Blood gases, biochemistry and haematology of Galápagos hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)

• DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox028
• Publication Date: 2017-04-24T07:39:50Z
• Authors: Juan Pablo Muñoz-...; Gregory A. Lewbart; Maximilian Hirsch...; Daniela Alarcón-R...; Judith Denkinger; Jason Guillermo C...; Juan García; Kenneth J. Lohmann
• Keywords: Sea turtle; Archipelago; Rookery

The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, is a marine chelonian with circum-global distribution, but the species critically endangered and has nearly vanished from eastern Pacific. Although reference blood parameter intervals have been published for many populations, including nesting Atlantic hawksbills, no such baseline biochemical gas values reported wild Pacific turtles. Blood samples were drawn eight turtles captured in near shore foraging locations within Galápagos archipelago over period of four sequential years; three these recaptured sampled on multiple occasions. Of sea sampled, five immature unknown sex, other females. A portable analyzer was used to obtain immediate field results suite chemistry parameters. Values affected by temperature corrected two ways: (i) standard formulas (ii) auto-corrections made analyzer. bench top measure series biochemistry parameters plasma. Standard laboratory haematology techniques employed red white cell counts determine haematocrit manually, which compared generated this study provide data that may be useful comparisons among populations detecting changes health status findings might also helpful future efforts demonstrate associations between specific disease or environmental disasters.