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Fernández-Sanz H, Perrault JR, Stacy NI, Mancini A, Reyes-Bonilla H, Reséndiz E. Blood analyte reference intervals and correlations with trace elements of immature and adult Eastern Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in coastal lagoons of Baja California Sur, México. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115547. [PMID: 37717495 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles can bioaccumulate high concentrations of potentially toxic contaminants. To better understand trace element effects on sea turtles' health, we established reference intervals for hematological and plasma biochemical analytes in 40 in-water, foraging immature and adult Eastern Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two coastal lagoons in Baja California Sur, quantified whole blood concentrations of eight trace elements, and assessed their correlations. Rank-order trace element concentrations in both immature and adult turtles was zinc > selenium > nickel > arsenic > copper > cadmium > lead > manganese. Immature turtles had significantly higher copper and lower nickel and zinc concentrations. Additionally, a number of relationships between trace elements and blood analytes were identified. These data provide baseline information useful for future investigations into this population, or in other geographic regions and various life-stage classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Fernández-Sanz
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Carretera al Sur km 5.5, El Mezquitito 19-B, 23080 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico; Health Assessments in Sea Turtles From Baja California Sur, Villa Ballena 330, Villas del Encanto, 23085 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| | - Justin R Perrault
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 US Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, USA.
| | - Nicole I Stacy
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Agnese Mancini
- Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias A.C., Calle Seis 141, Azaleas, 23098 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| | - Héctor Reyes-Bonilla
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Carretera al Sur km 5.5, El Mezquitito 19-B, 23080 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| | - Eduardo Reséndiz
- Health Assessments in Sea Turtles From Baja California Sur, Villa Ballena 330, Villas del Encanto, 23085 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico; Laboratorio de Investigación y Medicina de Organismos Acuáticos, Departamento Académico de Ciencia Animal y Conservación del Hábitat, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Carretera al Sur km 5.5, El Mezquitito 19-B, 23080 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
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Álvarez-Varas R, Medrano C, Benítez HA, Guerrero F, León Miranda F, Vianna JA, González C, Véliz D. Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12121473. [PMID: 35739811 PMCID: PMC9219523 DOI: 10.3390/ani12121473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chilean waters constitute a foraging habitat for the endangered green turtle. Information about this species in the country has increased in recent years; nevertheless, little is known of its ecology and health status. Additionally, some populations have drastically decreased, probably due to human factors. Here, we studied the proportion of sex, age, morphological variation, genetic characteristics, origin, and health status of green turtles in mainland and insular Chile. We found that turtles from both regions are morphologically and genetically different. Individuals from the mainland territory are juveniles and probably originated from Galapagos. In contrast, the insular territory hosts juveniles and adults that probably originated from Galapagos and French Polynesia. We also found that turtles from both regions are facing numerous anthropic threats that must be controlled. We suggest the creation of protected areas for mainland foraging grounds, and strengthen the administrative plan of the insular region to ensure sea turtle population health. Abstract Two divergent genetic lineages have been described for the endangered green turtle in the Pacific Ocean, occurring sympatrically in some foraging grounds. Chile has seven known green turtle foraging grounds, hosting mainly juveniles of different lineages. Unfortunately, anthropic factors have led to the decline or disappearance of most foraging aggregations. We investigated age-class/sex structure, morphological variation, genetic diversity and structure, and health status of turtles from two mainland (Bahia Salado and Playa Chinchorro) and one insular (Easter Island) Chilean foraging grounds. Bahia Salado is composed of juveniles, and with Playa Chinchorro, exclusively harbors individuals of the north-central/eastern Pacific lineage, with Galapagos as the major genetic contributor. Conversely, Easter Island hosts juveniles and adults from both the eastern Pacific and French Polynesia. Morphological variation was found between lineages and foraging grounds, suggesting an underlying genetic component but also an environmental influence. Turtles from Easter Island, unlike Bahia Salado, exhibited injuries/alterations probably related to anthropic threats. Our findings point to establishing legal protection for mainland Chile’s foraging grounds, and to ensure that the administrative plan for Easter Island’s marine protected area maintains ecosystem health, turtle population viability, and related cultural and touristic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Álvarez-Varas
- Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, Chile;
- Qarapara Tortugas Marinas Chile NGO, Santiago 7750000, Chile; (C.M.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Carol Medrano
- Qarapara Tortugas Marinas Chile NGO, Santiago 7750000, Chile; (C.M.); (F.G.)
| | - Hugo A. Benítez
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, Chile;
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad (CIRENYS), Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago 8370993, Chile
| | - Felipe Guerrero
- Qarapara Tortugas Marinas Chile NGO, Santiago 7750000, Chile; (C.M.); (F.G.)
| | - Fabiola León Miranda
- Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8940000, Chile; (F.L.M.); (J.A.V.)
| | - Juliana A. Vianna
- Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8940000, Chile; (F.L.M.); (J.A.V.)
- Millennium Institute Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Camila González
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo 1780000, Chile;
| | - David Véliz
- Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, Chile;
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, Chile
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