ECOTOXICOLOGY OF YELLOW-BELLIED SLIDERS (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA) AND MUSK TURTLES (STERNOTHERUS ODORATUS) IN NATURAL WETLANDS

Abstract

Glyphosate is one of the active ingredients in many different herbicidal products such as Roundup. Preliminary research has suggested that glyphosate is a possible endocrine disruptor, can cause developmental defects, and is a potential carcinogen. Due to its potential harmful effects on different organisms, we seek to monitor the levels of glyphosate in wetland areas. This will be done by analyzing samples from two commonly found indicator species, the yellow-bellied slider turtle,�Trachemys scripta, and the musk turtle,�Sternotherus odoratus. Research will be done on turtles caught at Reed Creek Nature Center and Brick Pond Park. Physical measurements will be taken, and blood will be drawn from each turtle. Analysis of the glyphosate levels in the blood samples will be completed using a glyphosate ELISA kit. While this research will not prove that glyphosate has harmful effects on the turtles, it will quantify the amount of the chemical present. If there are high concentrations, this will indicate a need for more research on how glyphosate affects different organisms so long-term effects on the environment can be estimated.