Health status of Nazca Boobies (Sula Granti) on Daphne Major Island in the Galapagos determined by hematology, biochemistry, and physical examination

Emily K Tucker-Retter; Zoë Velsey-Gross; Diane Deresienski; Catalina Ulloa; Juan-Pablo Muñoz-Pérez; Alice Skehel; Ronald K Passingham; Jason Castaneda; Gregory A Lewbart; Carlos A Valle

doi:10.1638/2020-0136

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Health status of Nazca Boobies (Sula Granti) on Daphne Major Island in the Galapagos determined by hematology, biochemistry, and physical examination

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Health status of Nazca Boobies (Sula Granti) on Daphne Major Island in the Galapagos determined by hematology, biochemistry, and physical examination

Emily K Tucker-Retter, Zoë Velsey-Gross, Diane Deresienski, Catalina Ulloa, Juan-Pablo Muñoz-Pérez, Alice Skehel, Ronald K Passingham, Jason Castaneda, Gregory A Lewbart and Carlos A Valle

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, Vol.52(2), pp.671-679

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1638/2020-0136

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Abstract

Island species are particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbances and introduced pathogens. Conducting health assessments of wild populations in the Galápagos improves the ability of wildlife managers and veterinarians to detect deteriorations in health status. Seabirds in particular are useful species to monitor due to their colonial breeding and wide migration range. Nazca boobies (Sula granti) in a breeding colony at Daphne Major (n = 30) were given physical examinations, and blood samples were collected for hematology and biochemistry using an iSTAT Portable Clinical Analyzer. Female boobies had longer wing length than males, as well as lower blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and white blood cell counts. This could be attributed to sexual dimorphism or differences in foraging and mating strategies between the sexes. The time between capture and blood collection had a significant inverse relationship on plasma sodium, potassium, hemoglobin, anion gaps, and lymphocyte counts, suggesting that blood sampling in Nazca boobies should be done in less than 5 m to avoid the impacts of stress on hematological parameters. This is the first health assessment on the breeding colony of Nazca boobies at Daphne Major, and the results can inform future monitoring in this species as well as other sulids.

Details

Title: Health status of Nazca Boobies (Sula Granti) on Daphne Major Island in the Galapagos determined by hematology, biochemistry, and physical examination
Authors: Emily K Tucker-Retter (Author) - North Carolina State University
Zoë Velsey-Gross (Author) - North Carolina State University
Diane Deresienski (Author) - North Carolina State University
Catalina Ulloa (Author) - North Carolina State University
Juan-Pablo Muñoz-Pérez (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Alice Skehel (Author) - North Carolina State University
Ronald K Passingham (Author) - North Carolina State University
Jason Castaneda (Author) - North Carolina State University
Gregory A Lewbart (Author) - North Carolina State University
Carlos A Valle (Author) - North Carolina State University
Publication details: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, Vol.52(2), pp.671-679
Publisher: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
DOI: 10.1638/2020-0136
ISSN: 1937-2825
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99545806202621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Veterinary Sciences

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