Biological and anthropogenic predictors of metal concentration in the Eurasian otter, a sentinel of freshwater ecosystems.

Toxic metals have been linked to a range of adverse health effects in freshwater organisms. However, for higher vertebrates, there is little understanding of the large-scale drivers of exposure. We quantified toxic metal/semi-metal concentrations in a sentinel freshwater top predator, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), across England and Wales, and determined how this varied with key natural and anthropogenic factors.

Monitoring the health of green turtles in northern Queensland post catastrophic events.

Between 2014 and 2017, the Rivers to Reef to Turtles (RRT) project examined the health of green turtles at two coastal sites impacted by urban and agricultural human activities (Cleveland and Upstart Bays) and one proposed pristine site (Howick Group of Reefs) in northern Queensland, Australia, through blood biochemistry and haematology, plasma protein electrophoresis, and clinical assessments including body condition and barnacle counts. Furthermore, cases of mortality were subjected to comprehensive postmortem examination. In an attempt to advance diagnostics, associations between specific contaminants and health of turtles in this region were tested.