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Hematocrit and Plasma Biochemical
Data for Sea Turtles in Florida
Objectives
To monitor the physiological status of wild populations of
sea turtles to ensure recovery of these threatened and endangered species,
baseline hematocrit and blood biochemical reference intervals need to be
established. To accomplish this
recovery goal, we have developed a multidisciplinary collaboration that
includes the College of Veterinary
Medicine (University of Florida), the Archie
Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (University of Florida), the St. Lucie
Power Plant (Florida Power and Light Corporation), the Marinelife Center of Juno Beach, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Our research
project is funded by the Florida
Sea Turtle Grants Program.
Throughout the year, as sea turtles enter the Port St Lucie
Power Plant canal system, they are removed, weighed, measured and tagged prior
to release in the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 800 to 1000 turtles are
removed per year. While most of the turtles caught in this system are green
turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerheads (Caretta caretta),
hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridleys (Lepidochelys
kempi) and leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) also are trapped and
removed.
We collect blood from all sea turtles that are caught in
the St. Lucie Power Plant canal system and determine reference baselines for
hematocrit (packed cell volumes, PCV) and for plasma biochemicals. Additionally, plasma protein
electrophoretograms allow for the determinations of the following protein
fractions: pre-albumin, albumin, alpha globulins, beta globulins, and gamma
globulins. We update the data
presented at this website at regular intervals.
Hematocrit
(PCV) and Plasma Biochemical Data (monthly means)
Protein
Electrophoretogram Fractions (monthly means)
Background reference on protein
electrophoresis:
Gicking, J.C., A.M. Foley, K.E.
Harr, R.E. Raskin, and E. Jacobson. 2004. Plasma protein electrophoresis of the
Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Journal of Herpetological
Medicine and Surgery. 14:13-18. [CLICK to view pdf]
Examples of protein
electrophoretograms [CLICK to view]
How to cite the data presented at this website:
Jacobson,
E., K. Bjorndal, A. Bolten, R. Herren, G. Harman, and L. Wood. Establishing plasma biochemical and
hematocrit reference intervals for sea turtles in Florida. [http://accstr.ufl.edu/blood_chem.htm].
Instructional Video Materials
- Digital images of
blood collection from sea turtles and St. Lucie Power Plant field site -- under development
Background References
Bolten, A.B.
and K.A. Bjorndal. 1992. Blood profiles for a wild population of
green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the southern Bahamas: size-specific
and sex-specific relationships.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases 28:407-413.
Swimmer,
JY. 2000. Biochemical responses to fibropapilloma
and captivity in the green turtle.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases.
36:102-110.
For further information, please
contact:
Elliott
Jacobson
College of
Veterinary Medicine
PO Box
100126
University
of Florida
Gainesville,
Florida 32611 USA
Email: JacobsonE@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research
PO Box 118525
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA
Email: accstr@zoology.ufl.edu