Lipid extraction in stable isotope analyses of juvenile sea turtle skin and muscle

摘要: Studies involving various aspects of the biology and ecology sea turtles have successfully applied stable isotope analysis. In many these studies, chemical extraction 13 C-depleted lipids turtle tissues has been used as a standard protocol, often without testing whether time-consuming lipid removal is required. Furthermore, this procedure may unpredictably modify δ 15 N values, probably due to loss proteins associated with struc- tures, thus reinforcing need for isotopic consequence lipids. This study aimed evaluate effects on skin muscle C iso- topic values juvenile green Chelonia mydas. We analyzed paired from lipid-extracted non-lipid-extracted samples tur- tles. Lipid was performed using mixture chloroform methanol. A significant increase found in after (~0.5‰), but not skin. C:N ratios were correlated change either tissue. affected by The difference between control be biologically significant. On other hand, does appear necessary case turtles. needs tested life stages.