Abstract:
Blood biochemistry represents a minimally invasive tool for monitoring sea turtle health, assessing injured sea turtles and supporting conservation strategies. In Grenada, West Indies, plasma biochemical variables were examined in 33 nesting leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), 49 foraging green (Chelonia mydas), 49 foraging hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and 12 nesting hawksbill sea turtles sampled between 2017 and 2022. Plasma biochemistry reference intervals are described herein except for nesting hawksbills, which are represented by descriptive statistics due to the low sample size. Select analyte concentrations were positively correlated with curved carapace length in leatherbacks (chloride), green turtles (total protein, albumin and globulin) and foraging hawksbills (total protein, albumin and phosphorus). Cholesterol (7.8 mmol/l ± 1.6 SD) and triglyceride (6.9 mmol/l ± 1.9 SD) concentrations were significantly higher in leatherbacks compared to foraging green turtles, foraging hawksbills and nesting hawksbills (P < 0.001 for all). Cholesterol was significantly higher in nesting hawksbills compared to foraging green turtles (P = 0.050) and foraging hawksbills (P = 0.050). Foraging hawksbills demonstrated significantly higher aspartate transaminase activities than leatherbacks (P = 0.002), green turtles (P = 0.009) and nesting hawksbills (P < 0.001). Biochemical results provide baseline population health data and support guidance for treatments during clinical sea turtle rehabilitation efforts. They also provide insight into species-specific physiologic differences and preludes further studies to better characterize the impacts of life-stage class on biochemistry reference intervals to better support wild sea turtle populations in Grenada.
摘要:
血液生物化学代表了监测海龟健康的微创工具,评估受伤的海龟和支持保护策略。在格林纳达,西印度群岛,血浆生化变量在33个筑巢棱皮草(Dermochelyscoriacea)中进行了检查,49觅食绿色(Cheloniamydas),在2017年至2022年之间采样了49只觅食的鹰嘴鸟(Eretmochelysimbricata)和12只筑巢的鹰嘴鸟海龟。本文描述了血浆生物化学参考间隔,由于样本量较低,用描述性统计数据表示。选择分析物浓度与棱皮类(氯化物)的弯曲甲壳长度呈正相关,绿海龟(总蛋白质,白蛋白和球蛋白)和觅食鹰嘴鸟(总蛋白,白蛋白和磷)。与觅食绿海龟相比,棱皮龟中的胆固醇(7.8mmol/l±1.6SD)和甘油三酸酯(6.9mmol/l±1.9SD)浓度明显更高,觅食鹰嘴鸟和筑巢鹰嘴鸟(均P<0.001)。与觅食绿海龟(P=0.050)和觅食鹰嘴鸟(P=0.050)相比,筑巢鹰嘴鸟的胆固醇明显更高。觅食的鹰嘴鸟显示出明显高于棱皮龟的天冬氨酸转氨酶活性(P=0.002),绿海龟(P=0.009)和筑巢的鹰嘴鸟(P<0.001)。生化结果为临床海龟康复工作期间的治疗提供了基线人群健康数据和支持指导。他们还提供了有关物种特定生理差异的见解,并进行了进一步的研究,以更好地表征生命阶段类别对生物化学参考间隔的影响,以更好地支持格林纳达的野生海龟种群。