Journal article
Variation in selected blood biochemical markers in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from contrasting foraging habitats in Ecuador
PeerJ , Vol.14, pp.1-16
2026
PMCID: PMC13428539
PMID: 42542773
Abstract
Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans and are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic pressures in coastal aquatic habitats. The health impacts of anthropogenic pressures on green sea turtles remain unknown. This study evaluated biochemical differences between two neighboring Ecuadorian populations of Eastern Pacific green turtles to assess potential links between habitat use, diet, and physiological conditions and to discuss the causes of significant deviations in biochemical values. Blood samples were collected from 24 individuals and analyzed in situ using an iSTAT® (Abbott Point-Of-Care) portable analyzer. Turtles sampled off the Ecuadorian mainland in Puerto López Bay, a site characterized by intensive commercial and recreational fishing activity, where turtles have been observed feeding on fishery discards, exhibited significantly increased levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood glucose, and elevated total protein compared to turtles sampled in the protected Wreck Bay area of the Galápagos Islands, an area, where the turtles feed primarily on algae. Elevated biochemical values likely reflect altered dietary composition associated with anthropogenic food sources and increased protein intake. These findings highlight the influence of human-mediated foraging on green turtle physiology and provide information relevant to the management of green turtle health.
Details
- Title
- Variation in selected blood biochemical markers in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from contrasting foraging habitats in Ecuador
- Authors
- Grace Johnston - North Carolina State UniversityJuan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez - University of the Sunshine CoastDaniela Alarcón-Ruales - University of the Sunshine CoastFelipe Vallejo - Equilibrio AzulCristina Miranda - Equilibrio AzulAndrea Loyola - Parque Nacional Galápagos (Ecuador)Gregory A Lewbart - Universidad San Francisco de Quito
- Publication details
- PeerJ , Vol.14, pp.1-16
- Publisher
- PeerJ, Ltd.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.7717/peerj.21367
- ISSN
- 2167-8359
- PMID
- 42542773; PMC13428539
- Copyright note
- © 2026 Johnston et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
- Data Availability
- The following information was supplied regarding data availability: The raw data is available in the Supplemental File.
- Grant note
- The UK Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) (Ref. NE/V005448/1), which facilitated international collaboration as part of the Pacific Plastics: Science to Solutions (PPSS) project. The Plastic Science to Solutions (PPSS) program, led by the University of Exeter and funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council Grant NE/5003975/1. Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), WILDAID, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales (COCIBA), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), and the Galápagos Science Center (GSC).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991250407602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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