Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Moore, Jon

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) is an illness present in gopher tortoises that can cause a variety of symptoms. A population of gopher tortoises in Range VIa of the Abacoa Greenway in Jupiter, Florida, has been tracked for URTD for the last thirteen years. We have had individuals that have tested seropositive, seronegative, and/or suspect for URTD. In addition to the URTD testing, a blood protein electrophoresis test and a blood chemistry panel were conducted on the blood samples taken from the tortoises. Not every tortoise had all of the tests done on their blood samples. The goal was to connect a blood variable to a URTD status through ANOVA testing. Magnesium and cholesterol were found to be significant; however, this was due to gender and not to the URTD status. Further testing will be conducted over the next year in order to add to the pool of data.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

71 p.

Identifier

FA00012617

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