Meeting Abstract

P3.112  Monday, Jan. 6 15:30  Metazoan parasite infracommunities of juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles SULLIVAN, E.M.; University of Massachusetts Lowell erin_sullivan@student.uml.edu

The Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) turtle is the most endangered of all sea turtle species. Physiological surveys of these animals are therefore made difficult due to limited sampling opportunities. This has led to a lack of data on the parasite communities found in these marine hosts. This work represents the first description of metazoan parasite biodiversity in juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hosts that occur in New England using molecular tools to identify parasites. A comprehensive investigation of all parasites and life stages present within each host was aided by mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase 1) and/or ribosomal (18S, 28S, internal transcribed spacer 2) genetic markers. Incomplete identifications from morphological indicators were complimented by comparing molecular results to published data. Understanding the parasite infracommunities of endangered sea turtles allows for future investigations into the spatial, temporal and developmental patterns of aggregation and biodiversity as parasites and their hosts respond to a changing ocean climate.