期刊
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
卷 2, 期 1, 页码 -出版社
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cou002
关键词
Capital breeding; Dermochelys coriacea; leatherback sea turtle; nesting; protein electrophoresis; serum
资金
- West Indies Marine Animal Research and Conservation Service
- University of Georgia's Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory
- Florida Atlantic University's Nelligan Fund
Serum protein concentrations provide insight into the nutritional and immune status of organisms. It has been suggested that some marine turtles are capital breeders that fast during the nesting season. In this study, we documented serum proteins in neophyte and remigrant nesting leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). This allowed us to establish trends across the nesting season to determine whether these physiological parameters indicate if leatherbacks forage or fast while on nesting grounds. Using the biuret method and agarose gel electrophoresis, total serum protein (median = 5.0 g/dl) and protein fractions were quantified and include pre-albumin (median = 0.0 g/dl), albumin (median = 1.81 g/dl), alpha 1-globulin (median = 0.90 g/dl), alpha(2)-globulin (median = 0.74 g/dl), total a-globulin (median = 1.64 g/dl), beta-globulin (median = 0.56 g/dl), beta-globulin (median = 0.81 g/dl) and total globulin (median = 3.12 g/dl). The albumin: globulin ratio (median = 0.59) was also calculated. Confidence intervals (90%) were used to establish reference intervals. Total protein, albumin and total globulin concentrations declined in successive nesting events. Protein fractions declined at less significant rates or remained relatively constant during the nesting season. Here, we show that leatherbacks are most likely fasting during the nesting season. A minimal threshold of total serum protein concentrations of around 3.5-4.5 g/dl may physiologically signal the end of the season's nesting for individual leatherbacks. The results presented here lend further insight into the interaction between reproduction, fasting and energy reserves and will potentially improve the conservation and management of this imperiled species.
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