Winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, occurrence dataset

Data associated with Chenery E.S., N.J. Harms, H. Fenton, N.E. Mandrak, and P.K. Molnár. 2022. Revealing Large-scale Parasite Ranges: An Integrated Spatio-temporal Database and Multi-source Analysis of Winter Tick. We reconstructed the past and present distribution of the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, through compilation of a spatio-temporal database to create the first full baseline map of its occurrence throughout its North American range (WTOcc_data). Over 3,400 unique records of winter tick occurrence were compiled from multiple data sources, dating from 1869 to 2020 and spanning from 16.5 to 66.2 °N latitude. Both conventional, published sources and natural-history records were included along with new records from previously unpublished datasets and citizen-science observations to make this a comprehensive occurrence dataset for this species. Along with standardized location information and year of observation, the dataset includes associated host species and descriptive categorisation of the type and source of each record, providing new opportunities to examine host-parasite interactions in the winter tick system over time and space.  A comprehensive metadata file (WTOcc_metadata) explaining compilation methods and source limitations, a file containing explanatory processing notes on each source included in the database (WTOcc_source_notes), and a full citation file (WTOcc_citations) of all records included within the database are also provided.  In the associated paper, we present these data and discuss the potential sampling biases and lacunas in our integrated database records, particularly at the winter tick’s northernmost range. We also document changes in the types and sources of winter tick information from past to present, highlighting potential issues that should be considered before using these data in further analyses and when collecting ongoing records. </p

Repeatability of feather corticosterone.

<p>Repeatability is shown for the common eider (in white) and the greater snow geese (in black). Levels of feather CORT of recaptured individuals in different years are represented with lines connecting same individuals. (N = 65 and 16 respectively). Note that scale of the Y-axis differs between the two graphs.</p

Time scale of partial capital breeders breeding in the High Arctic.

<p>From multiple recaptures, we tested whether individual quality, reproductive investment or environmental conditions (black arrows) explained variation in feather CORT from birds captured in spring during the pre-breeding period. The effects of reproductive investment or environmental conditions were investigated only in Common eiders.</p

Feather corticosterone and previous breeding investment in common eiders.

<p>Average feather CORT (+S.E.) with information on breeding propensity or nesting success during the previous year at East Bay. The effect of breeding propensity or nesting success on feather CORT was non significant.</p

Model selection of the effects of local (average Aug–Sept temperature T and associated standard deviation TSD, precipitation PPT) and global (NAO) climate, and remote sensing covariates (SST and CHLa) on feather CORT variation on female common eiders.

<p>An index of predation pressure (number of gulls counted from June to mid august) was also considered. An index of eider body size (1st axis of a PCA based on head, culmen, wing and tarsus lengths) was also incorporated. Year was considered as a random factor. N observations = 652 females. k = number of parameters, ωi = model AICc cumulative weight, LL = log-likelihood.</p

Common eider data for Harms et al MS: Feather corticosterone reveals effect of moulting conditions in an Arctic migratory bird

These data were collected from the field from 2007-2011. Column headings are as follows: ID (year plus bird band number); Band (bird band number); year (year eider was captured); CORTf (feather corticosterone in pg/mm); arrival (eider arrival date on breeding colony in Julian days); relArrival (relative arrival date); mass (eider mass in grams); Lay (date first egg was laid); relLay (relative lay date); nest (at least one egg was successfully hatched); Survival (1=eider found dead by end of breeding season, 0= eider that was not found dead during breeding season

Feather corticosterone in common eiders and late summer air temperature.

<p>Average feather CORT (±SE) according to the average air temperature in August and September recorded in Coral Harbour (Southampton Island, Nunavut). Years of capture (above) and sample size (under brackets) are provided.</p

Feather corticosterone and previous laying date and body mass in common eiders.

<p>Relationship between feather CORT and previous laying date (relative to the median of all monitored individuals for a given year, white dots) and body mass measured in late June in female common eiders (residuals from a regression between capture date and mass for a given year, black dots). These graphs were performed from birds captured in consecutive years.</p

Real-time PCR amplification and dissociation (melt) curve plots.

<p><i>B. anthracis</i> Melt-MAMA SYBR® Green assay targeting the A.Br.004 genetic clade. (A & C) The amplification of two alleles are illustrated for haploid template (<i>Bacillus anthracis</i>) possessing an ‘A’ polymorphic SNP-state or ‘G’ state. Each amplification plot represents a single PCR reaction containing a reverse “common” primer and two allele-specific MAMA primers. The AS-MAMA primers anneal to the same template target and then compete for extension across the SNP position. The polymerase-mediated extension rate of the 3′match AS-MAMA primer (perfect primer-template complex) exceeds that of the 3′mismatched MAMA primer (mismatched primer-template complex), thus the perfect match primer-template complex outcompetes the mismatched primer-template complex and dominates the PCR amplification. (B & D) Plots of the temperature-dissociation (melt) curve of the final PCR products for the two allele templates are shown next to their respective amplification plots (green arrows). Allele-specific PCR products are easily differentiated through temperature-dissociation (melt) curve analysis, which is conferred by the GC-clamp engineered on one of the AS-MAMA primer.</p

Melt-MAMAs targeting specific groups within eight pathogen species.

a<p>First design attempt and altered primer ratio optimization.</p>b<p>Success after combining first or second design attempts and altered primer ratio optimization.</p>c<p>Failed after first design attempt.</p>d<p>Assays that required altered primer concentration ratios.</p