LUTZ and DUNBAR-COOPER: BLOOD CHEMISTRY OF LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE 



It is too short a time lapse for an erythropoesis 

 response particularly as sea turtle red cells can have 

 life spans of 600-800 d (Altman and Brace 1962); but 

 it is possible that the loggerhead sea turtle has a con- 

 siderable ability to store and release blood cells on 

 demand. 



fall (Table 1), but the individual range, 102.7-131.2 

 mM, was much narrower than that found for sodi- 

 um. The narrow excursion suggests that chloride is 

 under comparatively tight control. The population 

 average, 107.2 ± 18.80 mM(n = 86) is very similar 

 to that reported by Dessauer (1970) (110 mM). 



Sodium 



Plasma sodium increased as the year advanced 

 with minimal values found in February of each year 

 followed by a gradual rise to maximums in late sum- 

 mer and early fall (Table 1). However, the range of 

 values is very wide (Table 1); the lowest for an in- 

 dividual was 105.5 mM, the highest 173.0 mM. The 

 mean sodium concentration for the whole popula- 

 tion was 145.03 ± 13.80 mM (n = 82). 



Chloride 



Like sodium the highest values were found in the 



Potassium 



The field data showed little change in the absolute 

 potassium levels (Table 1). The population mean 3.82 

 ± 0.764 mM (n = 70) is considerably lower than that 

 found for salt water adapted Malaclemys (8.8 mM, 

 Dunson 1970). Minimal values were found in early 

 spring (February) and a gradual rise was seen as 

 summer advanced. 



Calcium 



Calcium values ranged quite widely over the sam- 

 pling period and the results are fairly scattered and 



ship channel, December 1979 -August 1982. Unless otherwise stated 

 from January 1980 group (* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01). 



units are m/W. Mean + SD, number 



39 



