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Estimation of water turnover rates of captive West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) held in fresh and salt waterThe ability of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) to move between fresh and salt water raises the question of whether manatees drink salt water. Water turnover rates were estimated in captive West Indian manatees using the deuterium oxide dilution technique. Rates were quantified in animals using four experimental treatments: (1) held in fresh water and fed lettuce (N=4), (2) held in salt water and fed lettuce (N=2), (3) acutely exposed to salt water and fed lettuce (N=4), and (4) chronically exposed to salt water with limited access to fresh water and fed sea grass (N=5). Animals held in fresh water had the highest turnover rates (145+/-12 ml kg-1 day-1) (mean +/- s.e.m.). Animals acutely exposed to salt water decreased their turnover rate significantly when moved into salt water (from 124+/-15 to 65+/-15 ml kg-1 day-1) and subsequently increased their turnover rate upon re-entry to fresh water (146+/-19 ml kg-1 day-1). Manatees chronically exposed to salt water had significantly lower turnover rates (21+/-3 ml kg-1 day-1) compared with animals held in salt water and fed lettuce (45+/-3 ml kg-1 day-1). Manatees chronically exposed to salt water and fed sea grass had very low turnover rates compared with manatees held in salt water and fed lettuce, which is consistent with a lack of mariposia. Manatees in fresh water drank large volumes of water, which may make them susceptible to hyponatremia if access to a source of Na+ is not provided.
Document ID
20040142151
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ortiz, R. M.
(Texas A&M University at Galveston Galveston, TX 77551, United States)
Worthy, G. A.
Byers, F. M.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: The Journal of experimental biology
Volume: 202
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0022-0949
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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