Gene expression and wildlife health: varied interpretations based on perspective DOI Creative Commons
Lizabeth Bowen, Julie L. Yee, James L. Bodkin

et al.

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: May 18, 2023

We evaluated wildlife population health from the perspective of statistical means vs. variances. outlined choices necessary to provide framework for our study. These consisted spatial and temporal boundaries (e.g., choice sentinel species, populations, time frame), measurement techniques (molecular level), appropriate analyses. chose assess 19 sea otter located in north Pacific Aleutian Islands, AK, Santa Barbara, CA, varying growth rates length occupancy. Our focal metric was gene expression (i.e., mRNA transcripts) data that we had previously generated across populations as a measure health. used methods with different approaches variances) examined subsequent interpretive outcomes how these influence assessment “health.” Interpretations based on analyses using variances versus overlapped some degree. In general, low variation were limited by food resources at or near carrying capacity. where moderate high, four out five increasing abundance, been recently increasing. Where additional information sources stressors level population, able draw inferences those specific results. For example, patterns otters Western Prince William Sound consistent long term exposure petroleum hydrocarbons, whereas Kachemak Bay, algal toxins. Ultimately, determination ecosystem will be most informative when multiple metrics are disciplines context scenarios goals.

Language: Английский

Estimating age and investigating epigenetic changes related to health across multiple bottlenose dolphin populations DOI Creative Commons
Ashley Barratclough, Ryan Takeshita, Len Thomas

et al.

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 293, P. 110570 - 110570

Published: April 17, 2024

Epigenetic age estimation has the potential to influence conservation approaches for wildlife. DNA extracted from a small skin sample can be analyzed methylation changes, which related chronological through an epigenetic clock obtain DNA-based estimate (DNAm age). For wide range of cetacean species, samples obtained remotely using dart biopsy. We tested multiple modeling (elastic net regression, random forest and hybrid elastic classification) data 426 observed-age wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.), 50 managed care dolphins, develop clock. The model gave highly accurate predictions calf (<2 yrs., n = 28), subadult (2–15 273) adult (15–25 110) classes with median absolute errors (MAE) 0.149, 1.46 3.25 respectively. In oldest individuals (>25 65), were less accurate, MAE 5.90 yrs. overall across all ages (n 476) was 1.91 DNAm been linked health in humans, higher residuals (i.e., as compared actual age) being associated increased risk morbidity mortality. dolphin previously reported scores that are predictive one year mortality risk. Our findings suggest analysis patterns is viable approach, not only estimating but potentially also assess individual population health.

Language: Английский

Citations

7
Managing the effects of multiple stressors on wildlife populations in their ecosystems: developing a cumulative risk approach DOI Creative Commons
Peter L. Tyack, Len Thomas, Daniel P. Costa

et al.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1987)

Published: Nov. 30, 2022

Assessing cumulative effects of human activities on ecosystems is required by many jurisdictions, but current science cannot meet regulatory demands. Regulations define them as effect(s) one action combined with other actions. Here we argue for an approach that evaluates the risk multiple stressors protected wildlife populations within their ecosystems. Monitoring each stressor necessary not sufficient to estimate how interact affect populations. Examining mechanistic pathways, from cellular ecological, which individuals can help prioritize and interpret they interact. Our uses health indicators accumulate changes in vital rates, driving population status. We advocate using methods well-established integrating into ecosystem-based management protect commercially culturally important against extinction threatened species. will improve abilities conserve manage also demand significant increases research monitoring effort. increased investment proportional economic scale Anthropocene pervasive ecology biodiversity.

Language: Английский

Citations

27
Estimating the effects of stressors on the health, survival and reproduction of a critically endangered, long‐lived species DOI Creative Commons
Enrico Pirotta, Robert S. Schick, Philip K. Hamilton

et al.

Oikos, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2023(5)

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Quantifying the cumulative effects of stressors on individuals and populations can inform development effective management conservation strategies. We developed a Bayesian state–space model to assess multiple individual survival reproduction. In model, stressor vital rates are mediated by changes in underlying health, allowing for comparison effect sizes while accounting intrinsic factors that might affect an individual's vulnerability resilience. applied 50‐year dataset sightings, calving events exposure critically endangered North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis . The viability this population is threatened complex set stressors, including vessel strikes, entanglement fishing gear fluctuating prey availability. estimated blunt deep strike injuries severe had largest health exposed individuals, reinforcing urgent need mitigation measures. Prey abundance smaller but protracted across long‐term trends reproduction followed trend index, highlighting ecosystem‐based strategies also required. Our approach be quantify any long‐lived species where suitable indicators monitoring data available.

Language: Английский

Citations

16
Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales DOI Creative Commons
Enrico Pirotta, Peter L. Tyack, John W. Durban

et al.

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Body size is key to many life-history processes, including reproduction. Across species, climate change and other stressors have caused reductions in the body which animals can grow, called asymptotic size, with consequences for demography. A reduction mean length was documented critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, parallel declines health vital rates resulting from human activities environmental changes. Here, we tested whether smaller associated lower reproductive output, using a state-space model individual health, survival reproduction that quantifies mechanistic links between these processes. (as represented by cube of length) strongly female's calving probability at each opportunity. This relationship explained 62% variation among females, along their decreasing (20%). The effects on performance are another concerning indication worsening prospects this species others affected change, requiring focus conservation management interventions improving conditions affect as well reducing mortality.

Language: Английский

Citations

5
Sampling mass mortality events to enable diagnoses: A protocol using freshwater mussels DOI Creative Commons
Daniel A. Cossey, Michelle M. Dennis, Jordan C. Richard

et al.

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 10, 2025

Abstract Many taxa around the globe are threatened by often unexplained mass mortality events (MMEs), which can decimate populations and compromise key ecosystem functions. One example of a highly taxon facing frequent MMEs is freshwater mussels (Unionida). There has been recent increase in interest understanding causes mussel MMEs, but standardised methodologies for how best to respond them facilitate diagnoses unavailable. When an MME observed, swift appropriate sample collection imperative owing transient nature these phenomena. Here we provide structured guidance that will rapid sampling using as example. We set out procedures collection, preparation preservation. The outline improve our capacity diagnostic investigations other events, not only also across many taxa. This, turn, inform management responses.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Common and Tamanend's bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus ( ) and T. erebennus ( ) DOI
Randall S. Wells, Michael Scott

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 155 - 226

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Cumulative barriers to renewable energy development: Can we adjust our perspective and approach to benefit biodiversity? DOI Creative Commons
Aonghais S. C. P. Cook, Elizabeth A. Masden, Elizabeth M. Humphreys

et al.

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Renewable energy development is rapidly increasing in efforts to mitigate climate change. Whilst the impact of individual projects on biological diversity may be limited, there a risk significant cumulative impacts across projects, resulting conflict between our needs for renewable and preserve biodiversity. A range approaches have been developed assessment (CIA). Biologically realistic advocated peer‐reviewed literature challenging data requirements are more complex than those widely used by practitioners regulators inform assessments. Projected approaching levels where future industry at risk, with concerns that this driven an overly precautionary approach, direct consequence insufficient data. ‘race submission’, whereby developers aim submit their assessments as early possible attempt avoid being project triggers unacceptable impact, exacerbates problem. This leads situations consented not reflect optimal balance minimising biodiversity delivery targets. Solution . There urgent need shift focus CIA from anthropogenic activities, which drive assessments, populations concerned. will require international agreement minimum standards robust coordination collection. failure achieve mean delivering required minimise change ecologically sustainable manner becomes regulatory impossibility.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Distance matters to sperm whales: Behavioural disturbance in response to both sonar received level and source distance DOI Creative Commons
Paul J. Wensveen, Saana Isojunno, Petter H. Kvadsheim

et al.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 214, P. 117742 - 117742

Published: March 1, 2025

Understanding the main drivers of behavioural disturbance in deep-diving cetaceans would improve predictions anthropogenic noise effects on individual animals, habitats and populations. To investigate potential roles received level source distance disturbance, we tagged 14 sperm whales northern Norway with multi-sensor data loggers conducted dose-escalation experiments. Each experiment included 1 to 4 individuals involved multiple vessel passes ('exposure sessions', n = 25 total) by a navy frigate or research towing naval sonar, at different starting distances maximum levels. We analysed behaviour state series proxies for locomotor activity foraging success generalized additive mixed models. The probability occurrence non-foraging active was affected level, session order, decreased effort higher levels shorter distances, during subsequent sessions (indicating short-term sensitisation). Prey capture attempts increasing when kept foraging. Similar what has been suggested some populations blue beaked regularly exposed but unlike bottlenose more pristine waters, whale responses high-latitude ground.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Framework for assessing species vulnerability whilst on migration to a spatially explicit anthropogenic pressure DOI Creative Commons

Ros M.W. Green,

Niall H. K. Burton, Aonghais S. C. P. Cook

et al.

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 307, P. 111118 - 111118

Published: April 17, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Assessing variation in faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in gray whales exposed to anthropogenic stressors DOI Creative Commons
Enrico Pirotta,

Alejandro Fernandez Ajó,

K. C. Bierlich

et al.

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Understanding how individual animals respond to stressors behaviourally and physiologically is a critical step towards quantifying long-term population consequences informing management efforts. Glucocorticoid (GC) metabolite accumulation in various matrices provides an integrated measure of adrenal activation baleen whales could thus be used investigate physiological changes following exposure stressors. In this study, we measured GC concentrations faecal samples Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray (Eschrichtius robustus) collected over seven consecutive years assess the association between content metrics sound levels vessel traffic at different temporal scales, while controlling for contextual variables such as sex, reproductive status, age, body condition, year, time year location. We develop Bayesian Generalized Additive Modelling approach that accommodates many complexities these data, including non-linear variation hormone concentrations, missing covariate values, repeated samples, sampling variability some below limit detection. Estimated relationships showed large variability, but emerging patterns indicate strong context-dependency variation, depending on condition proximity port. Our results highlight need control baseline related context, which otherwise can obscure functional relationship GCs stressor exposure. Therefore, extensive data collection determine sources well-studied populations, PCFG whales, shed light cetacean stress physiology extend applicability less-well-studied taxa. analyses may offer greatest utility when employed part suite markers that, aggregate, provide multivariate better estimates individuals' health ultimately anthropogenic populations.

Language: Английский

Citations

10