Thesis
Development of improved health assessment techniques in green turtles (Chelonia mydas)
Southern Cross University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.129
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Abstract
Population declines have been documented in green turtles due to anthropogenic activities. Stranding events have increased, with sick turtles often transported to rehabilitation clinics and head start programs have been created overcome the high natal mortality rate. This thesis found that for green turtles undergoing rehabilitation, existing blood reference intervals have limited prognostic significance; the novel biomarkers D-dimer and nitrate are elevated; metabolomic profiles indicate cachexia and cardiac performance is compromised. Regarding head start programs, turtles should be released shortly after feeding, to avoid cachexic states and decreased exercise performance that can be associated with short-term and medium-term fasting.
Details
- Title
- Development of improved health assessment techniques in green turtles (Chelonia mydas)
- Creators
- Duane March
- Contributors
- Brendan Kelaher (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityLeslie Christidis (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityEllen Ariel (Supervisor) - James Cook University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Number of pages
- xiii, 133
- Identifiers
- 991012926200402368
- Copyright
- © Duane T. March 2020
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Thesis