Abstract
The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) were determined in muscular tissue of eleven loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the Balearic Islands (Spain, Western Mediterranean). The metal levels found in the present study were similar or lower than concentrations detected in Andalusia (mainland Spain), Italy, Canary Islands (Spain) or Japan. As the main source of metals in the loggerhead turtle is the diet, low metal burdens could be explained by its opportunistic feeding way. No significant differences were found in metal concentrations between juveniles and subadults in any of the heavy metals analysed. Furthermore, no significant correlation was detected between heavy metal concentrations and straight carapace length (SCL) of the studied individuals. These results could derive from the homogeneity in age and size of the turtles sampled, so further studies including adults are needed in order to assess the heavy metal accumulation with turtle growth.
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Acknowledgments
The present work was carried out under the frame of the master’s thesis of MFS at the University of the Balearic Islands. The master’s thesis was realized within the framework of a collaboration agreement between the University of the Balearic Islands and the Palma Aquarium Foundation for the promotion of activities for the conservation of the marine environment. The authors would like to thank Palma Aquarium Foundation for the samples and data provided throughout their work in the recovery of marine turtles.
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This study was partially supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III (Project CIBEROBN CB12/03/30038).
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Conceptualization (Silvia Tejada, Xavier Capó, Samuel Pinya, Antoni Sureda); methodology (Maria Febrer-Serra, Nil Lassnig, Samuel Pinya, Antoni Sureda); formal analysis and investigation (Maria Febrer-Serra, Nil Lassnig); writing—original draft preparation (Maria Febrer-Serra), writing—review and editing (Silvia Tejada, Xavier Capó, Samuel Pinya, Antoni Sureda), funding acquisition (Antoni Sureda); Resources (Emanuela Renga, Gloria Fernández, Silvia Tejada, Samuel Pinya, Antoni Sureda); Supervision (Silvia Tejada, Samuel Pinya, Antoni Sureda).
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Febrer-Serra, M., Renga, E., Fernández, G. et al. First report of heavy metal presence in muscular tissue of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Balearic Sea (Balearic Islands, Spain). Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 39651–39656 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10464-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10464-1