. A priority for sea turtle conservation is the identification of early biomarkers of environmental perturbation effects on the health of populations. The micronucleus (MN) assay is a noninvasive, sensitive, and economical in vivo assay for the determination of genotoxicity. It could help in ecotoxicological studies to determine if genotoxic chemicals are present in the environment and examine the chronic exposure of wildlife. The sample preparation protocol required to perform the MN assay in sea turtle peripheral blood is presented. The optimal times to fix (ethanol 80%) and stain (acridine orange) air-dried blood smears were evaluated. Acridine orange was used at a concentration of 0.01 g/100 ml in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). MN and nuclear bud (NBUD) frequencies were determined in 1000 erythrocytes of free-ranging green sea turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) by using the species-specific developed protocol. The number of nuclear abnormalities in immature green turtles that inhabited 2 feeding grounds in the Mexican Caribbean was 0–17 NBUDs/1000 erythrocytes, and only 1 MN/1000 erythrocytes was detected in a single sea turtle specimen. Green turtles from the touristic and urbanized site presented a larger frequency of nuclear abnormalities (50%) than the value observed in the reference group. This protocol generates optimal results in a simple manner, and it is specific to validate and determine the frequency of spontaneous micronucleated erythrocytes in sea turtle peripheral blood. The preliminary results suggest the potential utility of the MN assay as biomarker of genotoxicity in sea turtles.

Body condition index is used as a measure for an individual's condition, usually with reference to its nutritional status and the energy reserves. Reproductive success, survival, and thus, population dynamics, depend on body condition of the organisms. In this study, the seasonal and annual body condition factor ( a ) and the relative body condition index ( K rel ) were estimated from the length–weight relationship of green turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) collected in 3 coastal lagoons of Baja California Sur during 2005–2007. Seasonal and annual differences in a , and differences between study sites and physical appearance (healthy or injured) of K rel were analyzed. Juveniles were the predominant age class (< 77 cm straight carapace length). Green turtles from Punta Abreojos (PAO) had a lower K rel than individuals of Laguna San Ignacio at a given size. In Bahía Magdalena (BMA) and PAO injured green turtles had a smaller K rel than turtles classified as healthy at a given size. Additionally, the increase in K rel per cm of straight carapace length of injured green turtles from PAO was lower than that of healthy ones. Body condition factor, a , varied between years in turtles from PAO, being highest during 2006. An increasing tendency in a , from winter to summer, was observed in PAO and BMA. The periods when green turtles had the highest body condition factor a (summer, 2005 BMA, 2006 PAO) coincided with periods of highest serum concentrations of glucose, proteins, lipids, calcium, and uric acid; nevertheless, the relative body condition index was not correlated with those parameters. The relative body condition index resulted in a simple and sensible method that provided an overall trend of the data under a number of stress conditions, detecting differences also between injured and healthy individuals. The body condition factor, in conjunction with blood biochemistry parameters, proved to be a useful tool as biomarkers of the apparent physical and nutritional status of the green sea turtles.

The green sea turtle (also known locally as black turtle; Chelonia mydas ) is 1 of 5 species of sea turtles found along the coast of the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico, where several bays and lagoon systems provide an important growth and feeding habitat. We characterized blood biochemistry values of 67 green turtles captured at 2 mangrove estuaries along the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, from 2005 to 2007. Blood samples were collected from live turtles for biochemical analysis of 18 parameters and analyzed by physical state (healthy, injured), size classes, season, and geographic location. Green turtles showed differences in the variability of the biochemical parameters between the 2 sites. In Punta Abreojos, injured sea turtles had lower calcium (28%), potassium (28%), and inorganic phosphorus (34.5%) levels and higher cholinesterase activity (16%) compared to healthy turtles. Juvenile turtles collected in Bahía Magdalena had higher glucose levels (34%) than subadults. Levels of triglycerides, total proteins, and albumin correlated positively with size. During the summer and during the years 2005 (Bahía Magdalena, BMA) and 2006 (Punta Abreojos, PAO), individuals had significantly higher concentrations of lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides), glucose, uric acid, and protein. Differences in the habitat, food availability, and environmental conditions between BMA and PAO were reflected in the variability of the biochemical parameters when compared by different factors, such as physical state, size, and seasonality. This is the first report of blood biochemical values of green sea turtles in the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico. All serum chemistry values of green sea turtles were within published reference ranges of healthy sea turtle population.