Integrating Physiological and Demographic Parameters in NRDA

Florina S. Tseng, DVMTufts University

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

Ian C.T. Nisbet, PhDI.C.T. Nisbet & Co.

Victor Apanius, PhDWake Forest University

Bre

edin

g P

opul

atio

n S

ize

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Bird IslandCommon Tern Sterna hirundo

Bouchard No. 120 Oil Spill

27 April 2003

Bree

ding

Pop

ulat

ion

Size

0100020003000400050006000

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Med

ian

Layi

ng D

ate

0

10

20

30

40

50

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Mea

n C

lutc

h Si

ze

0

1

2

3

4

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Mea

n Fl

edgl

ings

/Nes

t

0

1

2

3

4

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Breeding Population SizeRMSE

1970-1989 0.1171989-2002 0.080

Median Egg-Laying Date

1970-1980 1.951980-1992 2.881993-2002 2.72

Mean Clutch Size

1970-1985 0.0481985-1990 0.0581990-2002 0.193

Productivity

1970-1983 0.2361983-1991 0.1701991-2002 0.348

Demographic Parameters

Mea

n D

iffer

ence

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

Sample Size

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

Sample Size

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Power Analysis – Sample Size and Power to detect Differences between Two Means

Mean Difference = µ1 - µ2 = 1.0 – 0.8 = 0.2

RMSE = 0.17 RMSE = 0.35

Power = 1 – β

0.7 0.8 0.9

Demographic Parameters

Physiological ParametersResponse

Ecological PathologicalErythron StatusHematocrit (Packed Cell Volume) dehydration anemia

Nutritional IndicatorsTotal Protein protein availabilityAlbumin protein availabilityUric Acid protein digestionBlood Urea Nitrogen protein digestionTriglycerides lipid ingestion

Liver FunctionBile Acids lipid ingestion cholestasisCholesterol hepatocellulitisGGT (γ - Glutamyl Transferase) hepatocellulitis

Tissue EnzymesAST (Aspartate Amino Transferase) muscle overexertion hepatocellulitisCK (Creatine Kinase) muscle overexertion hepatocellulitis

LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase) muscle overexertion hepatocellulitis

1991 1995 1999 2002 2003 2004 2005

Hem

atoc

rit

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7Good Good Good Bad Spill Good Bad

Physiological Parameters

Hematocrit resolved oil-spill and naturally adverse conditions

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

10 20 30 40 50

Hem

atoc

rit

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Temperature Departure

-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Temperature Departure

-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15

Non-spill Years

Spill Year

Hematocrit improved after oil-spilland was not related to weather

as in non-spill years

May Date

Hem

atoc

rit

P < 0.0001

P = 0.072

Year x Temp Interaction P = 0.0004

Physiological Parameters

P = 0.0003

B M B M

1999 2002 2003 2004 2005

ALB

(mg/

dl)

1

2

3

4Good Bad Spill Good Bad

Albumin – long-term protein availability

Physiological Parameters

Lines connect populations with means that are not significantly different

B M B M

1999 2002 2003 2004 2005

UA

(mg/

dl)

0

1

2

3Good Bad Spill Good Bad

Uric Acid – post-prandial protein digestion

Physiological Parameters

Lines connect populations with means that are not significantly different

B M B M

1999 2002 2003 2004 2005

TG (m

g/dl

)

10

100

1000

10000Good Bad Spill Good Bad

Triglycerides – post-prandial lipid assimilation

Physiological Parameters

Lines connect populations with means that are not significantly different

Correlation StructureDiffered Between

Natural and Post-Spill Conditions

Physiological Parameters

Conclusions

Natural Variability of Pre-Spill and Reference Site Seabird Demographic Parameters:

Most Variable: Least Variable:Breeding Population Size Clutch SizeProductivity Egg Mass

Magnitude of Variation varies on Decadal Timescale

Natural Variation limits Resolution of Demographic Impacts,especially in Small Populations (small sample sizes)

Demographic Parameters

Conclusions

Decreased Hematocrit (anemia) was associated with post-spill, but not adverse natural conditions

Decreased ALB, UA, and TG was associatedwith adverse natural, but not post-spill conditions

Indications of tissue damage were not observed usingphysiological parameters

Physiological Parameters

Application: Integrating

Physiological ParametersDemographic Parameters

Repeated Measures ofIndividuals/Population

Mortality/Morbidity Survey Measure Parameters inMoribund SpeciesIdentify Target Species

and Capture Sites

Rapid Response forCapture/Sampling

Measure Parameters in Wild Target Species

Examine Correlation Structure of Parameters

Evolution of Parametersduring

Response/Restoration

Acknowledgement

Funding for this project was provided by the Coastal Response Research Center

www.crrc.unh.edu