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Coral reefs are globally declining due to various anthropogenic stressors. Amongst those, chemical pollutants, such as pesticides from agricultural runoff, sewage or an overabundance of personal care products in coastal waters due to intense tourism, may be considered as a local stressor for reef-building corals. The extent to which such chemicals exhibit toxic effects towards corals at environmentally relevant concentrations is currently controversially discussed and existing studies are often based on varying and sometimes deficient test methods. To address this uncertainty, we adapted available methods into a reliable and comprehensive acute coral toxicity test method for the reef-building coral Montipora digitata. The toxicities of the four substances benzophenone-3 (BP-3), Diuron (DCMU), copper (Cu2+ as CuCl2, positive control) and dimethylformamide (DMF, solvent) were assessed in a 96 h semi-static test design. Endpoints such as maximum quantum yield, bleaching, tissue loss and mortality were evaluated with respect to their suitability for regulatory purposes. Overall, the endpoints bleaching and mortality yielded sensitive and robust results for the four tested substances. As the test method follows the principles of internationally standardized testing methods (ISO, OECD), it can be considered suitable for further validation and standardization. Once validated, a standardized test method will help to obtain reproducible toxicity results useful for marine hazard and risk assessment and regulatory decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this work was to review the principals of environmental hazard and risk assessment (ERA) of cosmetic UV filters registered under EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). Furthermore, effects as obtained from non‐standardized testing methods and organisms from scientific literature were compared against the predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) as derived based on standardized test methods for the various environmental compartments under REACH. Methods: The REACH dossiers at the ECHA webpage were screened for available information related to basic physico–chemical data (i.e. water solubility, octanol–water partitioning coefficient), PNECs and associated data (data basis, assessment factors (AFs)). Scientific literature was screened for available ecotoxicity data and the adverse effect levels were compared against the derived PNECs under REACH. Current approaches for environmental risk assessments of UV filters were evaluated for its applicability for a direct release scenario. Results: Under REACH, PNECs were derived for all hazardous UV filters. Although, PNECs were often derived for various environmental compartments (i.e. freshwater, marine water, sediment, soil), results from literature focused on aquatic data. Effects as observed within scientific literature matches in principle with the hazardous profile of the UV filters. Effects levels both on the acute and the chronic toxicity as retrieved from the non‐standardized test organisms (literature) were above the derived PNECs under REACH. Currently, ERAs performed for cosmetic UV filters under REACH are solely tonnage driven and thus do not fully capture the use in sunscreens and associated leisure activities. Conclusion: Existing EU REACH regulation is considered as sufficient to evaluate the environmental safety of UV filters used in sunscreens. To cover the direct release of UV filters due to various leisure activities into the aquatic freshwater and marine environment, an additional application‐based ERA is considered necessary. For UV filters used in sunscreens, derived PNECs under REACH were evaluated against results from per reviewed scientific literature. This evaluation revealed that the PNECs derived from standard testing methods are protective for the environment. Existing environmental risk assessments as carried out under REACH in principal are fit for purpose, however may require some improvements related to the direct release of UV filter into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to protect European Union (EU) drinking water resources from chemical contamination, criteria for identifying persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) chemicals and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) chemicals under the EU REACH Regulation were proposed by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt—UBA). Additionally, new hazard classes for PMT and vPvM substances in the revised EU classification, labeling, and packaging (CLP Regulation) are intended. Therefore, a reliable approach in the identification of potential drinking water resource contaminants is needed. The scientific basis of the property‐based PMT/vPvM criteria, focusing on mobility, which dictates the migration of chemical drinking water sources, was evaluated, and a critical analysis of the deviation of sorption metrics from simple behavior was carried out. Based on our evaluation, a Koc may be used for nonionic substances on a screening level only, requiring a higher tier assessment. It is considered inappropriate for hydrophilic and ionizable chemicals, particularly for soils with low organic carbon contents. The nonextractable residue formation is complex and not well understood but remains significant in limiting the mobility of chemicals through soils and sediments. In order to inform the EU commission's work on the introduction of new hazard classes for PMT and vPvM substances into the European legislation, the derivation of a tiered approach is proposed, which utilizes the weight of evidence available, with adoption of appropriate higher tier models commensurate with the nature of the substance and the data available. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:775–791. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: A Koc may be used for nonionic substances on a screening level only, requiring a higher tier assessment.The log Koc is considered inappropriate for hydrophilic and ionizable chemicals, particularly for soils with low organic carbon contents.Therefore, for the introduction of new hazard classes for PMT/vPvM substances into CLP, the derivation of a tiered approach is proposed, which utilizes the weight of evidence available, with adoption of appropriate higher tier models commensurate the nature of the substance and the data available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the natural development of terrapins it occurs regularly that the eggs undergo embryonal development in a vertical position. Here from rises the question whether these vertically aligned eggs develop in the same way and show comparable hatching rates as horizontally aligned eggs do. For this matter, six clutches of the Red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa) (Kreft, 1876) were incubated partly horizontally and vertically in order to investigate the efects on development, hatching success and anomaly rate of the hatchlings. The results show that the orientation of the eggs does not afect the development of the embryos, the hatching success or the number of scute anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bei der natürlichen Eiablage von Wasserschildkröten kommt es immer wieder vor, dass Eier eine Embryonalentwicklung in senkrechter Lage vollziehen. Hieraus resultierte die Fragestellung, ob sich derartig senkrecht orientierte Eier in gleicher Weise entwickeln und vergleichbare Schlupfraten aufweisen, wie waagrecht orientierte. Daher wurden insgesamt sechs Gelege der Rotbauch-Spitzkopfschildkröte Emydura subglobosa (KREFFT, 1876) anteilig waagerecht bzw. senkrecht bebrütet, um Auswirkungen auf Entwicklung, Schlupf und Anomalienrate bei den Schlüpflingen zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die Lage der Eier keine Auswirkungen auf die Entwicklung des Embryos, die Schlupfrate oder die Anzahl auftretender Schildanomalien hatte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the turtle fauna in Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, Utah in November 2015. Topics discussed include two female spotted turtles Clemmys guttata that were enclosed in a long aquaterrarium, an agile female yellow-botched map turtle Graptemys flavimaculata which has a mainly carnivorous diet, and the generally inactive Gopher tortoise Gopherus agassizzi. Also noted is the pancake tortoise Malacochersus tornieri that hide between rocks when danger arises.

A few days of visiting the island of Silhouette, the third largest granite island of the Seychelles, facilitated a trip to the bay of Grand Barbe on 29 Nov. 2015. A demanding 4.5-hour hike from the eastern to the western side of the island took us to the now-abandoned settlement of Grand Barbe where a total of five adult Arnold's Giant Tortoises, A. g. arnoldi (B already in 2007. Right upon arriving at the bay, one male specimen was spotted foraging for food. Owing to the stay being as brief as just one hour, no further specimens could be found. It may be safe to presume, however, that the other specimens were still present in this area, because previous observations indicate their home ranges to be relatively small. These A. g. arnoldi represent the only giant tortoises left on Silhouette Island, as all others have been evacuated from the island in early 2011. It was therefore all the more exciting to encounter these animals in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Im Rahmen eines mehrtätigen Aufenthaltes auf der Insel Silhouette, der drittgrößten Granitinsel der Seychellen, konnte am 29.11.2015 die Bucht von Grand Barbe besichtigt werden. Nach einer anspruchsvollen Wanderung von der Ostseite der Insel auf die Westseite wurde nach rund 4.5 h die mittlerweile verlassene Siedlung Grand Barbe erreicht, wo bereits 2007 insgesamt 5 adulte Arnold´s Riesenschildkröten A. g. arnoldi (Bour, 1982) gesehen wurden. Bereits unmittelbar nach der Ankunt an der Bucht wurde ein männliches Exemplar aufgefunden, welches gerade auf Nahrungssuche war. Aufgrund der kurzen Aufenthaltsdauer von lediglich einer Stunde, konnten an dem Tag keine weiteren Tiere aufgefunden werden. Jedoch war davon auszugehen, dass sich auch die anderen Tiere in diesem Gebiet auh ielten, da die bisher beobachteten Aktionsradi vergleichsweise klein waren. Bei den A. g. arnoldi handelt es sich um die einzigen auf der Insel Silhouette verbliebenen Riesenschildkröten, während alle anderen Tiere Anfang 2011 die Insel verlassen mussten. Umso erfreulicher war nun das Aui nden der Tiere in freier Wildbahn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1997 until 2013 the habitat of the Seychelles wolf snake, Lycognathophis seychellensis (SCHLEGEL, 1837), at the Vallee de Mai, Praslin, Seychelles was observed during several field excursions. At total of 10 day excursions were carried out during November and December. Only two individuals of the Seychelles wolf snake could be found within the park area during a trip on November 25th, 2008. One of the individuals was bright in colouration whereas the other one was rather blackish. Both snakes were found by accident and were very shy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the mid of the 20th century a relatively large population of the Dice snake Natrix tessellata (LAURENTI, 1768) it present at the lake Alpnachersee. During an excursion to the lake Alpnachersee, which is a side chain of the Lake Lucerne leaded by the Schildkröten-Interessengemeinschaft Schweiz (SIGS) individuals of this species could be observed in the habitat at short distance. The excursion took place at the Lopper mountain in the late morning of June 6th, 2010. Within a few meters of the lakeshore several Dice snakes could be observed either basking or mating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs are globally declining due to various anthropogenic stressors. Amongst those, chemical pollutants, such as pesticides from agricultural runoff, sewage or an overabundance of personal care products in coastal waters due to intense tourism, may be considered as a local stressor for reef-building corals. The extent to which such chemicals exhibit toxic effects towards corals at environmentally relevant concentrations is currently controversially discussed and existing studies are often based on varying and sometimes deficient test methods. To address this uncertainty, we adapted available methods into a reliable and comprehensive acute coral toxicity test method for the reef-building coral Montipora digitata . The toxicities of the four substances benzophenone-3 (BP-3), Diuron (DCMU), copper (Cu 2+ as CuCl 2 , positive control) and dimethylformamide (DMF, solvent) were assessed in a 96 h semi-static test design. Endpoints such as maximum quantum yield, bleaching, tissue loss and mortality were evaluated with respect to their suitability for regulatory purposes. Overall, the endpoints bleaching and mortality yielded sensitive and robust results for the four tested substances. As the test method follows the principles of internationally standardized testing methods (ISO, OECD), it can be considered suitable for further validation and standardization. Once validated, a standardized test method will help to obtain reproducible toxicity results useful for marine hazard and risk assessment and regulatory decision making.