BSc Thesis - Trace Metal Accumulation in turtlegrass and Green Sea Turtles

Despite being in the middle of a global pandemic, I had the opportunity to do my Bachelor thesis fieldwork on Curaçao from October until December 2020. This trip has been made possible by a grant I received from FONA Conservation.

As soon as I arrived on the island, I teamed up with the Sea Turtle Conservation: During the last years, they found a huge number of sick and stranded sea turtles in the military area of Curaçao. This part of the island is closed for tourists, but shooting practices are happening five times a week. Therefore, we wanted to investigate whether trace metals, such as lead from the military shootings, are elevated in turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) and turtles that forage in this area. Certain trace metal concentrations have been shown to hamper immune system functions and can even be fatal. We indeed found that some trace metals (Lead, Chromium, Nickel and Zinc) are significantly elevated in the blood and fat tissue of the turtles in the military bay, compared to bays that are not exposed to military practices. We are still waiting for the results on the turtlegrass trace metal concentrations as the lab, unfortunately, experienced COVID-related delays.

The results will soon be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Sit tight!

Supervisors: Marjolijn Christianen and Fee Smulders