Labrada-Martagόn et al, 2011;Camacho et al, 2013;).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those studies found that arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and selenium may impose risks to marine turtle embryos and hatchlings (Lam et al, 2006;van de Merwe et al, 2009;Perrault et al, 2013;Dyc et al, 2016). Interestingly, due to these risk assessment studies, it is thought that metals may present a higher risk to marine turtle eggs/embryos than organic contaminants (Finlayson et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Toxic elements and associations with hematology, plasma biochemistry, and protein electrophoresis in nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from Casey Key, Florida

Perrault

Stacy

Lehner

et al. 2017

Environmental Pollution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Toxic elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, thallium) are a group of contaminants that are known to elicit developmental, reproductive, general health, and immune system effects in reptiles, even at low concentrations. Reptiles, including marine turtles, are susceptible to accumulation of toxic elements due to their long life span, low metabolic rate, and highly efficient conversion of prey into biomass. The objectives of this study were to (1) document concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, and thallium in whole blood and keratin from nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from Casey Key, Florida and document correlations thereof and (2) correlate whole blood toxic element concentrations to various hematological and plasma biochemistry analytes. Baselines for various hematological and plasma analytes and toxic elements in whole blood and keratin (i.e., scute) in nesting loggerheads are documented. Various correlations between the toxic elements and hematological and plasma biochemistry analytes were identified; however, the most intriguing were negative correlations between arsenic, cadmium, lead, and selenium with and α- and γ-globulins. Although various extrinsic and intrinsic variables such as dietary and feeding changes in nesting loggerheads need to be considered, this finding may suggest a link to altered humoral immunity. This study documents a suite of health variables of nesting loggerheads in correlation to contaminants and identifies the potential of toxic elements to impact the overall health of nesting turtles, thus presenting important implications for the conservation and management of this species.

show abstract

The current state and future directions of marine turtle toxicology research

Cited by 67 publications

References 95 publications

Trace elements in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded in mainland Portugal: Bioaccumulation and tissue distribution

Trace elements in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded in mainland Portugal: Bioaccumulation and tissue distribution

Trace metals in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) inhabiting two southern California coastal estuaries

Toxic elements and associations with hematology, plasma biochemistry, and protein electrophoresis in nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from Casey Key, Florida

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About