Effects of Salinity on Hatchling Diamond-Backed Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Growth, Behavior, and Stress Physiology

Ashley, Elizabeth A.; Davis, Andrew K.; Terrell, Vanessa K.; Lake, Connor; Carden, Cady; Head, Lauren M.; Choe, Rebacca; Maerz, John C.

doi:10.1655/herpetologica-d-20-00028.1

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…We show that individuals exposed to a high salinity treatment express a greater N:L ratio, driven by a decrease in the proportion of lymphocytes and an increase in the proportion of neutrophils. This process has already been highlighted as a response to high salinity, in larval amphibians ( Burraco and Gomez-Mestre, 2016 ) and terrapin ( Ashley et al, 2021 ). Although we did not assayed glucocorticoids in the current study, it is noteworthy that such response may be a corticosterone-driven stress response, even if corticosterone and N:L ratio are not always correlated and cannot be used interchangeably as indicators of stress ( Müller et al, 2011 ; Davis and Maney, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

From the Field to the Lab: Physiological and Behavioural Consequences of Environmental Salinity in a Coastal Frog

et al. 2022

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Environmental salinization is recognized as a global threat affecting biodiversity, particularly in coastal ecosystems (affected by sea level rise and increased frequency and severity of storms), and the consequent osmoregulatory challenges can negatively affect wildlife. In order to assess whether coastal species can respond to changes in environmental salinity, it remains essential to investigate the consequences of exposure to salinity in an environmentally-relevant context. In this study, we assessed the consequences of exposure to environmental salinity in coastal frogs (Pelophylax sp., N = 156) both in the field and experimentally, using a comprehensive combination of markers of physiology, behaviour and ecology. Exposure to salinity in the field negatively affected physiological parameters (osmolality, monocytes and eosinophils counts), as well as body condition and locomotor performance, and influenced size- and sex-specific habitat selection. Further, we demonstrated in a controlled experiment that short-term exposure to salinity strongly affected physiological parameters (salt influxes, water effluxes, immunity-related stress markers) and locomotor performance. Most of these effects were transient (water and salt fluxes, locomotor performance) once optimal conditions resumed (i.e., freshwater). Taken together, our results highlight the need to investigate whether exposure to environmental salinity can ultimately affect individual fitness and population persistence across taxa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

From the Field to the Lab: Physiological and Behavioural Consequences of Environmental Salinity in a Coastal Frog

et al. 2022

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“…The HLRs were similar between sexes (Mann-Whitney P = 0.09) and were not correlated to the weight of the animals (rs = -0.31834, P (2-tailed) = 0.13877), suggesting an individual difference in response to stress. However, HLR seems to be a better marker of chronic stress, so its increase could be better explained by husbandry practices and not by a single capture and phlebotomy event (Ashley et al ., 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hematologic and Biochemical Reference Intervals of a Single Population of Captive Burmese Roofed Turtles (Batagur trivittata)

Douay

Yeo²,

Oh³

et al. 2023

Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery

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The Burmese roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata), endemic to Myanmar, is a critically endangered species. Little is known about their physiology and health. Therefore, establishing physiological reference intervals is essential for the implementation of conservation plans. This study establishes hematology and biochemistry reference intervals of a group of 23 captive Burmese roofed turtles. The animals were sampled during a four-month period, outside the breeding season. Most blood values did not differ significantly based on animal sex. However in females, lymphocyte count, and concentrations of glucose and calcium were relatively higher, and potassium lower compared to that of males. Better understanding of blood analytes will help strengthen ex-situ management and healthcare protocols, as well as improve ongoing conservation efforts for this important species.

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“…The salinity of the river ranges from 6.4 ppt in the mouth of the bay to 0 ppt in western-central New Jersey [28]. Diamondback terrapins thrive best in salinity levels between 5 ppt and 10 ppt, where they can maintain proper hydration for growth and metabolic function [29]. The energetic cost required to live under freshwater conditions may result in a smaller body mass but has not been shown to adversely affect other aspects of terrapin health [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating Changing Marshland Habitat and Conservation Potential for Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in New Jersey under Climate Change

Ganter,

Christman

2023

Land

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The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), a brackish water turtle species native to the eastern United States, is under “special concern” in the state of New Jersey, due to decreasing habitat from development and changing climatic conditions. Diamondback terrapins reside in saline marshes and coastal wetlands and nest in sandy substrate, primarily beaches and dunes, in June and July. New Jersey is vulnerable to sea level rise, leaving diamondback terrapin habitats and nesting areas at risk of inundation under future climate scenarios, and, as the most densely populated state, subject to continual development pressures on potentially conservable land. Changing sea levels and climatic conditions will cause accretion and migration of marshes into open grassy land, yielding new potential terrapin habitats, though changing temperatures could affect the availability of male-producing nesting sites and impact potential nesting patterns. This study spatially modeled lost, gained, and changed habitat and nesting areas under sea level rise scenarios for 2050 and 2100 in New Jersey and quantified these by municipality to offer insights into potential conservable land that may mitigate these changes for the vulnerable species. The results indicate an overall decrease in potential habitat coupled with a decrease in both overall and male-producing nesting ranges.

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Effects of Salinity on Hatchling Diamond-Backed Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Growth, Behavior, and Stress Physiology

Cited by 8 publications

References 65 publications

From the Field to the Lab: Physiological and Behavioural Consequences of Environmental Salinity in a Coastal Frog

From the Field to the Lab: Physiological and Behavioural Consequences of Environmental Salinity in a Coastal Frog

Hematologic and Biochemical Reference Intervals of a Single Population of Captive Burmese Roofed Turtles (Batagur trivittata)

Estimating Changing Marshland Habitat and Conservation Potential for Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in New Jersey under Climate Change

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