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Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Processing Embryo, Eggshell, and Fungal Culture for Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: August 16, 2019
Trace elements in green turtle eggshells and coral sand sediments from the Xisha Islands, South China Sea
Li Jian1, Rui Guo2, Xiaobo Zheng3
1Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China; Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Tropical and Laboratory Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
Abstract:
This study investigated 12 trace elements in paired green turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggshell composites and coral sand samples to examine within-habitat heavy metal pollution from 40 nesting sites in the Xisha Islands. The concentrations of the elements (μg·g-1) found in the eggshells ranged as follows: Sr (41.3) > Zn (20.3) > Cu (12.8) > Fe (4.92) > Al (4.37) > Se (2.44) > Mn (0.91) > Cr (0.81) > Ba (0.44) > Pb (0.14) > As (0.08) > Cd (0.02). Significant correlations were observed between the levels of Cd and Se and the levels of Zn, Cu, and Pb in eggshells. The concentrations of Mn, Zn, Se, As, Cd, and Pb in C. mydas eggshells were significantly correlated with those in coral sand sediments. Cu concentrations in the eggshells exceeded the toxic reference value for bird eggs and Se concentrations were between the worst- and best-case scenario hazard quotients.
