Husbandry Protocols for Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) Based on Stress Response to Stocking Density and Dry-Dock Time.
J Appl Anim Welf Sci
; 27(3): 589-601, 2024.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38368563
ABSTRACT
When necessary, sea turtles are held captive for veterinarian care and research purposes. Protocols and basic guidelines have been described for husbandry of sea turtles with veterinarian needs but not considering physiological indicators of animal welfare. Because all sea turtle are imperiled species, monitoring their welfare is important. The aim of this study was to standardize husbandry protocols for loggerhead (Caretta caretta) juveniles held under seminatural conditions, based on circulating concentration of plasma corticosterone (Cort) and behavior. Two experiments were performed to analyze physiological and behavioral responses of the animals facing changes in stocking density and different dry-docking times. Cort analyses suggested that the number of animals per tank can be modified occasionally, without affecting their health and welfare. However, dry-docking time should be < 30 min, as indicated by the significant elevation of circulating Cort at ≥ 30 min, rising from 1.51- ng/ml to 5.28-ng/ml. Protocols tested did not affect behavioral responses, except for the breaths per move, which increased while Cort increased, despite differences exhibited by experimental animals in behavioral responses according to daily times (morning vs afternoon) and the sex of the animals.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estresse Fisiológico
/
Tartarugas
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Comportamento Animal
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Bem-Estar do Animal
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Corticosterona
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Criação de Animais Domésticos
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Appl Anim Welf Sci
/
J. appl. anim. welf. sci. (Online)
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Journal of applied animal welfare science (Online)
Assunto da revista:
MEDICINA VETERINARIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Espanha