Range of hematology and biochemistry values in open‐water, captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Roatan, Honduras (1100.15)

Abstract

There is virtually little published information regarding open‐water, captive bottlenose dolphins. Few places around the world combine these environments, allowing bottlenose dolphins to experience being captive and in the open water. The Roatan Institute for Marine Science (RIMS) in Roatan, Honduras has been open since 1989 and houses around seventeen bottlenose dolphins, with ages ranging from newborn to thirty years old. Although hematology and biochemistry values are found for either open‐water dolphin or captive dolphins, there are not any values published regarding bottlenose dolphins in an open‐water, captive environment. This study was conducted to determine the range of hematological and biochemistry values in open‐water, captive dolphins. Hematological data has been collected from 2003 until 2013 from dolphins ranging in age and lineage. The ages of the dolphins being studied were between six and twelve years old. Samples of blood were drawn from the periarterial venous rete in the fluke. The goal of this study is to produce a baseline hematological and biochemistry values for open‐water, captive bottlenose dolphins.Grant Funding Source: NSF# 1118679 Collaborative Research: Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI)