Resumo

BEZERRA, Moisés F.; LACERDA, Luiz D.; COSTA, Breno G.B.  e  LIMA, Eduardo H.S.M.. Mercury in the sea turtle Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1958) from Ceará coast, NE Brazil. An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc. [online]. 2012, vol.84, n.1, pp. 123-128.  Epub 09-Fev-2012. ISSN 0001-3765.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0001-37652012000100012.

Mercury concentrations in carapace fragments of the green turtle Chelonia mydas from the Ceará coast in NE Brazil are reported. Concentrations varied from <0.34 to 856.6 ng.g -1 d.w., and were highest (average of 154.8 ng.g -1 d.w.) in juveniles (n = 22), whereas lowest concentrations (average of 2.5 ng.g -1 d.w.) were observed in adult/sub-adult animals (n = 3). There was a significant negative correlation between animal size and Hg concentration probably due to different diets between juveniles and sub-adults/adults. Carapace fragments, which are non-invasive, non-lethal substrates, may be of importance for monitoring purposes of these generally endangered species.

Palavras-chave : Pollution; metals; marine turtles; monitoring.