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

2025-08Journal article Open access
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dc.contributor.authorMorão, Inês F. C.
dc.contributor.authorSimões, Tiago
dc.contributor.authorCasado, Roger B.
dc.contributor.authorVieira, Sara
dc.contributor.authorFerreira-Airaud, Betânia
dc.contributor.authorCaliani, Ilaria
dc.contributor.authorNoi, Agata Di
dc.contributor.authorCasini, Silvia
dc.contributor.authorFossi, Maria C.
dc.contributor.authorLemos, Marco F. L.
dc.contributor.authorNovais, Sara C.
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-11T09:02:08Z
dc.date.available2025-07-11T09:02:08Z
dc.date.issued2025-08
dc.description.abstractMetals 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. S˜ ao Tom´e and Príncipe’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.eng
dc.description.sponsorshipPD/BD/150562/2019; 2021.02559.CEECIND/CP1671/CT0001 CEECINST/00060/2021/CP2799/CT0007
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.envres.2025.121594
dc.identifier.issn0013-9351
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/27383
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relationAquatic Research Infrastructure Network
dc.relation.ispartofEnvironmental Research
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectEgg reserves
dc.subjectErythrocyte nuclear abnormalities
dc.subjectFatty acids
dc.subjectMetals
dc.subjectReptiles
dc.subjectWildlife ecotoxicology
dc.titleCorrelation between trace element concentrations in the blood of female hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and egg quality in nesting populations of São Tomé Islandeng
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardTitleAquatic Research Infrastructure Network
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/LA%2FP%2F0069%2F2020/PT
oaire.citation.startPage121594
oaire.citation.titleEnvironmental Research
oaire.citation.volume279
oaire.fundingStream6817 - DCRRNI ID
oaire.versionhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
person.familyNameVieira
person.familyNameFerreira-Airaud
person.givenNameSara
person.givenNameBetânia
person.identifier.orcid0000-0001-6113-1862
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-2874-1367
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
relation.isAuthorOfPublication73f56099-e152-4991-980f-280d42081ec9
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationc2275039-b13c-47a9-bf82-548693f2996e
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryc2275039-b13c-47a9-bf82-548693f2996e
relation.isProjectOfPublication5af011f9-3888-449a-a18c-d08b59e87091
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery5af011f9-3888-449a-a18c-d08b59e87091

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