Distribuição de mercúrio e avaliação de método não invasivo de monitoramento ambiental em tartarugas marinhas

Abstract

In the last three decades, several studies on ecology, human impacts and health status of sea turtles have increased the attention and concern of many countries governments, non-governmental institutions and general public. The effects and impacts of Hg contamination and its compounds on marine organisms (i.e. fishes, seabirds and marine mammals) are largely reported in the literature. However, there is little information on reptiles, especially, about sea turtle Hg contamination. Along the Brazilian coast there are important feeding grounds and reproductive areas for five sea turtles species. Nevertheless, until now, we have found only five studies dealing with heavy metals contamination in these endangered animals. This lack of information could be partly attributed to the difficult in sampling tissues of these global protected species. Because of this, it’s crucial to develop non-invasive sampling methods which can effectively evaluate the Hg levels exposure. The aim of this research is to assess the carapace fragments (scutes) as a monitoring matrix for Hg contamination and understand the distribution and accumulation of this pollutant in the body of green turtles from two feeding grounds located in the Brazilian northeastern coast. We also aim to assess the Hg levels in scutes and eggs of adult loggerhead turtles on the Bahia north coast.