A study was conducted on bonefish Albula vulpes in The Bahamas to assess the utility of portable physiological diagnostic tools (i-STAT analyser with E3þ ion and haematology cartridge, ACCU-CHEK glucose meter and Lactate Pro lactate meter) for field physiology applications in remote locations. Physiological values derived from portable diagnostic tools were significantly related to values obtained from standard laboratory techniques [glucose (r 2 ¼ 0Á96), packed cell volume (PCV; r 2 ¼ 0Á33), Na þ (r 2 ¼ 0Á28), K þ (r 2 ¼ 0Á71) and Cl À (r 2 ¼ 0Á15)]. Actual values (i.e. intercepts), however, tended to deviate slightly between the two techniques. Nonetheless, these tools showed promise for documenting relative differences among fishes experimentally exposed to treatments inducing different levels of 'stress'. These tools were then used to characterize the effects of different capture techniques on the stress response of A. vulpes. Albula vulpes captured in seines and then temporarily held in pens were physiologically sampled between 1 and 45 min postcapture to evaluate postcapture stress dynamics. Blood glucose and lactate as well as PCV and haemoglobin (Hb) increased rapidly after capture but stabilized at maximal values by c. 20 min postcapture. When angled, larger A. vulpes took longer to exhaust and land than did smaller individuals. In addition, there was a positive relationship between the magnitude of increase in lactate and the duration of the angling event, implying that anglers can reduce stress by minimizing the duration of the fight. Fish sampled before and after a simulated angling treatment displayed clear increases in blood lactate, K þ , PCV and Hb, providing some of the first data on how individual A. vulpes respond to angling stress. In summary, this study revealed that techniques are now available for conducting field physiological studies on A. vulpes and possibly other species in remote locales, and that haematological and biochemical indicators of physiological disturbance vary with the intensity of the angling event.
ABSTRACT1. Recreational power boating is growing in popularity in North America. This activity is known to have lethal and sub-lethal effects on aquatic wildlife and freshwater turtles may be particularly sensitive to this activity.2. This study reports on patterns of traumatic injuries inflicted by powerboat propellers to northern map turtles (Graptemys geographica) from two sites differing in boat traffic intensity in Ontario, Canada.3. The relative vulnerability of turtles was assessed, in light of seasonal patterns in boat traffic, as a function of sex-and age-specific movement patterns, habitat use, and basking behaviour obtained by radio-telemetry. Population viability analyses (PVA) were also conducted to evaluate the potential demographic consequences of mortality induced by powerboats.4. The prevalence of propeller injuries was two to nine times higher in adult females than in adult males and juvenile females. Patterns of movement, habitat use, and aquatic basking indicated that adult females are more exposed to collisions with boats. PVA showed that boat-induced mortality in adult females could lead to rapid population extinction if the risk of mortality when hit by a boat is greater than 10%.5. The results of this study showed that recreational power boating is a serious threat to northern map turtles, even under moderate boat traffic. The need to adopt measures restricting boat traffic in areas important to turtles is discussed.
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