
BLOOD CHEMISTRY OF WILD HARBOR PORPOISES PHOCOENA PHOCOENA (L.)
Blood chemistry values were measured from 31 harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) released from herring weirs in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Sodium, phosphorus, calcium, chloride, magnesium, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, cholesterol, serum osmolality, and alanine aminotransferase levels fell within ranges reported for captive harbor porpoises and other odontocetes. Glucose, potassium, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, hemoglobin, thyroxine, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase levels were generally higher than those reported for captive odontocetes. Cortisol and creatinine levels were significantly higher (P= 0.0356 and 0.0174, respectively) in porpoises that were handled for longer periods and fitted with electronic tags (mean cortisol value = 314 ± 107 nmol/L, mean creatinine value = 94 ± 14 μmol/L) than those receiving roto‐tags (mean cortisol value = 222 ± 82 nmol/L, mean creatinine value = 75 ± 15 μmol/L). A more controlled study of duration of handling, time spent out of water, degree of manipulation, and method of tag attachment is required to identify which factors are responsible for the stress response. Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved
Duke Scholars
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- Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
- 0608 Zoology
- 0603 Evolutionary Biology
- 0602 Ecology
Citation

Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
- 0608 Zoology
- 0603 Evolutionary Biology
- 0602 Ecology