Tortoises at the Zoo
Zoo Poo: Assessment of Fecal Glucocorticoids and Immune Function in a Zoo Tortoises Population
Captive zoo collections are mostly composed of non-model organisms, such as species of tortoise, an immunologically understudied taxon. Immunocompetence is often not conserved between species, so assessment techniques for immunologic responses must first be validated for each species to ensure accurate assessment. In an inaugural partnership with the Memphis Zoo, this study aims to further expand the understanding of chelonian immunity by examining the innate immune responses and fecal corticosterone concentrations of two threatened and physiologically understudied tortoise species: the Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) and the Northern Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides brygooi). This study also aims to examine how the composition of a mounted immune response may differ depending on the immune challenge (microbe).
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