Abstract:

Twenty one common loons (Gavia immer) were captured in 2017 from February 25th through March 5th in coastal Louisiana. In addition to placing band tags on each bird, tissue samples were obtained for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), health and immunosuppression parameters, as well as various morphometric characteristics.

Suggested Citation:

Paruk, James. 2019. Common Loon Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) and Health Data, Louisiana, 2017-02-25 to 2017-03-05. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-dr63-g180

Purpose:

The loons were captured in an area that was moderately to heavily oiled from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the researchers were investigating whether birds from this area were still being exposed to oil residues (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PAHs), and if so, in what concentrations. In addition, researchers were investigating whether PAHs were having any effect on loon health.

Data Parameters and Units:

In all tabs of the dataset, ND=no data Worksheet: Collection-Morphometric Data: Band # (user defined number on tagging band), Nearest town (Descriptive reference location where bird was captured), Territory (Descriptive territory where bird was captured), State (State where bird was captured), Latitude (Lat, decimal degrees), Longitude (Long, decimal degrees), Capture date (MM/DD/YYYY), Recapture (Y-yes or N-no), Age (A-Adult, I-Immature), Sex (U-unknown), Colors left leg top (Colors of the leg band placed on the top of the left leg), Colors left leg bottom (Colors of the leg band placed on the bottom of the left leg), Colors right leg top (Colors of the leg band placed on the top of the right leg), Colors right leg bottom (Colors of the leg band placed on the bottom of the right leg), Bird weight (g), Tarsus width left (Width or thickness of the lower left leg just above the “ankle” joint, mm), Tarsus width right (Width or thickness of the lower right leg just above the “ankle” joint, mm), Tarsus length left (Length of left foot in millimeters-does not include the #4 digit, mm), Tarsus length right (Length of right foot in millimeters-does not include the #4 digit, mm), Bill length nares to tip (the length of the upper bill from its base to the nares, mm), Length (Length of the bill from base to tip, mm), Width (Distance across the bill as measured by the nares, mm), Depth (Bill thickness, mm), Overlap (Difference in mm between the upper and lower bill, mm), CaptureTime (Time the bird was captured, HH:MM), ReleaseTime (Time the bird was released, HH:MM), Banding comments: User comments. Worksheet: CBC Data: Band # (user defined number on tagging band), Capture date (MM/DD/YYYY), 11 blood health parameters: Estimated WBC (x 10^3), Heterophils (%), Lymphocytes (%), Monocytes (%), Eosinophils (%), Basophils (%), RBC Morph. (Mild polychromasia), Blood parasites (Negative), Thrombocyte Morph. (adequate), WBC Morph. (normal), RBC (x 10^6), 7 blood immunosuppression parameters: A/G ratio (unitless), Pre-albumin (g/dL), Albumin (g/dL), Alphal Globulin (g/dL), Alpha 2 Globulin (g/dL), Beta Globulin (g/dL), Gamma Globulin (g/dL). Worksheet: Blood Data: Band # (user defined number on tagging band), Capture date (MM/DD/YYYY), 20 blood health parameters, analyzed by University of Miami lab: Gluc (glucose, mg/dL), BUN (blood urea nitrogen, mg/dL), CREA (creatinine, mg/dL), BUN/Crea ratio (blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio), Na (sodium, mEq/L), K (potassium, mEq/L), CO2 (carbon dioxide, mmol/L), Amylase (U/L), Lipase (U/L), Ca (calcium, mg/dL), Phos (phosphorus, mg/dL), Chol (cholesterol, mg/dL), Triglyceride (mg/dL), UA (uric acid, mg/dL), Lab TP (total protein, g/dL), AST (aspartate aminotransferase, U/L), ALT (alanine transaminase, U/L), LDH (lactic acid dehydrogenase, U/L), CPK (creatine phosphokinase, U/L), GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, U/L), 3 blood health parameters determined in the field by researchers, as a comparison to lab generated data: Field TP (g/dL), Field Hematocrit (%), Field Hemoglobin (g/dL). Worksheet: PAH Data: Band # (user defined number on tagging band), Total PAH (ng/g), 16 Aromatic analytes (ng/g): Naphthalene (ng/g), Acenaphthalene (ng/g), Fluorene (ng/g), Acenapthene (ng/g), Phenanthrene (ng/g), Anthracene (ng/g), Fluoranthene (ng/g), Pyrene (ng/g), Chrysene (ng/g), Benzo(a)anthracene (ng/g), Benzo(b)fluoranthene (ng/g), Benzo(k)fluoranthene (ng/g), Benzo(a)pyrene (ng/g), Dibenz(a,h)anthracene (ng/g), Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (ng/g), Benzo(g,h,i)perylene (ng/g).

Methods:

Blood was obtained from the metatarsal or jugular vein and stored it in 5-10 cc vacutainers with sodium heparin, hematocrit tubes, and EDTA tubes. Samples were shipped on dry ice to the University of Connecticut for PAH analysis, and University of Miami Avian and Wildlife Lab for health assessment and immunosuppression analysis. Note that researchers were unable to obtain a blood sample from the bird with band # 0938-44389, so only morphometric measurements are reported.

Individual Files: