Distribution of heavy metals in the eggs and hatchlings of olive ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, from Gahirmatha, Orissa

Abstract

Shell and yolk-albumen of fresh eggs, hatched egg shells and newly emerged hatchlings of olive ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, along with eight nesting beach sand samples showed higher iron, zinc and lead concentrations than cobalt, chromium, copper and nickel. Beach sand samples recorded higher values of all metals than the egg components. Newly emerged hatchlings also recorded higher values than the fresh eggs. Embryos might have accumulated these metals from the nesting beach during incubation.