Relationship between plasma iron concentration and gastric pH in captive adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
To determine the correlation between plasma iron concentrations and gastric pH in a population of captive Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). 6 adult female dolphins that ranged from 16 to 30 years of age. Blood and gastric samples were collected from each dolphin to allow measurement of plasma iron concentrations and gastric pH, respectively. Samples were collected each month for 12 months. Within each dolphin, plasma iron concentrations and gastric pH did not differ significantly over time. There was a strong negative correlation (r = -0.85) between plasma iron concentration and gastric pH, which suggested that dolphins with a lower gastric pH had a higher plasma iron concentration. Analysis of results reported here suggested that gastric pH may play an important role in iron absorption in dolphins.