Baseline Health Parameters of East Pacific Green Turtles at Southern California Foraging Grounds

Abstract

Urban coastal ecosystems are unique intersections of human development and biodiversity, and monitoring populations in these areas is critical to understanding ecosystem health and function. Three highly urbanized estuary systems, San Diego Bay, San Gabriel River, and Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (all in California), are the northernmost foraging habitats for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Eastern Pacific. Here, we report blood biochemistry and morphological parameters for these Southern California green sea turtle foraging aggregations to investigate the current health status of these animals and provide baseline values for future work. Morphometric and blood biochemistry parameters for green turtles captured in this study (n = 39) were clinically reasonable and were generally consistent with previously reported parameters for green turtles.