Trace element accumulation in hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Yaeyama Islands, Japan

Concentrations of 18 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba, Hg, TI, and Pb) were determined in the liver, kidney, and muscle of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmoc helys imbricata) from Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa, Japan. Accumulation feature s of trace elements in the three tissues were similar between green and haw ksbill turtles. No gender differences in trace element accumulation in live r and kidney were found for most of the elements. Significant growth-depend ent variations were found in concentrations of some elements in tissues of green and hawksbill turtles. Significant negative correlations (p < 0.05) w ere found between standard carapace length (SCL) and the concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Se in the kidney and V in muscle of green turtles and Mn in the liver, Rb and Ag in kidney, and Hg in muscle of hawksbill turtles. Concent rations of Sr, Mo, Ag, Sb, and TI in the liver, Sb in kidney, and Sb and Ba in muscle of green turtles and Se and Hg in the liver and Co. Se, and Hg i n kidney of hawksbill turtles increased with an increase in SCL (p < 0.05). Green and hawksbill turtles accumulated extremely high concentrations of C u in the liver and Cd in kidney, whereas the levels of Hg in liver were low in comparison with those of other higher-trophic-level marine animals. Hig h accumulation of Ag in the liver of green turtles was also observed. To ev aluate the trophic transfer of trace elements, concentrations of trace elem ents were determined in stomach contents of green and hawksbill turtles. A remarkably high trophic transfer coefficient was found for Ag and Cd in gre en turtles and for Cd and Hg in hawksbill turtles.