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Title: Kogia heart dissection manual.
Creator: Hensley, George, Bossart, Gregory D., Ewing, Ruth Y., Varela, Rene A., Murdoch, M. Elizabeth, Heym, Kathy, Kroell, Kenny, Howells, Elisabeth M., Hensley, Linda, McCulloch, Stephen D.
Date Issued: 2005-10
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3359272
Subject Headings: Dissection--Methods--Laboratory manuals, Kogia, Pygmy sperm whale, Heart--Dissection
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Model-based evaluation of pulsed lasers for an underwater laser line scan imager.
Creator: Dalgleish, Fraser R., Caimi, F. M., Mazel, C. H., Glynn, J. M., Chiang, K., Giddings, T. E., Shirron, J. J.
Date Issued: 2006
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3340786
Subject Headings: Lasers, Underwater imaging systems
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: NOAA CIOERT cruise report: Survey of the pulley ridge mesophotic reef ecosystem.
Creator: Reed, John K., Farrington, Stephanie, Pomponi, Shirley A., Hanisak, M. Dennis, Voss, Joshua
Date Issued: 2012-02-15
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360202
Subject Headings: Ocean exploration, Oceanography--Research, Corals Ecology, Deep sea corals
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Experimental validation of a laser pulse time-history model.
Creator: Dalgleish, Fraser R., Caimi, F. M., Yueting, W., Britton, W. B., Shirron, J. J., Giddings, T. E., Mazel, C. H., Glynn, J. M., Towle, J. P.
Date Issued: 2008
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3340787
Subject Headings: Imaging systems, Lasers, Small-angle scattering, Monte Carlo method
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Well-Kept Treasure at Depth: Precious Red Coral Rediscovered in Atlantic Deep Coral Gardens (SW Portugal) after 300 Years.
Creator: Boavida, Joana, Paulo, Diogo, Aurelle, Didier, Arnaud-Haond, Sophie, Marschal, Christian, Reed, John K., Gonçalves, Jorge M. S., Serrao, Ester A., Pronzato, Roberto
Abstract/Description: Background The highly valuable red coral Corallium rubrum is listed in several Mediterranean Conventions for species protection and management since the 1980s. Yet, the lack of data about its Atlantic distribution has hindered its protection there. This culminated in the recent discovery of poaching activities harvesting tens of kg of coral per day from deep rocky reefs off SW Portugal. Red coral was irregularly exploited in Portugal between the 1200s and 1700s, until the fishery collapsed....
Show moreBackground The highly valuable red coral Corallium rubrum is listed in several Mediterranean Conventions for species protection and management since the 1980s. Yet, the lack of data about its Atlantic distribution has hindered its protection there. This culminated in the recent discovery of poaching activities harvesting tens of kg of coral per day from deep rocky reefs off SW Portugal. Red coral was irregularly exploited in Portugal between the 1200s and 1700s, until the fishery collapsed. Its occurrence has not been reported for the last 300 years. Results Here we provide the first description of an Atlantic red coral assemblage, recently rediscovered dwelling at 60–100 m depth in southern Portugal.We report a very slow growth rate (0.23 mm year-1), comparable to Mediterranean specimens. In comparison with most of the Mediterranean reports, the population reaches much larger sizes, estimated to be over one century old, and has a more complex coral branch architecture that promotes a rich assemblage of associated species, with boreal and Mediterranean affinities. Atlantic red coral is genetically distinct, yet mitochondrial analyses suggest that red corals from the Atlantic may have introgressed the Mediterranean ones after migration via the Algeria current. Our underwater surveys, using advanced mixed-gas diving, retrieved lost fishing gear in all coral sites. Besides illegal harvesting, the use and loss of fishing gears, particularly nets, by local fisheries are likely sources of direct impacts on these benthic assemblages. Conclusions We extended the knowledge on the distribution of C. rubrum in the Atlantic, discovered its genetic distinctiveness, and reveal a rich deep-dwelling fauna associated to these coral assemblages. These findings support a barrier role of the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition zone, but reveal also hints of connectivity along its southern margin. The results highlight the genetic and demographic uniqueness of red coral populations from SW Iberia. However, we also report threats to these vulnerable populations by direct and indirect fishing activities and argue that its protection from any mechanically destructive activities is urgent as a precautionary approach. This study advances our understanding of phylogeographic barriers and range edge genetic diversity, and serves as a baseline against which to monitor future human and environmental disturbances to Atlantic C. rubrum.
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Date Issued: 2016-01-22
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000048
Format: Citation

Title: Trace element bioaccumulation, tissue distribution, and elimination in odontocetes stranded in Florida and Georgia, USA over a 15-year period (2007–2021).
Creator: Annie Page, Clara Hay, Wendy Marks, Baylin Bennett, Matthew O. Gribble, Wendy Noke Durden, Megan Stolen, Teresa Jablonski, Nadia Gordon, Trip Kolkmeyer, Mingshun Jiang, Nicole Pegg, Hunter Brown, Steve Burton
Abstract/Description: Odontocetes obtain nutrients including essential elements through their diet and are exposed to heavy metal contaminants via ingestion of contaminated prey. We evaluated the prevalence, concentration, and tissue distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements, including heavy metal toxicants, in tissue (blubber, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, skin) and fecal samples collected from 90 odontocetes, representing nine species, that stranded in Georgia and Florida, USA during 2007–2021...
Show moreOdontocetes obtain nutrients including essential elements through their diet and are exposed to heavy metal contaminants via ingestion of contaminated prey. We evaluated the prevalence, concentration, and tissue distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements, including heavy metal toxicants, in tissue (blubber, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, skin) and fecal samples collected from 90 odontocetes, representing nine species, that stranded in Georgia and Florida, USA during 2007–2021. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of seven essential (cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) and five non-essential (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium) elemental analytes using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) had the highest median concentrations of mercury, cadmium, and lead, while dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) had the lowest. Adult pygmy and dwarf sperm whales that stranded in 2019–2021 had higher concentrations of arsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese, selenium, thallium, and zinc compared to those that stranded in 2010–2018, suggesting an increasing risk of exposure over time. The highest concentrations of many elements (e.g., cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, thallium, zinc) were in fecal samples, illustrating the usefulness of this noninvasively collected sample. Aside from fecal samples, hepatic tissues had the highest concentrations of iron, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, and selenium in most species; renal tissues had the highest concentrations of cadmium; skin had the highest concentrations of zinc; and copper, arsenic, and lead concentrations were primarily distributed among the liver and kidneys. Phylogenetic differences in patterns of trace element concentrations likely reflect species-specific differences in diet, trophic level, and feeding strategies, while heterogeneous distributions of elemental analytes among different organ types reflect differences in elemental biotransformation, elimination, and storage. This study illustrates the importance of monitoring toxic contaminants in stranded odontocetes, which serve as important sentinels of environmental contamination, and whose health may be linked to human health.
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Date Issued: 2024
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000546
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Green Turtle Fibropapillomatosis: Tumor Morphology and Growth Rate in a Rehabilitation Setting.
Creator: Costanza Manes, Richard M. Herren, Annie Page, Faith D. Dunlap, Christopher A. Skibicki, Devon R. Rollinson Ramia, Jessica A. Farrell, Ilaria Capua, Raymond R. Carthy, David J. Duffy
Abstract/Description: Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease most often found in green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Afflicted turtles are burdened with potentially debilitating tumors concentrated externally on the soft tissues, plastron, and eyes and internally on the lungs, kidneys, and the heart. Clinical signs occur at various levels, ranging from mild disease to severe debilitation. Tumors can both progress and regress in affected turtles, with outcomes ranging from death due to the disease to complete...
Show moreFibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease most often found in green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Afflicted turtles are burdened with potentially debilitating tumors concentrated externally on the soft tissues, plastron, and eyes and internally on the lungs, kidneys, and the heart. Clinical signs occur at various levels, ranging from mild disease to severe debilitation. Tumors can both progress and regress in affected turtles, with outcomes ranging from death due to the disease to complete regression. Since its official description in the scientific literature in 1938, tumor growth rates have been rarely documented. In addition, FP tumors come in two very different morphologies; yet, to our knowledge, there have been no quantified differences in growth rates between tumor types. FP tumors are often rugose in texture, with a polypoid to papillomatous morphology, and may or may not be pedunculated. In other cases, tumors are smooth, with a skin-like surface texture and little to no papillose structures. In our study, we assessed growth-rate differences between rugose and smooth tumor morphologies in a rehabilitation setting. We measured average biweekly tumor growth over time in green turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital in St. Augustine, Florida, and compared growth between rugose and smooth tumors. Our results demonstrate that both rugose and smooth tumors follow a similar active growth progression pattern, but rugose tumors grew at significantly faster rates (p = 0.013) than smooth ones. We also documented regression across several examined tumors, ranging from 􀀀0.19% up to 􀀀10.8% average biweekly negative growth. Our study offers a first-ever assessment of differential growth between tumor morphologies and an additional diagnostic feature that may lead to a more comprehensive understanding and treatment of the disease. We support the importance of tumor morphological categorization (rugose versus smooth) being documented in future FP hospital and field-based health assessments.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000548
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Molecular Assessment of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 Infection in Tumor-Free Green (Chelonia mydas) and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles in North Carolina, USA, 2015–2019.
Creator: Annie Page-Karjian, Maria E. Serrano, Jeffrey Cartzendafner, Ashley Morgan, Branson W. Ritchie, Christopher R. Gregory, Joanne Braun McNeill, Justin R. Perrault, Emily F. Christiansen, Craig A. Harms
Abstract/Description: Fibropapillomatosis is a debilitating tumor disease of sea turtles that is sometimes fatal. This disease is a key concern for sea turtle rehabilitation facilities due to its infectious nature, as it is associated with a virus called chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5. This is the first study to analyze antibodies to this virus in loggerhead sea turtles and represents the most complete dataset on viral detection in sea turtles encountered in the more northern latitudes of their habitat in the western...
Show moreFibropapillomatosis is a debilitating tumor disease of sea turtles that is sometimes fatal. This disease is a key concern for sea turtle rehabilitation facilities due to its infectious nature, as it is associated with a virus called chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5. This is the first study to analyze antibodies to this virus in loggerhead sea turtles and represents the most complete dataset on viral detection in sea turtles encountered in the more northern latitudes of their habitat in the western Atlantic.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000556
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Comprehensive health assessment of green turtles Chelonia mydas nesting in southeastern Florida, USA.
Creator: Annie Page-Karjian, Ryan Chabot, Nicole I. Stacy, Ashley S. Morgan, Roldán A. Valverde, Sydney Stewart, Christina M. Coppenrath, Charles A. Manire, Lawrence H. Herbst, Christopher R. Gregory, Branson W. Ritchie, Justin R. Perrault
Abstract/Description: Important indicators of population health needed for large-scale sea turtle population recovery efforts include demographics, disease and mortality trends, condition indices, and baseline blood data. With this comprehensive health assessment of adult female green sea turtles Chelonia mydas nesting on Juno Beach, Florida, USA, we (1) established baseline health indices; (2) identified individuals with evidence of infection by chelonid alphaherpes viruses 5 and 6 (ChHV5, ChHV6), which are...
Show moreImportant indicators of population health needed for large-scale sea turtle population recovery efforts include demographics, disease and mortality trends, condition indices, and baseline blood data. With this comprehensive health assessment of adult female green sea turtles Chelonia mydas nesting on Juno Beach, Florida, USA, we (1) established baseline health indices; (2) identified individuals with evidence of infection by chelonid alphaherpes viruses 5 and 6 (ChHV5, ChHV6), which are implicated in fibropapillomatosis and respiratory and skin disease, respectively; and (3) compared measured health indices between turtles that did versus those that did not test positive for ChHV5 and/or ChHV6. All 60 turtles included in the study were in good body condition with no external fibropapillomatosis tumors. Hematological and biochemical reference intervals were established. Via quantitative PCR (qPCR), 5/60 turtles (8%) tested positive for ChHV5, and all turtles were negative for ChHV6. Of 41 turtles tested for antibodies to ChHV5 and ChHV6, 29% and 15% tested positive, respectively, and 10% tested positive for antibodies to both viruses. Notably, there were no statistically significant differences between health variables for nesting turtles that tested positive for ChHV5 DNA versus those that tested negative; and also no differences between turtles that tested positive for ChHV5 or ChHV6 antibodies and those that did not. This suggests that these viruses are enzootically stable in Florida’s adult green turtles. This study provides a health profile of nesting green turtles in southeastern Florida applicable to temporal and spatial investigations of this and other populations.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000559
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Red tide and marine mammal mortalities.
Creator: Flewelling, L. J., Naar, Jerome, Abbott, J. P., Baden, Daniel G., Barros, N. B., Bossart, Gregory D., Bottein, M-Y. D., Hammond, Daniel G., Haubold, E. M., Heil, Cynthia A., Henry, M. S., Jacocks, H. M., Leighfield, T. A., Pierce, Richard H., Pitchford, T. D., Rommel, Sentiel A., Scott, P. S., Steidinger, K. A., Truby, E. W., Van Dolah, F. M., Landsberg, J. H., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 2005
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3183799
Subject Headings: Marine toxins, Dinoflagellate blooms, Red tide, Marine mammals--Mortality--United States
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Final cruise report: Submersible and scuba collections around little Bahama Bank, Bahama Islands.
Creator: Reed, John K., Wright, Amy E., Willoughby, Robin, Janda, Kathleen E., Pitts, Tara P., Robertson, Lynn, Scarpa, Sandra, McElroy, Melanie
Date Issued: 1997-01-23
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3359256
Subject Headings: Biomedical research, Biodiversity--Research, Porifera, Gorgonacea, Bahamas
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A cembranolide diterpene farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor from the marine soft coral Lobophytum cristagalli.
Creator: Coval, S. J., Patton, R. W., Petrin, J. M., James, L., Rothofsky, M. L., Lin, S. L., Patel, Mahesh, Reed, John K., McPhail, A. T., Bishop, W. R.
Date Issued: 1996
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3331913
Subject Headings: Corals, Alcyoniidae, Ras proteins, Diterpenes, Antineoplastic agents
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Submersible and scuba collections in the coastal waters of the Bahama Islands and Florida's oculina coral banks: Biomedical and biodiversity research of the benthic communities with emphasis on porifera and gorgonacea.
Creator: Pomponi, Shirley A., Reed, John K., Wright, Amy E., Janda, Kathleen E., Willoughby, Robin, Sennett, Susan H., Kelly-Borges, M., McInerney, James O., Adams, Christi L., Kelly-Borges, Klaus, Myles, David
Date Issued: 1997-01-23
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3359258
Subject Headings: Biomedical research, Sponges--Research, Biodiversity--Research, Gorgonacea, Benthos
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Characterization of Mesophotic Coral/Sponge Habitats and Fish Assemblages in the Regions of Pulley Ridge and Tortugas from ROV Dives during R/V Walton Smith Cruises of 2012 to 2015.
Creator: Reed, John K., Farrington, Stephanie, David, Andrew, Harter, Stacey, Moe, Heather, Horn, Lance, Taylor, Glenn, White, Jason, Voss, Joshua, Hanisak, M. Dennis, Diaz, Maria Cristina, Pomponi, Shirley A.
Abstract/Description: This report summarizes the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys during four cruises from 2012 to 2015 which characterizes the mesophotic coral reef ecosystems at Pulley Ridge and Tortugas. This research is part of a grant funded by the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science award NA11NOS4780045: “Connectivity of the Pulley Ridge - South Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem”. The University of Miami ship R/V Walton Smith was used along with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington ...
Show moreThis report summarizes the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys during four cruises from 2012 to 2015 which characterizes the mesophotic coral reef ecosystems at Pulley Ridge and Tortugas. This research is part of a grant funded by the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science award NA11NOS4780045: “Connectivity of the Pulley Ridge - South Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem”. The University of Miami ship R/V Walton Smith was used along with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) Super Phantom ROV and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) Mohawk ROV. The cruises were a collaboration of the University of Miami, HBOI-CIOERT, NOAA Fisheries, and the UNCW-CIOERT Undersea Vehicles Program.
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Date Issued: 2017-04-26
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000227
Format: Citation

Title: Distribution of Hard-Bottom Habitats on the Continental Shelf off the Northern and Central East Coast of Florida.
Creator: Perkins, T. H., Norris, H. A., Wilder, D. T., Kaiser, S. D., Camp, D. K., Matheson, Jr., R. E., Sargent, F. J., Colby, M. M., Lyons, W. G., Gilmore, Jr., R. G., Reed, J. K., Zarillo, G. A., Connell, K., Fillingfin, M., Idris, F. M.
Abstract/Description: Marine fisheries scientists, user groups, and resource managers in the southeastern Atlantic states have determined that there is need for accurate information on the location and extent of hard-bottom habitat, which is of importance to the maintenance of reef-fish stocks. Reef fish have declined to such low levels that reproductive stocks are often inadequate to maintain current populations, and some fisheries stocks may be approaching a state of collapse. In order to meet this need for...
Show moreMarine fisheries scientists, user groups, and resource managers in the southeastern Atlantic states have determined that there is need for accurate information on the location and extent of hard-bottom habitat, which is of importance to the maintenance of reef-fish stocks. Reef fish have declined to such low levels that reproductive stocks are often inadequate to maintain current populations, and some fisheries stocks may be approaching a state of collapse. In order to meet this need for information, a Bottom Mapping Work Group was formed in 1985 by the SEAMAP management committee. The work group developed a plan for establishing a bottom-mapping database using historical information obtained from surveys of the study area, and a study was subsequently initiated to describe and characterize hard-bottom resources in the South Atlantic Bight. . The initial segment of the study was conducted by scientists in South Carolina and Georgia (Van Dolah et al., 1994), and the study was continued by scientists in North Carolina (Moser et al., 1995). A total of 23,960 records with information on location and type of bottom were compiled during the first two segments of the study. The SEAMAP Bottom-Mapping Study was initiated by Florida in 1994. The Florida study group has 1) expanded the list of hard-bottom-obligate fishes to 264 taxa, 2) developed a protocol for using specimen-collection-based information to acquire evidence of bottom type, and 3) developed a protocol for incorporating areal data into the database so that the area-data records are equivalent to those of the point and line-segment records incorporated into the database during the first two segments of the study. The Florida group has incorporated an additional 20,787 records from 37 sources with determinations of bottom type into the database. Of these records, 900 are derived from 9 areal databases, primarily from surveys that used side-scan sonar, and an additional secondary data table (Appendix 4) that summarizes those records has been added to the database. Approximately 37% of the grid cells in the Florida study area contain some data on bottom type, and the database now totals 44,747 records.
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Date Issued: 1997
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000470
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Evolutionary Comparisons of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) Genomes from Fibropapillomatosis-Afflicted Green (Chelonia mydas), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) Sea Turtles.
Creator: Liam Whitmore, Kelsey Yetsko, Jessica A. Farrell, Annie Page-Karjian, Whitney Daniel, Donna J. Shaver, Hilary R. Frandsen, Jennifer Shelby Walker, Whitney Crowder, Caitlin Bovery, Devon Rollinson Ramia, Brooke Burkhalter, Elizabeth Ryan, David J. Duffy
Abstract/Description: The spreading global sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) epizootic is threatening some of Earth’s ancient reptiles, adding to the plethora of threats faced by these keystone species. Understanding this neoplastic disease and its likely aetiological pathogen, chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), is crucial to understand how the disease impacts sea turtle populations and species and the future trajectory of disease incidence. We generated 20 ChHV5 genomes, from three sea turtle species, to...
Show moreThe spreading global sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) epizootic is threatening some of Earth’s ancient reptiles, adding to the plethora of threats faced by these keystone species. Understanding this neoplastic disease and its likely aetiological pathogen, chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), is crucial to understand how the disease impacts sea turtle populations and species and the future trajectory of disease incidence. We generated 20 ChHV5 genomes, from three sea turtle species, to better understand the viral variant diversity and gene evolution of this oncogenic virus. We revealed previously underappreciated genetic diversity within this virus (with an average of 2035 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 1.54% of the ChHV5 genome) and identified genes under the strongest evolutionary pressure. Furthermore, we investigated the phylogeny of ChHV5 at both genome and gene level, confirming the propensity of the virus to be interspecific, with related variants able to infect multiple sea turtle species. Finally, we revealed unexpected intra-host diversity, with up to 0.15% of the viral genome varying between ChHV5 genomes isolated from different tumours concurrently arising within the same individual. These findings offer important insights into ChHV5 biology and provide genomic resources for this oncogenic virus.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000552
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Evaluating prevalence of external injuries on nesting loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta in southeastern Florida, USA.
Creator: Aleah Ataman, Alison M. Gainsbury, Charles A. Manire, Sarah L. Hoffmann, Annie Page-Karjian, Sarah E. Hirsch, Maximilian M. R. Polyak, Deby L. Cassill, Derek M. Aoki, Katelyn M. Fraser, Skyler Klingshirn, Jamie A. Stoll, Justin R. Perrault
Abstract/Description: Sea turtles face both anthropogenic and natural threats including boat strikes, fisheries, pollution, and predator attacks. Injuries from anthropogenic sources are more common than naturally caused injuries. The goal of this study was to determine prevalence and cause (e.g. boat strike, entanglement, hook, shark bite) of injuries on nesting loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta on Juno and Jupiter beaches, Florida, USA. During the 2019 and 2020 nesting seasons, 450 loggerhead females were...
Show moreSea turtles face both anthropogenic and natural threats including boat strikes, fisheries, pollution, and predator attacks. Injuries from anthropogenic sources are more common than naturally caused injuries. The goal of this study was to determine prevalence and cause (e.g. boat strike, entanglement, hook, shark bite) of injuries on nesting loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta on Juno and Jupiter beaches, Florida, USA. During the 2019 and 2020 nesting seasons, 450 loggerhead females were examined for external injuries. Injuries were categorized by anatomic location, condition, and cause. We found that 24% of loggerheads had at least 1 injury. Of the 111 injuries found on 107 nesting females, 88% were healed, 9% were partially healed with some scarred tissue, and 3% were fresh injuries. Most injuries (55%) were lateral injuries on the carapace or appendages. We were able to attribute 60 injuries to a specific cause. Boat strikes accounted for 75% of the 60 injuries, shark bites accounted for 15%, fishing hooks accounted for 7%, and entanglements accounted for the remaining 3%. This study provides new insight into the prevalence of anthropogenic injuries relative to natural injuries in loggerhead sea turtles nesting in the most densely nested beach in the Western Hemisphere and can be used to improve conservation management plans through implementation of fishing and/or boating restrictions in the nesting and foraging areas most commonly frequented by sea turtles.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000551
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Insights on Immune Function in Free-Ranging Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) with and without Fibropapillomatosis.
Creator: Justin R. Perrault, Milton Levin, Cody R. Mott, Caitlin M. Bovery, Michael J. Bresette, Ryan M. Chabot, Christopher R. Gregory, Jeffrey R. Guertin, Sarah E. Hirsch, Branson W. Ritchie, Steven T. Weege, Ryan C. Welsh, Blair E. Witherington, Annie Page-Karjian
Abstract/Description: Chelonid alphaherpesviruses 5 and 6 (ChHV5 and ChHV6) are viruses that affect wild sea turtle populations. ChHV5 is associated with the neoplastic disease fibropapillomatosis (FP), which affects green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in panzootic proportions. ChHV6 infection is associated with lung-eye-trachea disease (LETD), which has only been observed in maricultured sea turtles, although antibodies to ChHV6 have been detected in free-ranging turtles. To better understand herpesvirus prevalence...
Show moreChelonid alphaherpesviruses 5 and 6 (ChHV5 and ChHV6) are viruses that affect wild sea turtle populations. ChHV5 is associated with the neoplastic disease fibropapillomatosis (FP), which affects green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in panzootic proportions. ChHV6 infection is associated with lung-eye-trachea disease (LETD), which has only been observed in maricultured sea turtles, although antibodies to ChHV6 have been detected in free-ranging turtles. To better understand herpesvirus prevalence and host immunity in various green turtle foraging aggregations in Florida, USA, our objectives were to compare measures of innate and adaptive immune function in relation to (1) FP tumor presence and severity, and (2) ChHV5 and ChHV6 infection status. Free-ranging, juvenile green turtles (N = 45) were captured and examined for external FP tumors in Florida’s Big Bend, Indian River Lagoon, and LakeWorth Lagoon. Blood samples were collected upon capture and analyzed for ChHV5 and ChHV6 DNA, antibodies to ChHV5 and ChHV6, in vitro lymphocyte proliferation using a T-cell mitogen (concanavalin A), and natural killer cell activity. Despite an overall high FP prevalence (56%), ChHV5 DNA was only observed in one individual, whereas 20% of turtles tested positive for antibodies to ChHV5. ChHV6 DNA was not observed in any animals and only one turtle tested positive for ChHV6 antibodies. T-cell proliferation was not significantly related to FP presence, tumor burden, or ChHV5 seroprevalence; however, lymphocyte proliferation in response to concanavalin A was decreased in turtles with severe FP (N = 3). Lastly, green turtles with FP (N = 9) had significantly lower natural killer cell activity compared to FP-free turtles (N = 5). These results increase our understanding of immune system effects related to FP and provide evidence that immunosuppression occurs after the onset of FP disease.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000555
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Fibropapillomatosis and Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 Infection in Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii).
Creator: Annie Page-Karjian, Liam Whitmore, Brian A. Stacy, Justin R. Perrault, Jessica A. Farrell, Donna J. Shaver, J. Shelby Walker, Hilary R. Frandsen, Elina Rantonen, Craig A. Harms, Terry M. Norton, Charles Innis, Kelsey Yetsko, David J. Duffy
Abstract/Description: Fibropapillomatosis (FP), a debilitating, infectious neoplastic disease, is rarely reported in endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii). With this study, we describe FP and the associated chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in Kemp’s ridley turtles encountered in the United States during 2006–2020. Analysis of 22 case reports of Kemp’s ridley turtles with FP revealed that while the disease was mild in most cases, 54.5% were adult turtles, a reproductively valuable age class...
Show moreFibropapillomatosis (FP), a debilitating, infectious neoplastic disease, is rarely reported in endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii). With this study, we describe FP and the associated chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in Kemp’s ridley turtles encountered in the United States during 2006–2020. Analysis of 22 case reports of Kemp’s ridley turtles with FP revealed that while the disease was mild in most cases, 54.5% were adult turtles, a reproductively valuable age class whose survival is a priority for population recovery. Of 51 blood samples from tumor-free turtles and 12 tumor samples from turtles with FP, 7.8% and 91.7%, respectively, tested positive for ChHV5 DNA via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Viral genome shotgun sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of six tumor samples show that ChHV5 sequences in Kemp’s ridley turtles encountered in the Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic cluster with ChHV5 sequences identified in green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles from Hawaii, the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean. Results suggest an interspecific, spatiotemporal spread of FP among Kemp’s ridley turtles in regions where the disease is enzootic. Although FP is currently uncommon in this species, it remains a health concern due to its uncertain pathogenesis and potential relationship with habitat degradation.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000550
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Anthropogenic Contaminants and Histopathological Findings in Stranded Cetaceans in the Southeastern United States, 2012–2018.
Creator: Annie Page-Karjian, Catherine F. Lo, Branson Ritchie, Craig A. Harms, David S. Rotstein, Sushan Han, Sayed M. Hassan, Sayed M. Hassan, Andreas F. Lehner, John P. Buchweitz, Victoria G. Thayer, Jill M. Sullivan, Emily F. Christiansen, Justin R. Perrault
Abstract/Description: Anthropogenic contaminants in the marine environment often biodegrade slowly, bioaccumulate in organisms, and can have deleterious effects on wildlife immunity, health, reproduction, and development. In this study, we evaluated tissue toxicant concentrations and pathology data from 83 odontocetes that stranded in the southeastern United States during 2012–2018. Mass spectrometry was used to analyze blubber samples for five organic toxicants (atrazine, bisphenol-A, diethyl phthalates,...
Show moreAnthropogenic contaminants in the marine environment often biodegrade slowly, bioaccumulate in organisms, and can have deleterious effects on wildlife immunity, health, reproduction, and development. In this study, we evaluated tissue toxicant concentrations and pathology data from 83 odontocetes that stranded in the southeastern United States during 2012–2018. Mass spectrometry was used to analyze blubber samples for five organic toxicants (atrazine, bisphenol-A, diethyl phthalates, nonylphenol monoethoxylate [NPE], triclosan), and liver samples were analyzed for five non-essential elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium), six essential elements (cobalt, copper, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc) and one toxicant mixture class (Aroclor1268). Resultant data considerably improve upon the existing knowledge base regarding toxicant concentrations in stranded odontocetes. Toxicant and element concentrations varied based on animal demographic factors including species, sex, age, and location. Samples from bottlenose dolphins had significantly higher average concentrations of lead, manganese, mercury, selenium, thallium, and zinc, and lower average concentrations of NPE, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and iron than samples from pygmy sperm whales. In adult female bottlenose dolphins, average arsenic concentrations were significantly higher and iron concentrations were significantly lower than in adult males. Adult bottlenose dolphins had significantly higher average concentrations of lead, mercury, and selenium, and significantly lower average manganese concentrations compared to juveniles. Dolphins that stranded in Florida had significantly higher average concentrations of lead, mercury, and selenium, and lower concentrations of iron than dolphins that stranded in North Carolina. Histopathological data are presented for 72 animals, including microscopic evidence of Campula spp. and Sarcocystis spp. infections, and results of Morbillivirus and Brucella spp. molecular diagnostic testing. Sublethal cellular changes related to toxicant exposure in free-ranging odontocetes may lead to health declines and, in combination with other factors, may contribute to stranding.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000557
Format: Document (PDF)

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