Adipose tissue estimation of foraging and nesting green turtles Chelonia mydas using bioelectrical impedance analysis
Kophamel, Sara, Ward, Leigh C., Mendez, Diana, Ariel, Ellen, Bell, Ian, Shum, Edith, and Munns, Suzanne L. (2023) Adipose tissue estimation of foraging and nesting green turtles Chelonia mydas using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Endangered Species Research, 51. pp. 127-142.
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Abstract
Adipose tissue is the main energy store in sea turtles and fluctuates in response to dietary conditions and external stressors. Monitoring programmes commonly use body condition indices (BCIs) to infer the nutritional and health status of sea turtle populations. However, BCIs have poor predictive power for estimating adipose tissue. We introduce the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as a portable technique to estimate adipose tissue in green turtles Chelonia mydas. The aims of this study were to estimate adipose tissue of green turtles on the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), and to examine whether adipose tissue is a more sensitive indicator than BCI. Turtles (n = 250) were sampled at 3 foraging sites and at a nesting beach with differing levels of anthropogenic impact. Differences in adipose tissue, Fulton’s BCI, and body mass across study sites and life stages were assessed by conducting linear mixed effects models. BIA estimates of mean adipose tissue revealed significant differences across life stages and sampling sites, that were not found using BCI data. Mean adipose tissue was estimated to be 4.6 ± 0.6% (% body mass ± SD) and was not correlated with mean BCI (1.2 ± 0.1). Adipose tissue was not reduced in turtles foraging at sites with a high level of anthropogenic impact. Adult turtles had significantly higher adipose tissue values than juveniles and subadults. Adult females measured during and shortly before nesting season had the highest adipose tissue values (%). BIA is a practical method for estimating adipose tissue, and we recommend this technique for consideration in sea turtle monitoring programmes.
| Item ID: | 79520 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1613-4796 |
| Keywords: | Australia, Bioelectrical impedance analysis, Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy, Body composition, Body condition, Body fat, Nutritional status, Sea turtles |
| Copyright Information: | © The authors 2023. Open Access under Creative Commons by Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are un-restricted. Authors and original publication must be credited. |
| Research Data: | https://doi.org/10.25903/73jy-ky07 |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Mar 2024 01:38 |
| FoR Codes: | 30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3009 Veterinary sciences > 300904 Veterinary diagnosis and diagnostics @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 50% |
| SEO Codes: | 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280101 Expanding knowledge in the agricultural, food and veterinary sciences @ 100% |
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