Thalassia testudinum productivity and grazing by green turtles in a highly disturbed seagrass bed

The increase of temperature might affect the distribution and reproduction of seagrass. This research aims to determine the seagrass bed coverage and the ecosystem condition. Three line transects were established perpendicular to the coastal line with the distance of 50-100 m, or up to the border of the intertidal area. In each transect, sampling points were determined with a distance of 10-20 m. At the sampling points, a plot of 50 cm x 50 cm was established to measure the coverage percentage of seagrass vegetation. The seagrass species were also observed and recorded along the line transects. The percentage of seagrass coverage was measured using a method from Saito and Atobe (1994). The results showed that the coastal area of Jelenga has the highest percentage of seagrass coverage (>60%, healthy) among other coastal areas. This may be caused by the characteristic of Jelenga coast which was relatively calm, few visitors, low water turbidity, and high light penetration. While, other transects have percentage coverage of less than 60% (less healthy). There was one transect on Maluk coast which has coverage percentage of less than 29% (lack of seagrass species). The small coverage percentage on Maluk coast can be caused by the high number of visitors and high activity of fishing boats around the coast which results in high turbidity. Keywords: coverage, ecosystem condition, seagrass bed, west Sumbawa.

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Effects of El Niño Southern Oscillation and local ocean temperature on the reproductive output of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Marine Biology ◽

10.1007/s00227-020-03749-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 167 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Renato Saragoça Bruno ◽

Jaime Alberto Restrepo ◽

Roldán Arturo Valverde

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

El Niño ◽

Reproductive Output ◽

El Nino ◽

Southern Oscillation ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

El Niño Southern Oscillation ◽

El Nino Southern Oscillation ◽

Ocean Temperature ◽

Green Turtles

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Plasma proteomics of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) reveals pathway shifts and potential biomarker candidates associated with health and disease

Conservation Physiology ◽

10.1093/conphys/coab018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

David P Marancik ◽

Justin R Perrault ◽

Lisa M Komoroske ◽

Jamie A Stoll ◽

Kristina N Kelley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Protein Abundance ◽

Plasma Samples ◽

Important Species ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Potential Biomarker ◽

Health And Disease

Abstract Evaluating sea turtle health can be challenging due to an incomplete understanding of pathophysiologic responses in these species. Proteome characterization of clinical plasma samples can provide insights into disease progression and prospective biomarker targets. A TMT-10-plex-LC–MS/MS platform was used to characterize the plasma proteome of five, juvenile, green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and compare qualitative and quantitative protein changes during moribund and recovered states. The 10 plasma samples yielded a total of 670 unique proteins. Using ≥1.2-fold change in protein abundance as a benchmark for physiologic upregulation or downregulation, 233 (34.8%) were differentially regulated in at least one turtle between moribund and recovered states. Forty-six proteins (6.9%) were differentially regulated in all five turtles with two proteins (0.3%) demonstrating a statistically significant change. A principle component analysis showed protein abundance loosely clustered between moribund samples or recovered samples and for turtles that presented with trauma (n = 3) or as intestinal floaters (n = 2). Gene Ontology terms demonstrated that moribund samples were represented by a higher number of proteins associated with blood coagulation, adaptive immune responses and acute phase response, while recovered turtle samples included a relatively higher number of proteins associated with metabolic processes and response to nutrients. Abundance levels of 48 proteins (7.2%) in moribund samples significantly correlated with total protein, albumin and/or globulin levels quantified by biochemical analysis. Differentially regulated proteins identified with immunologic and physiologic functions are discussed for their possible role in the green turtle pathophysiologic response and for their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers. These findings enhance our ability to interpret sea turtle health and further progress conservation, research and rehabilitation programs for these ecologically important species.

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