Effects of the Iron Baron oil spill on little penguins (Eudyptula minor). III. Breeding success of rehabilitated oiled birds

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 583 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Giese ◽  
S. D. Goldsworthy ◽  
R. Gales ◽  
N. Brothers ◽  
J. Hamill

The long-term effects of oiling on the breeding success of rehabilitated oiled little penguins (Eudyptula minor) were examined over two consecutive breeding seasons following the Iron Baron oil spill in 1995. The commencement of egg laying was delayed among rehabilitated oiled penguins compared with non-oiled birds during the 1995/96 breeding season. During that season, hatching success (number of eggs hatched from those laid) was no different in nests containing rehabilitated oiled penguins than in those containing non-oiled birds, but overall egg success (number of pre-fledging chicks from the number of eggs laid) was significantly lower among rehabilitated oiled birds. This effect was predominant in nests containing a rehabilitated oiled female, where the probability of successfully fledging any chicks was 22% lower than in nests containing a non-oiled female. During the 1996/97 breeding season, there was no significant difference between either the hatching or egg success of rehabilitated oiled penguins and non-oiled birds. In both seasons, the pre-fledging masses of chicks from rehabilitated oiled penguins were significantly lower than those from non-oiled birds. The chicks of rehabilitated oiled penguins were therefore expected to have lower survival than chicks raised by non-oiled parents. Results indicate that oiling not only reduced the number of chicks raised by rehabilitated oiled penguins in the short term, but also decreased the quality of young produced for at least two seasons following the spill.

2013 ◽  
Vol 92 (7) ◽  
pp. 1824-1829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q.H. Zhai ◽  
X.F. Dong ◽  
J.M. Tong ◽  
Y.M. Guo ◽  
Y.E. Bao

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Dann ◽  
F. I. Norman ◽  
J. M. Cullen ◽  
F. J. Neira ◽  
A. Chiaradia

In May 1995, numbers of little penguins, Eudyptula minor, coming ashore declined at Phillip Island and St Kilda concurrently with deaths of many penguins in western Victoria and a massive mortality of one of their food species (pilchard) throughout southern Australia. Among 1926 dead penguins reported were 131 banded birdsrecovered from Phillip Island (86% adults and 14% first-year birds), 26 from Rabbit Island and six from St Kilda. The number of banded penguins found dead per number of adult Phillip Island birds at risk was 2.3% in 1995 compared with an annual mean of 0.7% for 1970–93. Of 29 corpses autopsied, at least 26 died of starvation associated with mild–severe gastro-intestinal parasitism. Following the pilchard mortality, egg-laying by penguins in the subsequent breeding season (1995–96) was ~2 weeks later than the long-term mean and 0.3 chicks were fledged per pair compared with the long-term mean of 1.0. Unlike previous years, few penguins were recorded in Port Phillip Bay in September–October 1995, a period when pilchard schools were infrequently seen. It is concluded that the increase in penguin mortality in northern Bass Strait and the significant reduction in breeding success were associated with the widespread pilchard mortality.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 (1) ◽  
pp. 399-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark G. Carls ◽  
Ron Heintz ◽  
Adam Moles ◽  
Stanley D. Rice ◽  
Jeffrey W. Short

ABSTRACT Immediate damage from an oil spill is usually obvious (oiled birds, oiled shoreline), but long-term damage to either fauna or habitat is more subtle, difficult to measure, difficult to evaluate, and hence often controversial. The question is, are too many of response decisions such as dispersant use or shoreline cleanup based on short-term acute toxicity models? Have long-term damage scenarios been discounted because of the inherent difficulty in deriving definitive answers? Experience with the Exxon Valdez oil spill is shedding new light on the potential for long-term damage. Government-funded studies demonstrated that oil persists in certain habitats for extended periods of time, such as the intertidal reaches of salmon streams, in soft sediments underlying mussel beds, and on cobble beaches armored with large boulders. Observation of long-term persistence of oil in some habitats is not new, but an increasing number of studies indicate that fauna may be chronically and significantly exposed to oil in these habitats. The toxic components in oil responsible for much of the long-term effects are believed to be the larger 3- and 4-ring polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that can induce cellular and genetic effects rather than the narcotic monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) responsible for acute mortalities. Observation of long-term persistence of Exxon Valdez oil, coupled with adverse effects on sensitive life stages, leads to the conclusion that strategies based on minimizing acute mortalities immediately following a spill probably do not provide adequate protection against long-term damage. When making environmental decisions in response to a spill (prevention measures or restoration measures), more weight should probably be given to long-term issues rather than discounting their significance. Total environmental cost is the sum of short-term damage and long-term damage, and long term-damage to habitats and sensitive life stages probably needs more consideration even though it is very difficult to evaluate and compare to the relatively obvious acute issues.


2017 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 402-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Kamali ◽  
A Sharpe ◽  
A Musbahi ◽  
A Reddy

INTRODUCTION There is increasing and conflicting research debating the oncological benefits of extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) compared with standard abdominoperineal excision (SAPE). However, there is very little in the literature on the long-term effects on patients’ wellbeing following the two procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the oncological outcomes and long-term quality of life (QoL) of patients at two hospitals having undergone ELAPE or SAPE. METHODS Consecutive patients with rectal cancer who underwent either ELAPE or SAPE between January 2009 and June 2015 at a single centre were analysed. Oncological outcomes were determined by histology and follow-up imaging. QoL data were obtained prospectively using the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. RESULTS A total of 48 patients (36 male, 12 female; 27 ELAPE, 21 SAPE) were reviewed. The mean age was 67.4 years and the median follow-up duration was 44 months (range: 6–79 months). Four patients (2 ELAPE, 2 SAPE) developed local recurrence. Rates of distant metastasis were similar (ELAPE: 11%, SAPE: 14%). There was no significant difference in mean global health status score (ELAPE: 77.3, SAPE: 65.3). Impotence was the most frequently reported problem (mean symptom scores of 89.7 and 78.8 for ELAPE and SAPE respectively). CONCLUSIONS This is the largest study with the longest follow-up period that compares QoL after ELAPE with that after SAPE. Although more radical in nature, ELAPE did not demonstrate any significant impact on QoL compared with SAPE. There was no significant difference in long-term oncological outcome between the groups. Impotence remains a significant problem for all patients and they should be well informed of this risk prior to surgery.


Behaviour ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 134 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 161-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.H. De Kogel

AbstractData from several field experiments support the existence of a trade-off between number and quality of offspring. However, long term effects of brood size on fitness related traits of offspring have been a relatively neglected area of research. In a laboratory experiment the effect of manipulated brood size on subsequent competitive ability of adult offspring was investigated. Zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, were reared in small or large broods and young were exchanged in such a way that natural siblings from different rearing conditions could be compared. Competitive behaviour was assessed in two different contexts: competition for food (both sexes tested) and competition for mates (only males tested). There was no significant difference between males from small and large broods in number of succesfull attacks (after which the other male moved away) during male-male aggressive interactions provoked by the presentation of a female in an adjacent cage. Nor did brood size affect latency to eat, time spent eating or success at displacing the other bird from the feeder during food competition tests. The results thus suggest consistently that later competitive ability of offspring is not affected by brood size in this species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (S1) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Waiblinger ◽  
Kathrin Wagner ◽  
Edna Hillmann ◽  
Kerstin Barth

AbstractIn this Research Communication we address the hypotheses that reduced contact with humans during the first week of life would impair the relationship of dairy calves reared in dam-calf-contact systems to humans in comparison with artificially reared animals, but that this difference would vanish over time. Artificially reared calves (Artificial) that had been separated from their mother within 12 h after birth were bottle-fed with colostrum for 5 d and thereafter sucked milk from an automatic milk feeder. Animals reared with dam-calf contact (Dam-contact) were kept in the calving pen with their dam for 5 d, and then had permanent access to the cow barn and thus to their dam. Calves were weaned at an age of 12 weeks and kept in young stock groups mixed of both treatments until integration into the cow herd. We tested the animals’ relationship with humans by assessing the animals' responses towards an unfamiliar person in an avoidance distance (AD) test in the home environment at 4 weeks of age, at 15 months and at 33 months. In calves, we additionally measured AD in a novel arena after a stationary person test. Artificial animals had lower AD, i.e. showed lower level of fear, than Dam-contact calves. However, the AD in Dam-contact calves decreased with increasing number of days they experienced assistance for suckling. Further, there was no significant difference in later ages. In conclusion, gentle human contact in combination with feeding during the first 5 d of life improved calves' relationship to humans leading to differences between the two treatments as well as within the Dam-contact calves. Potential effects under different conditions regarding quantity and quality of human-animal interactions need further research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Lutz ◽  
Stephanie Kersten ◽  
Christian T. Haas

Background.Although people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) benefit from physical exercise, they still show reduced physical activity and exercise behaviour. This study aimed to investigate short- and long-term effects of an exercise-based patient education programme (ePEP) that focuses on empowering pwMS to a sustainable and self-regulated exercise training management.Methods.Fourteen pwMS were randomly assigned to immediate experimental group (EG-I:n=8) and waitlist-control group (EG-W:n=6) and attended biweekly in a six-week ePEP. All participants were measured for walking ability, quality of life, fatigue, and self-efficacy towards physical exercise before and after the ePEP, after 12 weeks, and one year after baseline. Short-term effects were analysed in a randomised control trial and long-term effects of all ePEP participants (EG-I + EG-W = EG-all) in a quasi-experimental design.Results.Only functional gait significantly improved in EG-I compared to EG-W (p=0.008,r=-0.67). Moderate to large effects were found in EG-all for walking ability. Not significant, however, relevant changes were detected for quality of life and fatigue. Self-efficacy showed no changes.Conclusion.The ePEP seems to be a feasible option to empower pwMS to a self-regulated and sustainable exercise training management shown in long-term walking improvements.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e045714
Author(s):  
Louise Lehmann Christensen ◽  
Dorte Glintborg ◽  
Tine Taulbjerg Kristensen ◽  
Axel Diederichsen ◽  
Guy T’Sjoen ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe number of individuals with gender dysphoria seeking gender-affirming treatment is increasing. The short-term and long-term effects of masculinising treatment with testosterone are debated as serum testosterone increases up to 20-fold compared with cisgender women. We will investigate short-term and long-term effects of masculinising testosterone treatment on preclinical and clinical coronary disease, muscle strength and power, oxygen consumption (VO2) max, cardiac and respiratory function and quality of life including aggression in transgender men.Methods and analysesProspective, single-centre, observational cohort study at the Body Identity Clinic (BIC), Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Investigations are performed at inclusion and following 1, 3, 5 and 10 years of testosterone therapy. Non-calcified coronary plaque volume and calcium score are estimated by coronary CT angiography. CT is only performed at inclusion and following 1 and 10 years. Upper body muscle strength and power are measured by a ‘low row’ weight stack resisted exercise machine. Evaluation of aggression and quality of life is assessed by questionnaires, VO2 max is estimated by maximal testing on bike ergometer, and cardiac and respiratory functions are measured by echocardiography and spirometry, respectively. Markers of cardiovascular risk and inflammation and also cortisol and cortisone are assessed in blood, diurnal urine and/or hair samples. Our cohort (BIC), including dropouts, will be an embedded subcohort in a future national registry study in all individuals with gender dysphoria and controls. Data are available on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th version diagnostic codes, prescriptions, socioeconomics and causes of death.Ethics and disseminationThe Regional Committee on Health Research Ethics for Southern Denmark (S-20190108) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (19/27572) approved the study. Signed informed consent will be obtained from all participants. All findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals or at scientific conferences.Trial registration numberNCT04254354.


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