Haematological and Genotoxicological Effects of Water Quality on Pelophylax bedriagae (Camerano, 1882) (Anura: Ranidae) and Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes, 1833) (Testudines: Geoemydidae) in Çanakkale, Türkiye

Haematological and genotoxicological parameters of the Levant green frog Pelophylax bedriagae (Camerano, 1882) and the Western Caspian turtle Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes, 1833) were studied. These species inhabited two sites with differing water quality in the Sarıçay Stream passing through the city centre of Çanakkale, Türkiye. We examined whether the two species were affected by the water quality classes identified based on physical and chemical properties of the water. Statistically significant differences were found between the two sites in terms of the frequencies of micronucleus, lobbed, notched, kidney-shaped and blebbed nuclei, as well as total nuclear abnormality in Pelophylax bedriagae. Moreover, a higher rate of nuclear abnormalities was observed at the more polluted site, classified as water quality class IV. Statistically significant differences were observed in the haematocrit value, percentages of lymphocytes, eosinophils, heterophils and basophils, erythrocyte width and frequencies of lobbed and kidney–shaped nuclei as well as the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, often used as a stress indicator, in Mauremys rivulata. In this species, it was determined that parameters other than lymphocyte and eosinophil percentages were higher in specimens from the more polluted site.