Maternal health status correlates with nest success of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) from Florida.

ABSTRACT: Of the seven sea turtle species, the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) exhibits the lowest and most variable nest success (i.e., hatching success and emergence success) for reasons that remain largely unknown. In an attempt to identify or rule out causes of low reproductive success in this species, we established the largest sample size (n = 60-70 for most values) of baseline blood parameters (protein electrophoresis, hematology, plasma biochemistry) for this species to date. Hematologic, protein electrophoretic and biochemical values are important tools that can provide information regarding the physiological condition of an individual and population health as a whole. It has been proposed that the health of nesting individuals affects their reproductive

SUBMITTER: Perrault JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3281022 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature