Abstract
Sea turtle rehabilitation clinics and aquaria frequently transport stranded sea turtles long distances out of water, e.g. for release at sites with appropriate water temperatures. Endangered Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) are known to exhibit an adrenal stress response during such transports. In an opportunistic study of turtles transported by road from Massachusetts to Georgia for release, we tested whether placing turtles in saltwater pools for short periods after transport would help turtles recover from transport-related stress. Eighteen juvenile Kemp's ridley turtles were examined and blood samples collected (1) immediately pre-transport, (2) immediately post-transport and (3) after a 6 h (n = 9) or 24 h (n = 9) post-transport period in unfamiliar pools, after which all turtles were released to the sea. Blood samples were analyzed for corticosterone, glucose, total white blood cell (WBC) count, heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, pH, pO2, pCO2, HCO3 (bicarbonate), sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, lactate and hematocrit. Though the majority of turtles remained in good clinical condition, corticosterone, glucose, WBC and H/L elevated significantly during transport, while potassium declined slightly but significantly. After at least 6 h in a saltwater pool, potassium and glucose returned to pre-transport baselines and corticosterone partially recovered toward baseline. Extending the pool time to 24 h did not markedly enhance the physiological recovery of turtles, and two immune measures (WBC, H/L) remained elevated from the effect of transport. Six hours in a saltwater pool appears to facilitate the recovery of Kemp's ridley sea turtles from transport-related stress and may therefore improve their readiness for release.
Highlights
During the past decade, increasing numbers of juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii, ‘Kemp’s ridley turtles’), a critically endangered species, have been found stranded during fall on the shores of Cape Cod, MA, USA (Allman, 1998; Gerle et al, 2000; Still et al, 2005; Innis et al, 2014; Rockwell et al, 2017; Spielvogel et al, 2017; NOAA, 2018)
In an opportunistic study of turtles transported by road from Massachusetts to Georgia for release, we tested whether placing turtles in saltwater pools for short periods after transport would help turtles recover from transport-related stress
Blood samples were analyzed for corticosterone, glucose, total white blood cell (WBC) count, heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, pH, pO2, pCO2, HCO3, sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, lactate and hematocrit
Summary
During the past decade, increasing numbers of juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii, ‘Kemp’s ridley turtles’), a critically endangered species, have been found stranded during fall on the shores of Cape Cod, MA, USA (Allman, 1998; Gerle et al, 2000; Still et al, 2005; Innis et al, 2014; Rockwell et al, 2017; Spielvogel et al, 2017; NOAA, 2018). The majority of cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley turtles are rehabilitated successfully (Innis and Merigo, 2014) and are ready for release to the sea within a few months (often by March of the following year), but at that time local water temperatures are too low for safe release of these ectothermic, migratory animals. To expedite their return to the wild, the turtles must be transported from the initial rescue site (Massachusetts) hundreds of miles south for release at beaches with appropriate water temperatures, e.g. to southern U.S states such as Georgia and Florida. This annual flow of rescued and rehabilitated sea turtles southbound along the U.S eastern seaboard during spring has become a regular wildlife transportation event in North America
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