Total body water and water turnover rates in the estuarine diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) during the transition from dormancy to activity.
Water and salt concentrations in an animal's body fluids can fluctuate with changing environmental conditions, posing osmoregulatory challenges that require behavioral and physiological adjustments. The purpose of this study was to investigate body water dynamics in the estuarine diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), a species that undergoes seasonal dormancy in salt marsh habitats. We conducted a field study to determine the total body water (%TBW), water turnover rate (WTR) and daily water flux (DWF) of female terrapins in south eastern North Carolina pre- and post-emergence from winter dormancy. Terrapins were injected with [(2)H]deuterium on two occasions and washout of the isotope was monitored by taking successive blood samples during the period of transition from dormancy to activity. The WTR and DWF of dormant terrapins were significantly lower than those of active terrapins (WTR(dormant)=49.70±15.94 ml day(-1), WTR(active)=100.20±20.36 ml day(-1), DWF(dormant)=10.52±2.92%TBW day(-1), DWF(active)=21.84±7.30%TBW day(-1)). There was no significant difference in %TBW between dormant and active terrapins (75.05±6.19% and 74.54±4.36%, respectively). The results from this field study provide insight into the terrapin's ability to maintain osmotic homeostasis while experiencing shifts in behavioral and environmental conditions.
Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA. Department of Biology, 1050 West Sheridan Road, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA. leighanneharden@gmail.com.
Leigh Anne
LA
Harden
Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA.
Kimberly Anne
KA
Duernberger
NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA.
T Todd
TT
Jones
Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA.
Amanda Southwood
AS
Williard
D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D017666:Deuterium Oxide / Q000097:blood; D063366:Estuaries; D005260:Female; D006605:Hibernation / Q000502:physiology*; D009657:North Carolina; D064587:Osmoregulation; D054712:Salinity; D012621:Seasons; D014426:Turtles / Q000378:metabolism*
D017666:Deuterium Oxide
Dehydration; Homeostasis; Marine reptile; Osmoregulation; Overwinter; Salt accumulation; Water flux; [2H]deuterium