Regeneration of peripheral nerves with hyperinsulin neuronopathy

Abstract

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> While green turtles (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) were once abundant throughout the Caribbean, overexploitation has dramatically reduced their numbers. We conducted a 168-day simulated grazing experiment to determine how loss of this once-abundant mega-herbivore could have affected the productivity and community composition of <i>Thalassia testudinum-dominated</i> seagrass beds in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Simulated grazing reduced both percent cover and productivity of <i>T. testudinum</i>. High runoff and local pollution from industrial farming may limit light availability and reduce seagrass photosynthetic performance to replace biomass lost to simulated grazing. Other seagrass species and algae failed to colonize space opened by reductions in <i>T. testudinum</i> percent cover. Many plots subjected to simulated grazing were also bioturbated by stingrays. Relevance of these findings to balancing sea turtle and seagrass conservation efforts are discussed.