MacKenzie, Duncan S.

1 publication

Ortiz, Rudy M.; Worthy, Graham A. J.; MacKenzie, Duncan S. (detail)
1998Osmoregulation in wild and captive West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus).
Physiol. Zool. 71(4): 449-457. 4 tabs. 2 figs. July/Aug. 1998.
—Experiments manipulating water salinity and animals' access to fresh water were conducted on captive and wild-caught T. m. latirostris and T. m. manatus in Florida, Brazil, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. High aldosterone levels in wild freshwater animals may indicate a need to conserve sodium or to have access to marine habitats; captinve animals in fresh water may be susceptible to salt deficiency. High vasopressin levels in wild brackish-water manatees suggest use of an antidiuretic state to conserve water. Concludes that manatees are good osmoregulators regardless of the environment.