Forage and migration habitat of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles in the central North Pacific Ocean

Satellite telemetry from 26 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and 10 olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles captured and released from pelagic longline fishing gear provided information on the turtles’ position and movement in the central North Pacific. These data together with environmental data from satellite remote sensing are used to describe the oceanic habitat used by these turtles. The results indicate that loggerheads travel westward, move seasonally north and south primarily through the region 28–40°N, and occupy sea surface temperatures (SST) of 15–25°C. Their dive depth distribution indicated that they spend 40% of their time at the surface and 90% of their time at depths <40 m. Loggerheads are found in association with fronts, eddies, and geostrophic currents. Specifically, the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF) and the southern edge of the Kuroshio Extension Current (KEC) appear to be important forage and migration habitats for loggerheads. In contrast, olive ridleys were found primarily south of loggerhead habitat in the region 8–31°N latitude, occupying warmer water with SSTs of 23–28°C. They have a deeper dive pattern than loggerheads, spending only 20% of their time at the surface and 60% shallower than 40 m. However, the three olive ridleys identified from genetics to be of western Pacific origin spent some time associated with major ocean currents, specifically the southern edge of the KEC, the North Equatorial Current (NEC), and the Equatorial Counter Current (ECC). These habitats were not used by any olive ridleys of eastern Pacific origin suggesting that olive ridleys from different populations may occupy different oceanic habitats.     

Land use surrounding wetlands influences urban populations of a freshwater turtle

1. Urbanization is one of the most influential land use changes globally and continues to affect wetland ecosystems and their biota. Freshwater turtles, which rely on both terrestrial and aquatic habitats to complete their life cycles, are one of the most endangered vertebrate groups, with approximately 60% of species threatened. Although habitat alteration caused by urbanization is recognized as one of the main threats to freshwater turtles, there is a paucity of studies quantifying the effects of terrestrial habitat change on turtle populations.
2. The aim of this study was to determine how terrestrial land use change, associated with urbanization, influences the viability of freshwater turtle populations. Thirty‐three wetlands were sampled for the southwestern snake‐necked turtle (Chelodina colliei Gray, 1856) (Chelidae) between October 2016 and February 2017 within a region of continuing urban intensification. Land use and habitat types were classified at the aquatic–terrestrial interface and within a 300‐m band around each wetland. Generalized linear mixed models were used to identify the land use variables that best explained the relative abundance of C. colliei.
3. Turtle abundance and population structure varied widely among wetlands. The percentage of residential land use, and the presence and accessibility of fringing native vegetation, was positively associated with the relative abundance of C. colliei. The association with residential land use may be an artefact of historical land use, whereas the association with native vegetation is probably because adjacent vegetation provides connectivity with suitable nesting sites, and thus facilitates increased recruitment.
4. This study shows how the modification of terrestrial habitat around wetlands may directly influence the population viability of freshwater turtles. Protection and restoration of native vegetation fringing urban wetlands is crucial to support the viability of remnant freshwater turtle populations.

     

Pelagic longlines: A threat to sea turtles in the Equatorial Eastern Atlantic

Pelagic longlines are widely known to interact with several species of sea turtles, and there is an increasing concern about the by-catch of turtles in commercial fisheries and its impact on their populations. However, information on sea turtle by-catch in the South Atlantic Ocean is scarce, and there are no quantitative by-catch data available on olive ridleys for the Equatorial Eastern Atlantic. In this paper we analyze data collected by observers on board an Uruguayan long-liner targeting swordfish in two areas in the Equatorial Eastern Atlantic: off the Gulf of Guinea and north of Saint Helenaa Island. Specimens of Lepidochelys olivacea and Dermochelys coriacea were hooked or entangled in 26 longline sets. All registered interactions with olive ridleys took place off the The Gulf of Guinea, with captures ranging from 1 to 3 specimens in a single set. The captured specimens, though not measured directly, appeared to be juveniles. In addition, the examination of the stomach contents of one female mako shark showed dermal scutes, vertebrae and the complete head of a sea turtle identified as L. olivacea, allowing us to estimate its curved carapace length. In contrast, adult specimens of D. coriacea were caught in the two fishing areas. The capture of 10 individuals in a single set was recorded. Due to the high rate of sea turtle by-catch observed off the The Gulf of Guinea (1.02 ind/1000 hooks) conservation programs in the area should take into consideration the possible existence of a developmental and feeding area in this zone. Accordingly, longline fisheries in this area should be monitored and mitigation measures put in place to avoid or minimize damage to the pelagic phase of African populations of sea turtles.     

地热温室养鳖水质改良的装置研究

根据地热温室养鳖的水质要求，研制了前置式和后置式2种型式的水质改良装置进行养殖水处理，使养殖水体经常保持在3mg/L以上的溶氧，氨、氮等有害物质的含量控制在允许范围之内，实现了除渣增氧、改良水质，促进鳖的快速生长。     

Spatiotemporal patterns of annual sea turtle nesting behaviors along an East Central Florida beach

The Florida coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach is one the most important nesting areas for loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Western Hemisphere and for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the United States. In this study, we quantified the spatial patterns of numerous loggerhead (N≈400,000) and green turtle (N≈14,000) and less numerous (N≈100) leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) beach ascents from 1989-1999 in terms of their autocorrelative properties along 40.5 km within this critical reproductive zone. Nesting and non-nesting emergence patterns of loggerhead and green turtles were non-random, favoring the southern half of the study area. Perhaps due to low numbers or differences in nesting behavior, leatherback nest distributions were not significantly different from random. Loggerhead and green turtle nest locations exhibited similar clinal patterns. They were positively autocorrelated at distances less than 10 km and negatively at distances greater than 30 km. These patterns were significantly correlated interannually.     

An immunohistochemical study of S-100 protein in the intestinal tract of Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

The present work describes the distribution of S-100 protein in the intestinal tract of a Chinese soft-shelled turtle specimen (Pelodiscus sinensis). S-100 protein positive cells were located in the intestinal tract, from the proximal small to distal large intestine. S-100 protein positive dendritic cells had irregular shape and were positive in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Most of them were located both lamina propria and submucosa in the small intestine, while few were found in the large intestine. S-100 protein, C-kit positive ICCs and Silver staining glial cells were predominantly observed in three locations: (1) in the interspace between the submucosa and circular muscle layer; (2) in the circular muscle layer; and (3) between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the intestine. Fewer were found in the large intestinal lamina propria and submucosa. Three types of positive cells (S-100 protein positive cells, C-kit positive ICCs and Silver staining glial cells) with 1–2 long or 2–3 short processes were distributed as lace-like or surrounding blood vessels in the different locations mentioned above. In the lamina propria, all the positive cells with irregular processes were connected with each other and formed a network. In the submucosa, all the positive cells were found surrounding the blood vessels.     

Market turtle mystery solved in Vietnam

Asian turtles are overharvested for food, medicinal purposes and pets, and most species are now at risk of extinction (‘Asian turtle crisis’). As a result of high levels of trade, some species of Asian turtles are known to science mostly or only from animals found in trade. The Vietnamese box turtle (Cuora picturata) was described in 1998 and is known only from markets. This species is likely to be highly threatened, and identifying the origin of this “market species” is imperative if it is to be conserved. We used evidence from phylogeny, biogeography and trade patterns to focus field searches for this species, and in July 2010–January 2011 found it in the wild at three localities on the Langbian Plateau of southern Vietnam. This discovery provides the first opportunity to conserve the Vietnamese box turtle, and provides hope for determining the wild origin of other rare Asian turtles that remain known only from commercial trade.     

中华鳖几种常见疾病病原的分离鉴定及药敏试验

从患“穿孔病”、“腐皮病”、“溶血性腹水病”等濒死鳖的肝、心血和腹水中分离到20株细菌，其中温和气单胞菌（Aeromonas sobria）5株，豚鼠气单胞菌（A.caviae）3株、凡隆气单胞菌（A.veronii）2株、奇异变形杆菌（Proteus mirabilis）2株、产碱假单胞菌（Pseudomonas alcaligene）2株、无色杆菌（Achro sp.）3株、不动杆菌（Acinetobacter sp.）2株、黄杆菌（Flavobacterium sp.）1株。人工感染试验证实，运动型气单胞菌的温和气单胞菌和豚鼠气单胞菌是其主要病原菌。药敏试验结果表明，分离菌株对新霉素、菌必治、丁胺卡那、庆大霉素、环丙沙星高度敏感。     

中华鳖胃黏膜和胃腺上皮细胞的超微结构

用透射电子显微镜观察15只健康中华鳖的胃黏膜上皮和腺上皮细胞的超微构造。结果显示，胃黏膜上皮为单层高柱状，细胞上部胞质中充满黏液性颗粒，其形状多样化；上皮中有少量淡染的亮细胞，其结构与周围细胞基本相同，只是数量有差异；上皮细胞之间具有明显的细胞连接。胃腺上皮细胞还未分化为独立的主细胞和盐酸细胞，但腺体细胞的结构同时具备两种细胞的特征，即既有发达的细胞内小管和丰富的线粒体，又有大量膜包分泌颗粒和粗面内质网。上述结果表明，中华鳖胃黏膜上皮具有分泌黏液的细胞结构：一种胃腺细胞可同时执行分泌盐酸和胃蛋白酶原的功能。     

自净式工厂化养鳖的初步研究

针对普通温室养鳖池水质恶化快的难题，对养鳖池进行了简单改造，将底砂改造为净化滤床，以增氧充气泵为水循环动力。并且对该鳖池的结构、波床的熟化、再生、净化能力、应用管理做了初步的研究。结果表明：这种养鳖池水使用时间是普通鳖池的3－10倍，且水质稳定，鳖生长良好。该种养鳖模式能够显著节省开支，提高经济效益。