Study of the effects of oil on marine turtles. Volume 2. Technical report. Final report, 30 September 1983-1 October 1985

Technical Report · Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6211867

Vargo, S; Lutz, P; Odell, D; Van Vleet, E; Bossart, G

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of oil on marine turtles. An experimental program was carried out on 3-20 month old loggerhead and 3-16 month old green turtles to determine behavioral and physiological effects of oil using South Louisiana Crude Oil (SLCO) preweathered for 48 hrs. The behavioral experiments indicated that both species of marine turtles had a limited ability to avoid oil slicks, but experiments to determine avoidance/attraction to floating tar balls were inconclusive. The physiological experiments showed that the respiration, skin, some aspects of blood chemistry and composition, and salt gland function of 15-18 month old loggerhead sea turtles were significantly affected. Spills in the vicinity of nesting beaches are of special concern.

• Research Organization: Florida State Univ., St. Petersburg (USA). Inst. of Oceanography
• OSTI ID: 6211867
• Report Number(s): PB-87-199931/XAB
• Resource Relation: Other Information: See also Volume 1, PB--87-199923 and Volume 3, PB--87-199949; Also available in set of 3 reports PC E99, PB--87-199915
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
OIL SPILLS
WATER POLLUTION
PETROLEUM
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
TURTLES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HEMATOLOGY
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MONITORING
PROTEINS
RESPIRATION
ANIMALS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REPTILES
SPECTROSCOPY
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects