Physiological responses to capture and handling of free-ranging male Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

• Published in: Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology
• Main Authors: Hao, Yu-Jiang, Zhao, Qing-Zhong, Wu, Hai-Ping, Chen, Dao-Quan, Gong, Cheng, Li, Li, Wang, Ding, Wang, D, Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Hydrobiol, 7 South Rd East Lake, Wuhan 430072, Peoples R China
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Capture Stress; Yangtze Porpoise; Neophocaena Phocaenoides Asiaeorientalis; Physiological Responses; Blood; Serum; Biochemistry; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS; TURSIOPS-TRUNCATUS; BELUGA WHALES; DELPHINAPTERUS-LEUCAS; CIRCULATING LEVELS; CAPTIVITY; STRESS; WILD; CONSERVATION; ALDOSTERONE; Beluga; Beluga*; Delphinapterus leucas
• Online Access: http://ir.ihb.ac.cn/handle/152342/7454; https://doi.org/10.1080/10236240903302161

We captured free-ranging male Yangtze finless porpoises over three seasons and assayed leukocytes and serum biochemistry to investigate physiological responses to the capture and handlings. Serum thyroid hormones (THs) declined sharply in those porpoises compared with hormone variation in a captive male finless porpoise. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia were also significant in the free-ranging animals suggesting that conservation of serum sodium might be acutely vital for this freshwater subspecies. The animals captured in spring showed more significant neutrophilia and eosinopenia than those captured in autumn suggesting that they may be more affected by capture during the breeding season. Furthermore, physical examination of porpoises when out of the water was apparently stressful, particularly when they were kept out of the water for longer periods. However, an increase in circulating THs may be an adaptive response to accommodate these short-term stresses. We captured free-ranging male Yangtze finless porpoises over three seasons and assayed leukocytes and serum biochemistry to investigate physiological responses to the capture and handlings. Serum thyroid hormones (THs) declined sharply in those porpoises compared with hormone variation in a captive male finless porpoise. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia were also significant in the free-ranging animals suggesting that conservation of serum sodium might be acutely vital for this freshwater subspecies. The animals captured in spring showed more significant neutrophilia and eosinopenia than those captured in autumn suggesting that they may be more affected by capture during the breeding season. Furthermore, physical examination of porpoises when out of the water was apparently stressful, particularly when they were kept out of the water for longer periods. However, an increase in circulating THs may be an adaptive response to accommodate these short-term stresses.