Hamilton College Biology Professor David Gapp presented his research on "Diabetes-like syndrome in a population of the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in an urban wetlands," at the annual meeting of The Wildlife Society (Sept. 12-17 in Nashville, Tennessee).Gapp found a diabetes-like syndrome in common snapping turtles trapped in the Utica Marsh, urban wetlands that are located, in part, within the city limits of Utica, NY. Initial results showed diabetic animals trapped in this location represented 14.9% of all snappers tested from that site. Collecting in subsequent years has resulted in fewer specimens showing this pathology.
Gapp says, "The cause of this diabetes-like syndrome in the snappers remains to be determined, and one can only speculate as to whether it is attributable to environmental toxicants, microbial pathogens, genetic factors or a combination of etiologies."
In the immediate area of the Utica Marsh there is an EPA Superfund site, and there are a number of industrial or waste sites that could contribute toxicants to this wetlands.
