research studies » current studies
In 2008, Morris Animal Foundation will fund nearly 200 new and continuing studies for dogs, cats, horses, llamas/alpacas, and wildlife as well as more than 40 veterinary student projects.
We also have numerous studies nearing completion. You can search our current study database by species and/or disease to learn more about the studies we are funding in the areas you care most about. The results will also show you whether a study is available for sponsorship.
Category
D07ZO-608: Comparison of Plasma Amino Acids and Fatty Acids in Captive and Wild Populations of Green Sea Turtles, Chelonia mydas
principal investigator: Elijah Rooney, Veterinary Student Scholar, University of Florida
needs sponsorship
Year: 1 of 1. $3,000
Ill and injured sea turtles found on Florida's beaches are often rescued and brought into wildlife hospitals. Turtles heal slowly and good nutrition is important for their recovery. While protein and fat blood tests are used to check nutritional health in dogs and cats, these tests can't be used for sea turtles because normal levels are not yet known. This project will record normal blood values of protein and fat in healthy wild green sea turtles whose diet would normally includes plants and compare the values to those of hospitalized green sea turtles, which are fed mostly fish. This research will help sea turtle caretakers understand how the nutritional needs of green sea turtles differ from those of other sea turtles. The caretakers can then change the hospital diets to match the wild diets and thereby improve the health and speed the recovery of these amazing animals.
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