Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement
Measuring the heart rate of sea turtles is important for understanding their physiological adaptations to the environment. Non-invasive methods to measure the electrocardiogram (ECG) of sea turtles have been developed by attaching electrodes to their carapace. However, this method has only been appl...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1511443/full |
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| author | Ayaka Saito Kino Sakai Megumi Kawai Lyu Lyu Kazunari Kameda Hiromi Kudo Katsufumi Sato Kentaro Q. Sakamoto |
| author_facet | Ayaka Saito Kino Sakai Megumi Kawai Lyu Lyu Kazunari Kameda Hiromi Kudo Katsufumi Sato Kentaro Q. Sakamoto |
| author_sort | Ayaka Saito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Measuring the heart rate of sea turtles is important for understanding their physiological adaptations to the environment. Non-invasive methods to measure the electrocardiogram (ECG) of sea turtles have been developed by attaching electrodes to their carapace. However, this method has only been applicable to sea turtles with sparse keratin on their shell surfaces, such as loggerhead turtles, and it is difficult to detect heartbeats in sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes, including green sea turtles. Here, we explored the electrode placements on the plastron that can be applied to ECG measurement in green turtles. ECG signals were checked using a handheld ECG monitor at three sets of electrode placement on the plastron. When ECG signals could be detected, they were measured in the water tanks for several days to confirm the clarity of the ECG signals. Of the 29 green turtles, when the negative electrode was placed near the neck area of the plastron, clear ECG signals were obtained in nine individuals (39.1%), whereas ECG signals were not detected at any placements in four individuals (17.4%). Furthermore, in the water tank experiments, continuous ECG signals were successfully recorded by attaching a negative electrode near the neck: almost noiseless clear ECG signals even during moving in seven out of ten individuals and slightly weak and noisy signals in other individuals. The measured heart rate of ten individuals during resting was 8.6 ± 2.9 (means ± s.d.) beats min−1 and that during moving was 12.2 ± 4.7 beats min−1, similar to those reported in a previous study involving the insertion of electrodes inside the body. Therefore, for measuring the ECG of green turtles, the negative electrode should be placed closer to the neck, and the positive and earth electrodes should be placed to the lower left of the plastron. Although the selection of suitable individuals for measurements is required, this heart rate measurement method will contribute to a better understanding of the physiological status of sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes, including green turtles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd5af259bbad4d0d8f10edf7fd870dab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd5af259bbad4d0d8f10edf7fd870dab2025-01-14T06:10:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-01-011510.3389/fphys.2024.15114431511443Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placementAyaka Saito0Kino Sakai1Megumi Kawai2Lyu Lyu3Kazunari Kameda4Hiromi Kudo5Katsufumi Sato6Kentaro Q. Sakamoto7Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, JapanAtmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, JapanAtmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, JapanAtmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, JapanKuroshima Research Station, Sea Turtle Association of Japan, Taketomi, JapanCenter for Research and Education of Wildlife, Kyoto City Zoo, Kyoto, JapanAtmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, JapanAtmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, JapanMeasuring the heart rate of sea turtles is important for understanding their physiological adaptations to the environment. Non-invasive methods to measure the electrocardiogram (ECG) of sea turtles have been developed by attaching electrodes to their carapace. However, this method has only been applicable to sea turtles with sparse keratin on their shell surfaces, such as loggerhead turtles, and it is difficult to detect heartbeats in sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes, including green sea turtles. Here, we explored the electrode placements on the plastron that can be applied to ECG measurement in green turtles. ECG signals were checked using a handheld ECG monitor at three sets of electrode placement on the plastron. When ECG signals could be detected, they were measured in the water tanks for several days to confirm the clarity of the ECG signals. Of the 29 green turtles, when the negative electrode was placed near the neck area of the plastron, clear ECG signals were obtained in nine individuals (39.1%), whereas ECG signals were not detected at any placements in four individuals (17.4%). Furthermore, in the water tank experiments, continuous ECG signals were successfully recorded by attaching a negative electrode near the neck: almost noiseless clear ECG signals even during moving in seven out of ten individuals and slightly weak and noisy signals in other individuals. The measured heart rate of ten individuals during resting was 8.6 ± 2.9 (means ± s.d.) beats min−1 and that during moving was 12.2 ± 4.7 beats min−1, similar to those reported in a previous study involving the insertion of electrodes inside the body. Therefore, for measuring the ECG of green turtles, the negative electrode should be placed closer to the neck, and the positive and earth electrodes should be placed to the lower left of the plastron. Although the selection of suitable individuals for measurements is required, this heart rate measurement method will contribute to a better understanding of the physiological status of sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes, including green turtles.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1511443/fullheart ratesea turtlenon-in vasive methodbiologgingelectrocardiogram |
| spellingShingle | Ayaka Saito Kino Sakai Megumi Kawai Lyu Lyu Kazunari Kameda Hiromi Kudo Katsufumi Sato Kentaro Q. Sakamoto Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement Frontiers in Physiology heart rate sea turtle non-in vasive method biologging electrocardiogram |
| title | Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement |
| title_full | Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement |
| title_fullStr | Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement |
| title_short | Development of a non-invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement |
| title_sort | development of a non invasive heart rate measurement method for sea turtles with dense keratinous scutes through effective electrode placement |
| topic | heart rate sea turtle non-in vasive method biologging electrocardiogram |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1511443/full |
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