Trace Elements Accumulation and Maternal Transfer in Critically Endangered Sea Turtle, Eretmochelys Imbricata

Abstract

In this study, concentrations of Fe, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Cu in blood and muscle samples and maternal transfer of these elements to eggs and hatchlings were investigated for hawksbill turtles on Ommolgorm, Nakhiloo, and Kharko Islands from the Persian Gulf. The results indicate a significant difference (p≤0.05) between the accumulations of the elements between the rookeries. On three islands, the highest and lowest concentrations of Fe were observed in the yolk and albumin, respectively. The highest concentrations of Zn were found in yolk and maternal muscle from Ommolgorm and Nakhiloo islands, and the lowest concentration of Zn was found in hatchling and abnormal albumin at Kharko Island. The highest amount of As was present in maternal blood, and the lowest was in an abnormal egg on three islands. The highest amount of Hg was in maternal blood and muscle, and the lowest was in normal and abnormal eggs. The highest Pb concentration was in yolk and the lowest was in maternal muscle and blood in Ommolgorm and Nakhiloo Island; however, at Kharko Island, the highest and lowest concentrations were in yolk and normal albumin, respectively. Cd and Cu were ND in the most tissues. Fe, As, Hg, and Pb were higher than Cd and Cu in the maternal blood. The accumulation of heavy metals in the yolk, blood, and hatchling was higher than in other tissues. The accumulation of some elements in samples from Kharko Island was higher than on the other two islands. Based on the results, a significant relationship was found among the concentrations of elements in the maternal blood, yolk, and hatchling tissue. Our results showed a positive correlation between the concentrations in the maternal blood and yolk and hatchling tissue, which confirms maternal transfer of the elements.