Trace elements concentration in blood of nesting Kemp’s Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) at Rancho Nuevo sanctuary, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Kevin Alan Zavala-Félix, Miguel Angel Reyes-López, Fátima Yedith CamachoSánchez, Héctor Hugo Acosta-Sánchez, Catherine E. Hart, Alan A. ZavalaNorzagaray, Valeria Leal-Sepúlveda, Renato Leal-Moreno, Brenda Aracely Espinoza-Romo, A. Alonso Aguirre, César P. Ley-Quiñónez

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Abstract

The concentrations of trace elements including As, Zn, Cu, Se, Pb, Hg and Cd, were determined in the blood of nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) at Rancho Nuevo sanctuary, Tamaulipas, Mexico during 2018–2020. The sequential concentrations analyzed were Zn> Se> Cu> As> Pb; while Cd and Hg concentrations were below the limits of detection (0.01 μg g-1). No significant differences were observed between the concentrations of trace elements (p> 0.05) by year, except Se levels, possibly resulting from recorded seasonal differences in turtle size. No relationships among turtle size vs elements concentration were observed. In conclusion, essential and toxic trace elements concentrations in the blood of nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles may be a reflex of the ecosystem in which the turtles develop, that is, with low bioavailability of elements observed in the trophic webs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0269346
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume17
Issue number11 November
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2022

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