Total serum immunoglobulin Y in Steller's eiders and a surrogate species as a marker of humoral immune status and viral response

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2009"Steller's eiders (Polysticta stelleri) and other sea duck species have undergone population declines in recent decades, and the causes for the declines remain largely unknown. As part of a study to investigate the role of disease in sea duck population declines, I further characterized Steller's eider humoral immunity by quantifying total serum immunoglobulin Y (IgY). Baseline values of total serum IgY were determined for a captive flock of Steller's eiders housed at the Alaska SeaLife Center using species-specific assays. There were no significant differences in total serum IgY between males and females or between seasons (molt and winter) for captive birds. For free-ranging Steller's eiders, mean total serum IgY was significantly higher during molt and mid-winter compared to captive baseline values, suggesting increased disease exposure. As a further investigation of the humoral immune response, experimental inoculations (low pathogenicity avian influenza and adenovirus) were conducted in mallards (Anas platyrhyncus) as a surrogate species. Quantification of total serum IgY from captive Steller's eiders provides a baseline for comparative studies of total serum IgY from free-ranging Steller's eiders. This study also provided first quantitative information about circulating IgY in free-ranging Steller's eiders"--Leaf iiiUS Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska SeaLife CenterGeneral Introduction -- 1. A quantitative approach to determining humoral immune status in Steller's eiders using total serum IgY -- 2. Characterization of mallard (Anas platyrhyncus) humoral immune response to low pathogenicity avian influenza isolates recovered from two species of ducks in Alaska: Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri) and northern pintail (Anas acuta) -- 3. Characterization of the immune response to a sea duck adenovirus mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) -- General conclusions

Educational Needs Assessment for Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center

Strategic planning and external reviews of HMSC programs highlighted local strengths, and recognized significant untapped potential for expanding HMSC academic programs. More recently, OSU has looked toward HMSC and Newport as the next site for significant expansion of educational opportunities to include an additional 500 or more students. The purpose of this 2013 report is to identify pathways to fulfill these goals. Herein, we synthesize input from over 200 individuals throughout OSU, HMSC, the Newport community, and other academic institutions (including community colleges). The following summary identifies needs, highlights opportunities, and proposes a phased approach to expansion. The report was reviewed by Dr. Robert Cowen (HMSC Director), Dr. Rick Spinrad (OSU Vice President for Research) and Dr. Ed Ray (OSU President) before being made generally available.KEYWORDS: Lincoln County, Oregon; Hatfield Marine Science Center; Marine education; Educational opportunitie

HMSC_Academic_Needs_Assessment_FINAL.pdf

Strategic planning and external reviews of HMSC programs highlighted local strengths, and recognized significant untapped potential for expanding HMSC academic programs. More recently, OSU has looked toward HMSC and Newport as the next site for significant expansion of educational opportunities to include an additional 500 or more students. The purpose of this 2013 report is to identify pathways to fulfill these goals. Herein, we synthesize input from over 200 individuals throughout OSU, HMSC, the Newport community, and other academic institutions (including community colleges). The following summary identifies needs, highlights opportunities, and proposes a phased approach to expansion. The report was reviewed by Dr. Robert Cowen (HMSC Director), Dr. Rick Spinrad (OSU Vice President for Research) and Dr. Ed Ray (OSU President) before being made generally available

HMSC_Academic_Needs_Assessment_FINAL.doc

Strategic planning and external reviews of HMSC programs highlighted local strengths, and recognized significant untapped potential for expanding HMSC academic programs. More recently, OSU has looked toward HMSC and Newport as the next site for significant expansion of educational opportunities to include an additional 500 or more students. The purpose of this 2013 report is to identify pathways to fulfill these goals. Herein, we synthesize input from over 200 individuals throughout OSU, HMSC, the Newport community, and other academic institutions (including community colleges). The following summary identifies needs, highlights opportunities, and proposes a phased approach to expansion. The report was reviewed by Dr. Robert Cowen (HMSC Director), Dr. Rick Spinrad (OSU Vice President for Research) and Dr. Ed Ray (OSU President) before being made generally available

The Influence of Year, Laying Date, Egg Fertility and Incubation, Individual Hen, Hen Age and Mass and Clutch Size On Maternal Immunoglobulin Y Concentration In Captive Steller\u27s and Spectacled Eider Egg Yolk

Steller\u27s eiders and spectacled eiders are sea duck species whose populations have declined significantly and infectious diseases could influence offspring survival. Therefore, the maternal transfer of immunoglobulin Y (IgY) into yolk was investigated in captive Steller\u27s and spectacled eiders during the 2007–2013 breeding seasons. This project had two objectives: establish baseline IgY levels in Steller\u27s and spectacled eider yolk under controlled captive conditions and evaluate the effect of year, laying date, egg fertility, egg incubation duration, individual hen, hen age and mass, and laying order to determine which variables influenced IgY levels. Average IgY concentrations were 0.03–0.48 mg ml−1 in Steller\u27s eider yolk and 0.10–0.51 mg ml−1 in spectacled eider yolk. The year and individual hen influenced IgY concentration in Steller\u27s and spectacled eider yolk. The laying date was negatively correlated with egg IgY levels for most Steller\u27s eider hens, but laying order was positively correlated with egg IgY concentration for spectacled eiders