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