Baseline Studies On The Conservation Biology Of Green SEA Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) In The South China SEA

Global environmental health is sustainable when regional ecosystems maintain integral infrastructure to advance and support conservation research. Studies in other regions can complement, but not substitute, protection and management of local natural resources. The South China Sea is one of the marine ecosystems in the world with the highest biodiversity, yet this prolific region is one of the least explored areas for conservation. The top-level ecological service provider, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), is a key indicator species whose population health and role in the ecosystem provides knowledge and insight for environmental protection and management. However, baseline data from marine turtle research in the China region remain inadequately sparse to monitor current and future ecological hazards and risks.In this long-term study from 2012 to 2015, we utilized research methodology and techniques to gather baseline data for marine turtle conservation biology in accordance with international standards and protocols. We analyzed eighty-five (85) sea turtle mitochondria DNA from the illegal wildlife trade in Hainan, China, and identified ten (10) haplotypes, in which forty-six percent (46%) consisted of the CMP 19 haplotype. Based on local fishermen accounts, we infer the CMP 19 haplotypes originated from nesting rookeries in the Paracel islands of the South China Sea. Marine protected areas should be established on the islands to prevent eminent extirpation of this genetic stock.For the first time in China, we attached metal flipper tags on sea turtles with unique identification numbers to facilitate present and future mark-recapture investigations. Out of the one-hundred thirteen (113) sea turtles released with metal tags, eight (8) were reported by fishermen, elucidating their post-release movements. Additionally, ten (10) sea turtles released from Hainan Island were tracked with satellite telemetry to identify potential foraging grounds and migratory corridors in the South China Sea. Four (4) satellite tracked turtles remained around Hainan, while six (6) travelled away to the Paracel islands, Palawan island, Philippines, Vietnam, and Riau islands, Indonesia.To improve health assessments of green turtles in China, two-hundred twenty four (224) blood samples were collected to establish reference intervals for plasma biochemical values. This is the first time in China that turtle blood has been extracted in vivo, in contrast to past hematological studies conducted on post-mortem turtles. Methodologies to safely collect blood from live chelonians, including marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises, are described to reduce the necessity of sacrificing individuals for research purposes in China. As environmental pollutants and diseases can be detected in preserved blood, our storage of marine turtle blood samples serves as the nation's first archival blood database for future studies in the ocean environment of the South China Sea.During blood analysis, we determined sea turtle reproductive hormone values to correlate with gender and seasonal changes in captivity. To validate sex of immature turtles, we directly visualized the gonads by safely conducting laparoscopic surgery for the first time in China. These endocrine studies offer invaluable information into the reproductive cycle of green turtles in captivity to support emergency efforts to save the species through captive breeding programs. Laparoscopy and hormone analysis confirmed a preliminary 3.8 female to 1 male gender ratio, consistent with global research results that climate change is producing a female biased sex ratio, and potentially escalating marine turtle extinction in the South China Sea.