Trakya Bölgesi’nde Dağılış Gösteren Trakya Tosbağası (Testudo hermanni) Popülasyonlarında Habitat Tiplerinin Genotoksikoloji Potansiyelleri

Abstract

Testudo hermanni species are considered near threatened globally in the wild. In this study, differential leukocyte percentages, nuclear abnormalities, and erythrocyte morphology abnormalities of Testudo hermanni populations distributed in two different habitat types in the Thrace Region were determined to whether habitats have a potential genotoxicological effect. A total of 37 tortoise specimens, 18 from an open habitat in Kırklareli/Karakoç, and 19 from an isolated habitat in Edirne/Keşan were studied. According to the results obtained from the Micronucleus Test, which detects genotoxic damage, there was no statistically significant difference between the two habitats. There were statistically significant differences in erythrocyte morphology abnormalities between two populations, such as frequencies of anucleated erythrocyte, nuclear shift and elliptical shape distortion. There were correlations between body sizes and other parameters. This is the first genotoxicological study that conducted on Testudo hermanni species in Türkiye.