Bell Barbara, Spotila James R, Congdon Justin
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Environ Pollut. 2006 Aug;142(3):457-65. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.10.020. Epub 2005 Dec 15.
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is subject to pollution from multiple sources. We studied development of snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) embryos from the refuge from 2000 through 2003. Mean annual deformity rate of pooled painted turtle clutches over four years ranged from 45 to 71%, while that of snapping turtle clutches ranged from 13 to 19%. Lethal deformities were more common than minor or moderate deformities in embryos of both species. Adult painted turtles had a higher deformity rate than adult snapping turtles. Snapping turtles at JHNWR had high levels of PAH contamination in their fat. This suggests that PAHs are involved in the high level of deformities. Other contaminants may also play a role. Although the refuge offers many advantages to resident turtle populations, pollution appears to place a developmental burden on the life history of these turtles.
约翰·海因茨国家野生动物保护区受到多种来源的污染。我们研究了2000年至2003年该保护区内鳄龟（Chelydra serpentina）和彩龟（Chrysemys picta）胚胎的发育情况。四年间彩龟合并窝卵的年均畸形率在45%至71%之间，而鳄龟窝卵的年均畸形率在13%至19%之间。在这两个物种的胚胎中，致死性畸形比轻度或中度畸形更为常见。成年彩龟的畸形率高于成年鳄龟。约翰·海因茨国家野生动物保护区的鳄龟脂肪中多环芳烃污染水平很高。这表明多环芳烃与高畸形率有关。其他污染物可能也起到了作用。尽管该保护区为当地龟类种群提供了许多优势，但污染似乎给这些龟的生活史带来了发育负担。
