Physiological changes in post-hatchling green turtles

Relocation of sea turtle nests and the retention of post-hatchlings for head-starting programs are both commonly used to improve conservation outcomes and facilitate eco-tourism ventures. Currently, there is little literature surrounding the husbandry protocols required during these programs to opti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation physiology 2019-01, Vol.7 (1), p.1
Main Authors: March, Duane T, Ariel, Ellen, Munns, Suzy, Rudd, Donna, Blyde, David, Christidis, Les, Kelaher, Brendan P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Captive breeding
Carbonates
Ecotourism
Fasting
Fishes
Food and nutrition
Glucose
Green turtle
Heart rate
Lactates
Lymphocytes
Medical tests
Physiological aspects
Protection and preservation
Reptiles
Sea turtles
Tourism
Turtles
Urea
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Summary:Relocation of sea turtle nests and the retention of post-hatchlings for head-starting programs are both commonly used to improve conservation outcomes and facilitate eco-tourism ventures. Currently, there is little literature surrounding the husbandry protocols required during these programs to optimize post-release outcomes. To assess the impact of varied feeding regimes on exercise performance, (which will hereafter be referred to as 'fitness'), 40 10-month-old captive post-hatchling green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were divided into four groups of 10 and fasted for either 3, 9, 10 or 15 h. The animals were then subjected to a fitness test via repetitive use of the 'righting reflex' on land. Health assessments were conducted prior to the fitness test, including; heart rate, haematocrit (Hct), heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and the measurement of 11 biochemical analytes, including pH, partial pressures of carbon dioxide ([P.sub.v]C[O.sub.2]) and oxygen ([P.sub.v][O.sub.2]), lactate, bicarbonate (HC[O.sup.-.sub.3]), sodium ([Na.sup.+]), potassium ([K.sup.+]), chloride ([Cl.sup.-]), ionized calcium (i[Ca.sup.2+]), glucose and urea. Results were corrected for multiple comparisons and significant differences among groups were demonstrated for temperature, pH, HC[O.sup.-.sub.3],i[Ca.sup.2+], urea and lactate. To investigate physiological relationships between analytes, correlation coefficients were calculated between fitness and glucose, fitness and lactate, glucose and lactate, pH and i[Ca.sup.2+], pH and [K.sup.+], pH and [P.sub.v]C[O.sub.2], pH and HC[O.sup.-.sub.3] and Hct and [K.sup.+]. Following correction for multiple comparisons, significant relationships were seen between pH and i[Ca.sup.2+] and pH and HC[O.sup.-.sub.3]. Post-hatchling turtles appear to enter a catabolic state when exposed to short-term fasting. While this did not have a direct impact on fitness, the production of an intense energetic output from a catabolic state may induce a physiological debt. This study suggests that handling that induces a physical response should be minimized and animals should be fed within 10 h of release.
ISSN:2051-1434
2051-1434
DOI:10.1093/conphys/coz016