Effect of repeated tissue sampling on growth rates of juvenile loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta.
We evaluated the effect of repeated tissue sampling on growth rates of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta. Samples of blood, skin, and scute (keratinized epidermal layer covering the bony shell) were collected at 3 intervals over a 120 d period from 37 loggerheads; 8 control turtles were not sampled. No infections or scarring occurred at the sampling sites, and growth in mass of experimental and control turtles was not significantly different. The sampling regime did not affect the health or physiological status of the turtles.
Bjorndal
Karen A
KA
Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, PO Box 118525, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA. bjorndal@ufl.edu
Reich
Kimberly J
KJ
Bolten
Alan B
AB
D000818:Animals; D014426:Turtles / Q000254:growth & development*