Morphological and physiological assessments reveal that freshwater turtle (Mauremys leprosa) can flourish under extremely degraded-polluted conditions.

Freshwater turtles are long-lived sedentary organisms used as biological sentinels to assess anthropogenic perturbations in freshwater-ecosystems; notably because pollutants tend to accumulate in their tissues. Pollution has detrimental effects in sea turtles, but studies in freshwater turtles have provided contrasted results: several species have been impacted by habitat perturbation and pollution while others not. It is important to explore this issue since freshwater turtles are threatened worldwide. We compared two populations of the stripe necked terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) in a relatively pristine area (piedmont of the Atlas mountain) versus an extremely degraded-polluted area (sewers of a large city) in Morocco. All morphological and physiological proxies showed that turtles were able to cope remarkably well with highly degraded-polluted habitat. Population density, body size, and body condition were higher in the sewers, likely due to permanent water and food availability associated with human wastes. Stress markers (e.g. glucocorticoids) provided complex results likely reflecting the capacity of turtles to respond to various stressors. Reproductive parameters (testosterone level, indices of vitellogenesis) were lower in the relatively pristine area. The deceptive overall image provided by these analyses may hide the disastrous human impact on rivers. Indeed, Mauremys leprosa is the only aquatic vertebrate able to survive in the sewers, and thus, might nonetheless be a pertinent indicator of water quality, providing that the complexity of eco-physiological responses is considered.

Oxidative stress biomarkers in the Mediterranean pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa) reveal contrasted aquatic environments in Southern France.

Increasing anthropogenic activities, like agricultural practices, constitute the main causes of the loss of water quality and disruption of freshwater ecosystems. High concentrations of pesticides, as shown under experimental conditions, can indeed impact freshwater animals. In Southern France, especially in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, because agricultural activities are mainly based on fruit crops and vineyards, glyphosate and AMPA were detected in some watercourses. Thereby we investigated the effects of degraded waters on the physiology of the endemic endangered freshwater species, namely the Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa, in contrasted environments along the same rivers on the one hand and between different rivers on the other. We measured the activity and gene expression of two enzymes involved in the oxidative detoxification processes, namely the Catalase and the Superoxide dismutase. We showed significant variations in the Catalase gene expression and activity within turtles of the Fosseille River depending of their location, i.e. upstream or downstream of the wastewater treatment plants (WTP). Because agricultural environments are similar all along this river, they can no be longer considered as the unique source of turtle stress. The processed waters discharged by the WTP, which contribute to watercourses degradation, could therefore considerably impact the biodiversity of the freshwater environments.

Qualidade da água utilizada na higienização dos tanques de granelização de leite cru do município de Rio Pomba, MG / Quality of water used in cleaning tanks of raw milk from Rio Pomba, MG

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade da água utilizada na higienização dos tanques de resfriamento de leite cru do Município de Rio Pomba, MG. Amostras de água provenientes de 15 tanques de expansão individuais e comunitários foram coletadas as septicamente no período de maio a agosto de 2010 e transportadas para os laboratórios de análise físico-química e microbiologia do IF Sudeste MG, campus Rio Pomba. Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas de micro-organismos mesófilos aeróbios, coliformes termotolerantes e Escherichia coli e análises físico-químicas de pH, dureza, cloro residual, alcalinidade, cloretos, cor e turbidez. Verificou-se que a contagem de micro-organismos mesófilos aeróbios variou entre < 1,0 x 101 UFC/mL estimado e 1,2 x 103 UFC/mL, que 53,3% e 33,3%das amostras apresentaram, respectivamente, coliformes termo tolerantes e E. coli. Constatou-se também que 26,6% das amostras encontravam-se com valores de pH abaixo do recomendado. Além disso, verificou-se que todas as amostras apresentaram valores abaixo de 50 mg/L de CaC03 em relação à dureza e ausência de cloro residual. Em relação à alcalinidade, constatou-se variação entre 8 mg/L e 44 mg/L de CaC03. Na análise de cor, observou-se que todas as amostras de água apresentaram 5 unidades Hansen e em relação à turbidez, constatou-se que todas as amostras apresentaram-se dentro do limite estabelecido pela legislação. Portanto, torna-se imprescindível o tratamento da água a fim de obter leite de qualidade, bem como a implantação de programas que visem o treinamento dos produtores para aplicação de boas práticas higiênicas na propriedade rural.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of water used in cleaning of cooling tanks of rawmilk from Rio Pomba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Water samples from 15individual and community expansion tanks were aseptically collected during the period from May to August 2010 and transported to the physical chemistry and microbiology laboratories of IF Sudeste MG. It was developed microbiologicalanalysis of mesophilic aerobic microorganisms, coliforms and Escherichia coli and physical chemical analyses of pH, hardness, residual chlorine, alkalinity, chloride, color and turbidity. It was verifiedthat count of mesophilic aerobic micro-organisms ranged from <1.0 x 10' CFU/mL estimated to 1.2 x 103CFU/mL, and that 53.3% and 33.3% of samples presented fecal coliform and E. coli, respectively. It wasalso found that 26.6% of samples presented pH values below recommendation. Besides, it was verifiedthat all samples had values below 50 mg/L CaCO3 in relation to hardness and absence of residual chlorine. In relation to alkalinity, it was detected variation between 8 mg/L to 44 mg/L CaCO3. In color analysis, it was found that all samples of water showed five Hansen units for turbidity, been within the limits of Brazil legislation. Therefore, it is essential to treat water in order to obtain milk of better quality, as well as implementation of programs that provide training to producers to implement good hygienic practices at the farm.