Developing Metrics of Animal Condition and their linkage to Vital Rates: Further Development of the PCoD Model
Abstract
A framework has been created to understand the population consequences of disturbance. However, there are a number of elements that are necessary for the implementation of this framework. This project would use elephant seals as a model system to quantify the following transfer functions that link: (1) changes in behavior and allostatic load to life functions, and (2) changes in vital rates to population effects. We propose using our existing dataset, along with new data form our ongoing elephant seal field work to explore the specific physiological mechanisms that link body condition and reproduction to better understand how energy status integrates with allostatic load to modulate reproductive effort. We will develop and refine the following metrics associated with physiological measures of body condition that allow detection of pregnancy or the timing of reproductive suppression and provide insights into the physiological mechanisms that link body condition to gonadal function. We will examine the following issues: we will use standard hormonal assays to detect implantation, pregnancy, and mediators of gonadal function that link body condition and foraging success to reproduction in northern elephant seals; we will examine whether there are unique signatures within the diving behaviors of pregnant vs. non-pregnant female elephant seals, using our condition indices determine the thresholds that are associated with implantation and termination of pregnancy; and lastly determine the maximum and minimum condition thresholds for survival in both adults and pups.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812822
Entities
People
- Daniel F. Costa
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Santa Cruz