Doce river mining tailings can be an influencing factor in loggerhead turtles reproductive success in Brazil

In November 2015, a tailings dam ruptured and affected the second largest nesting site of loggerhead sea turtles in Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive success, and trace elements in female's plasma, freshly laid eggs, unhatched eggs, and dead hatchlings of loggerhead turtles that nest in the coastal area exposed to the mining waste (Povoação, Espírito Santo state) and compare them with animals from an area that was not affected by the tailings (Praia do Forte, Bahia state). Plasma concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Fe, and Zn were significantly higher in samples from Povoação in comparison to turtles from Praia do Forte. In Povoação, unhatched eggs and dead hatchlings had higher As, Cu, Hg, Mn, and Zn concentrations than freshly laid eggs, and trace elements correlated with the hatching and emergence success. Our findings suggest that the higher concentrations of some metals may influence the incubation period and reproductive success of loggerheads in the affected area.

Health condition of Chelonia mydas from a foraging area affected by the tailings of a collapsed dam in southeast Brazil

In 2015, the failure of the Fundão dam caused the release of 43 million m³ of tailings into the Doce River Basin, in southeast Brazil. It was considered the largest environmental disaster of the world mining industry. The tailings, composed mostly of heavy metals, caused massive destruction of the Doce River ecosystem endangering the organisms that live in the coastal zone where the mud reached the ocean. Among the exposed species are the sea turtles that use the region for food. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of contaminants on the health status of juvenile green sea turtles that feed in a coastal area exposed to ore mud (Santa Cruz) and to compare them with animals from an area not directly affected (Coroa Vermelha). A physical examination was performed to determine the health status. Blood samples were analyzed for hematological and biochemical parameters, and metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn). Santa Cruz sea turtles had more ectoparasites and a higher incidence of fibropapillomatosis. Statistically significant differences between sites were found for levels of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, CPK, ALT, and AST. The count of leukocytes, thrombocytes, and heterophils, as well as the concentrations of As and Cu were higher in Santa Cruz turtles. Together the results show a worse nutritional status and a greater degree of liver and kidney damage in animals affected by the tailings. The health status may indicate a physiological deficit that can affect their immune system and behavior, which is supported by the higher fibropapillomatosis tumor score and ectoparasite load in these animals. These results support the need for long-term monitoring of the exposed area to quantify the direct and indirect influence of the heavy metals levels on sea turtles and how this reflects the environmental health.

Roadkills of Lowland Tapir Tapirus terrestris (Mammalia: Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) in one of its last refuges in the Atlantic Forest

Highways limit the movement and dispersion of wild animals and contribute to their loss due to roadkills, leading to the isolation and decline of populations, increasing the risk of local extinction. The Lowland Tapir Tapirus terrestris is the largest neotropical herbivore-frugivore, and despite its wide distribution in South America it is threatened with extinction. In this study we report six roadkill events of tapirs between 2014 and 2019 in a section of a federal highway crossing the mosaic of Atlantic Forest reserves called Sooretama, one of the last tapir refuges in southeastern Brazil. The traffic in this area is heavy with inadequate speed control, while exotic fruit trees growing along the highway attract wild animals. Water drainage tunnels serve as passageways for some species, including tapirs. However, the tunnels located under the highway are not continuously maintained, reducing its effectiveness. The loss of at least one tapir per year can have serious long-term consequences for one of the last viable lowland tapir populations in the entire Atlantic Forest. Emergency measures are required to avoid vehicle-tapir collisions.

Notes on the gross anatomy of the heart of the broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris (Daudin, 1802)

The broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris (Daudin, 1802), is one of the six crocodilian species from Brazil. The topography, morphology and morphometry of the broad-snouted caiman heart were studied. Data were obtained from the necropsy of four adult animals, three females and one male. The hearts were removed from the coelomic cavity and fixed in 10% formalin for 48 hr for morphological and morphometric description. The heart is in the cranial mediastinum. It is caudally involved by the liver cranial margins, and ventrally by the ribs, intercostal muscles, and sternum and dorsally by the lungs. The four-chambered morphology is typical with two (right and left) atria and ventricles. Right and left aortic, pulmonary and subclavian arteries branch from the truncus arteriosus. Gubernaculum cordis is present as ligamentous folds uniting the heart apex to the pericardium. Main morphometric means are the apex-to-base length (49.86 mm), circumference (105.25 mm) and heart weight (45.03 g). The right atrium is craniocaudally longer with thicker walls, whereas the left ventricle is narrower. The topography, morphology and morphometry of the heart of C. latirostris are consistent with the anatomy of other crocodilian species.

Health condition of juvenile Chelonia mydas related to fibropapillomatosis in southeast Brazil

Packed cell volume (PCV), plasma biochemistry, visual body condition (BC), and calculated body condition index (BCI) were evaluated in 170 wild juvenile green sea turtles Chelonia mydas from an aggregation in the effluent canal of a steel mill in Brazil. Occurrence of cutaneous fibropapillomatosis (FP) was observed in 44.1% of the animals examined. BCI alone did not differ significantly between healthy animals and those afflicted with FP. However, all turtles with low BCI were severely afflicted and were uremic, hypoglycemic, and anemic in relation to healthy animals. Severe FP was not always reflected by a poor health condition of the individual. Clinical evaluation and plasma biochemistry indicated that most animals afflicted with FP were in good health condition. Differences in FP manifestations and associated health conditions in different geographic regions must be assessed by long-term health monitoring programs to help define priorities for conservation efforts.

Valores hematológicos de tartarugas marinhas Chelonia mydas (Linaeus, 1758) juvenis selvagens do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brasil

Foram determinados os valores hematológicos de referência para 60 tartarugas marinhas Chelonia mydas juvenis selvagens aparentemente saudáveis do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brasil nos meses de julho a setembro de 2003. Os resultados obtidos foram: Hematócrito 21,4 a 36,6 %; Hemácias 0,244 a 0,554 x10(6)/µl; Hemoglobina 5,9 a 14,0 g/dl; Volume Corpuscular Médio 500,4 a 986,1 fl; Hemoglobina Corpuscular Média 144,0 a 367,1 pg; Concentração de Hemoglobina Corpuscular Média 23,7 a 45,1 g/dl; Leucócitos 1178,8 a 8259,6 /µl; Monócitos 15,4 a 1494,3 /µl; Linfócitos 221,1 a 1924,8 /µl; Heterófilos 621,5 a 4317,8 /µl; Eosinófilos 96,1 a 1831,0 /µl; Basófilos 0,0 a 45,3 /µl e Trombócitos 9513,2 a 36316,5 /µl. A comparação dos resultados obtidos com os dados da literatura reforça a necessidade do estabelecimento de valores hematológicos específicos para aglomerações em diferentes condições geográficas, climáticas, faixas de tamanho e diferentes metodologias. Devido a estas influências estes valores não devem ser extrapolados para outras aglomerações e devem ser usados com critério para avaliação clínica de indivíduos sob outras condições.