Literaturdatenbank
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Kitana, N., Won, S. J., & Callard, I. P. (2006). Reproductive deficits in male freshwater turtle chrysemys picta from cape cod, massachusetts. Biology of Reproduction, 76(3), 346–352.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:32:47 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Kitana2006a View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Chrysemys, Chrysemys picta, Emydidae, Fortpflanzung = reproduction, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Toxikologie = toxicology Creators: Callard, Kitana, Won Collection: Biology of Reproduction |
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| Abstract |
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Contaminated groundwater plumes have formed on the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), a Superfund site on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, as a result of chemical waste disposal. The plumes are of concern to the population in the area who rely on groundwater as a drinking water source. We are using the freshwater turtle as a sentinel species to monitor the reproductive effects of exposure and, by inference, the potential for human health impacts. Observations on male Chrysemys picta field-trapped from Moody Pond (an impacted site) and Washburn Pond (a reference site) on Cape Cod extended and supported prior observations of reproductive deficits. Morphometric comparison of precloacal length (PCL), a sexually dimorphic trait in the turtle, showed that Moody Pond males have a significantly longer PCL than Washburn Pond males. Moody Pond turtles showed a reduced testicular weight, which was associated with significantly smaller seminiferous tubule diameter. Epididymal sperm count was also markedly reduced in Moody Pond animals compared to Washburn Pond animals. Testicular histology and gonial proliferation as determined by PCNA were similar in both male populations, but the Moody Pond males had a significantly higher germ cell apoptosis than animals in the Washburn Pond. The results suggest that a low-level mixture of xenobiotic contaminants may impair the reproductive function in turtles exposed to the impacted site, but not the reference site, environment.
Added by: Admin |