Meeting Abstract
In modern ecosystems, industrial processes have caused contaminants to become pervasive, especially in aquatic environments. Coal combustion is a major source of contamination globally, and causes deposition of elements such as selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) into the environment. Coal combustion wastes (CCWs) are typically placed into artificial settling basins which then attract a variety of wildlife. Turtles have many characteristics that put them at risk of accumulating significant body burdens: they are long-lived, have small home ranges, and occupy middle to upper trophic levels within the ecosystem. The goal of this study was to discern if contaminant loads affected the immune status of Yellow-bellied sliders Trachemys scripta scripta on the Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, SC. Furthermore, we also sought to determine if parasite loads differed across varying contaminant burdens. Trace element contaminants, such as selenium, pose a risk to biota and little is known about the sublethal effects of contamination on reptiles. This study aimed to evaluate (1) the accumulation of trace elements in T. scripta across reference and contaminated sites, (2) potential immunological effects of contamination, and (3) differences in turtle parasite loads across sites. A total of 88 turtles were collected from CCW-affected and reference wetlands located on the SRS. Immune responses were measured via bacterial killing assays (innate immunity) and phytohemagglutinin assays (cell-mediated immunity). In preliminary findings, turtles from reference sites exhibited lower immune responses than individuals from contaminated areas. In this presentation of data, I will describe further analysis regarding accumulation trends, parasite loads, and immune effects of contamination status.
