MEDIA ALERT: DENVER/August 16, 2024 - Hormone disturbances were common in the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles exposed to oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. That’s the conclusion of a new study from Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers published in the journal Endangered Species Research.
“With nearly all sea turtle species threatened with extinction globally, research like this, which provides additional understanding about the short- and long-term impacts of anthropogenic (human-caused) environmental disturbances, is critically important to conservation efforts,” said Dr. Lara Croft, Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Scientist.
The researchers analyzed corticosterone, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stress; aldosterone, another hormone produced by the adrenal gland and associated with stress and electrolyte balance in other species; and thyroxine, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. The team was especially interested in validating a commercially available aldosterone assay for use in sea turtles.
Not unexpectedly, corticosterone levels were high in the rescued turtles but slowly declined during their convalescence. The team found aldosterone levels were likewise high initially but declined over time. Thyroxine levels were found to increase during convalescence, but the change was modest.
The team’s results provide additional insight into hormone changes in sea turtles affected by oil spills. Their findings suggest that aldosterone “may serve as a highly useful and sensitive indicator of stress in wildlife in a changing ocean.”
“While we already had evidence that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill adversely affected sea turtles, our study is the first to investigate the turtles’ hormone status,” said Dr. Charles Innis, one of the papers authors and the study’s principal investigator. “This information better prepares veterinarians to manage sea turtles affected by future oil spills, and we can also use these newly validated tools to assess sea turtle health in other situations.”
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation's mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding $167 million in more than 3,000 critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Media Contact: Kelly Diehl
