Academic Journal
Trace Elements in Pond Sliders (Trachemys scripta)—Variations between Sex and Region of Sample Collection in Germany
| Title: | Trace Elements in Pond Sliders (Trachemys scripta)—Variations between Sex and Region of Sample Collection in Germany |
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| Authors: | Christoph Leineweber, Gregor Geisler, Sabine Öfner, Rachel E. Marschang |
| Source: | Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery. 35:31-39 |
| Publisher Information: | Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV), 2025. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Subject Terms: | 0301 basic medicine, 0403 veterinary science, 03 medical and health sciences, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences |
| Description: | Environmental pollution and its effects on organisms are an essential aspect of conservation. Pollutants include not only organic substances but also elements such as mercury and arsenic, some of which can accumulate in the food chain and cause considerable damage to the organism. Available data on pollutants in reptiles are sparse, but freshwater turtles in particular are especially suitable for monitoring because of their position in the food chain and their long life expectancy. In the present study, the trace elements silver (Ag), arsenic (As), gold (Au), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), thallium (Tl), and zinc (Zn) were measured in heparinized blood plasma of 167 healthy pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) kept in different locations in Germany using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed significant (P < 0.05) differences between the sexes for Ag, Au, Ba, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Se, and Zn and between the locations for Au, Ba, Cu, Hg, Mg, Tl, Sb, and Zn. A positive correlation with the body weight of the turtles was found for Ba, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Tl, and Zn. These results serve as baseline values and show that both the local environment and the sex of the turtles significantly influence some values. Further studies are needed to show how the animals react to increased and decreased element levels and how blood levels of individual elements differ in animals from polluted regions. |
| Document Type: | Article |
| ISSN: | 2374-9504 1529-9651 |
| DOI: | 10.5818/jhms-d-24-00022 |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi...........48a14d07c2b9fb4de22e690ba194d25b |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
| ISSN: | 23749504 15299651 |
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| DOI: | 10.5818/jhms-d-24-00022 |