Uher-Koch, Brian D. (ORCID: 0000-0002-1885-0260) Furst, Emmanuelle A. (ORCID: 0009-0000-5166-6708) 20250521 tabular digital data Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Suggested Citation: Uher-Koch, B.D., Furst, E.A., 2025, Baseline health parameter data from breeding Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Red-throated Loons (G. stellata) in northern Alaska, 2023: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JWKVHP https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JWKVHP These data are in four tables relating to complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry, blood gas analysis, corticosterone, serum protein electrophoresis, and sample attribute data of adult Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Red-throated Loons (G. stellata) breeding in northern Alaska in 2023. These data were collected as part of a study on the breeding ecology of loons in northern Alaska. Specifically, these data were used to evaluate the health of breeding loons and impacts of stress during captures. 2023 observed Complete None planned Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska -149.1833 -145.2942 70.5505 69.7676 USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:682e5447d4be020ae7e1a10d ISO 19115 Topic Category Biota Environment NASA GCMD Earth Science Keyword Thesaurus Animals/Vertebrates Birds Loons Arctic Tundra USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus Migratory birds Aquatic birds Blood analysis USGS Thesaurus Wildlife Tundra ecosystems Wetland ecosystems Biochemistry Pathology NIH MeSH Thesaurus Blood Cell Count Parasitology Blood Glucose Corticosterone Blood Chemical Analysis None Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Alaska Canning River Sagavanirktok River Delta North Slope None Gavia pacifica Gavia stellata ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Unknown online database online ITIS-North America Taxonomic details retrieved May 19, 2025 from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database https://www.itis.gov https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KH0KBK Species were identified by skilled observers in the field based on general appearance, plumage, behavior, and vocalization. Kingdom Animalia Subkingdom Bilateria Infrakingdom Deuterostomia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Infraphylum Gnathostomata Superclass Tetrapoda Class Aves Order Gaviiformes Family Gaviidae Genus Gavia Species Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon Pacific Diver TSN: 174475 Species Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon Red-throated Diver TSN: 174474 No access constraints. No use constraints. These data are marked with a Creative Common CC0 1.0 Universal License and are in the public domain. It is requested that this USGS data release be cited for any subsequent publications that reference or utilize these data. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov Lab analyses were conducted by the University of Miami Division of Comparative Pathology Avian and Wildlife Laboratory. Individual sample IDs, collection dates, sampling locations, band IDs, and other values were cross-checked and verified with field worksheets. Attribute values fall within expected ranges. The dataset is complete, no data were omitted. Positions determined by GPS units with an average accuracy +/- 3 m. METHODS - FIELD: Adult loons were captured on breeding lakes using bow-net traps. Midazolam (5mg/ml, 1 - 1.5mg/kg intramuscular) or saline (0.5 - 0.7ml intramuscular) was administered at the point of capture. Blood samples were collected via jugular or tarsal venipuncture into lithium heparin vacutainers. A few drops (~5-10) of whole blood were stored in Longmire buffer (Longmire et al. 1988). A drop of whole blood was used to make slides (unfixed). A portable blood analyzer (Abbott i-STAT 1) was used to analyze whole blood chemistry, gases, and lactate (see attribute definitions). Whole blood samples were centrifuged to separate red blood cells and plasma in the field and stored frozen until laboratory analysis. Unknown METHODS - LAB: Blood slides (unfixed) and frozen plasma samples were sent to the University of Miami Division of Comparative Pathology Avian and Wildlife Laboratory where complete blood count and biochemistry analyses were conducted. Manual differentials for complete blood count, plasma biochemistry and protein electrophoresis analysis were conducted using methods outlined in Lee et al. (2024). Loon sex was determined using methods outlined in Petrou et al. (2024). Unknown LITERATURE CITED: Lee, L.K.F., Hipfner, J.M., Frankfurter, G., Cray, C., Pearson, S.F., Fiorello, C., Clyde, N.M.T., Hudson, S.A., Parker, S.E., Stallknecht, D.E., Furst, E.A., Haman, K.H., 2024. Baseline health parameters of rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) using serum protein electrophoresis, acute phase proteins, and biochemistry. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11:1379980. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1379980 Longmire, J.L., Lewis, A.K., Brown, N.C., Buckingham, J.M., Clark, L.M., Jones, M.D., Meincke, L.J., Meyne, J., Ratliff, R.L., Ray, F.A., Wagner, R.P., Moyzis, R.K., 1988. Isolation and molecular characterization of a highly polymorphic centromeric tandem repeat in the family Falconidae. Genomics 2(1):14–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/0888-7543(88)90104-8 Petrou, E.L., Scott, L.C., McKeeman, C.M., Ramey, A.M., 2024. Molecular sexing of birds using quantitative PCR (qPCR) of sex-linked genes and logistic regression models. Molecular Ecology Resources 24(4):e13946. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13946 Unknown Point 0.00001 0.00001 Decimal degrees World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) 6378137 298.257223563 loon_bloodGas_ACP_uherKoch.csv Table with results from blood gas analyses performed in the field using a portable blood analyzer (Abbott i-STAT 1). Information on loon species, sex, sample collection date, and sample location can be found in the sample attribute table. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table. Author defined BirdID Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. Identifiers represent the last five digits of metal-band number. BirdIDs in this table correspond with BirdIDs in the other tables included in this data package. Author defined Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. Lactate Lactate level in blood sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 1.80 8.24 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) pH pH level in blood sample. Author defined 7.306 7.682 pCO2 Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). Reflects the concentration of carbon dioxide in blood. Author defined 17.4 55.9 pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) pO2 Partial pressure of oxygen (pO2). Reflects the partial pressure of oxygen in blood. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 20.3 136.0 pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) TCO2 Total carbon dioxide (TCO2). Reflects the sum of all forms of carbon in blood. Author defined 18 40 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) HCO3 Bicarbonate (HCO3) level in blood sample. Author defined 17.5 38.3 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) BE Base excess (BE). The titratable acidity (or base) of the blood sample. Author defined -8 15 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) SO2 Oxygen saturation (SO2) percentage. The percentage of red blood cells (RBC) carrying oxygen in the blood. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 37.0 100.0 percent loon_bloodChemisty_ACP_uherKoch.csv Table with the results from blood chemistry analyses (plasma biochemistry, protein electrophoresis, and acute phase proteins) performed by the University of Miami Division of Comparative Pathology Avian and Wildlife Laboratory. Information on loon species, sex, sample collection date, and sample location can be found in the sample attribute table. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table. Author defined BirdID Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. Identifiers represent the last five digits of metal-band number. BirdIDs in this table correspond with BirdIDs in the other tables included in this data package. Author defined Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. HemolysisIndex Hemolysis index of plasma sample scored on a 0-4 scale where 4 is considered severe. Scores the degree of hemolysis, or destruction of red blood cells (RBC), in a blood sample. Author defined 0 4 0-4 scale LipemiaIndex Lipemia Index is used to measure the turbidity or cloudiness in a plasma sample, primarily caused by the presence of high levels of lipids in the plasma. It is scored on a 0-4 scale where 4 is considered severe. Author defined 0 2 0-4 scale Glucose Glucose level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 215 349 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) BUN Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined <2 27 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Creatinine Creatinine level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined <0.2 1.8 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Sodium Sodium level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 138 155 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) Potassium Potassium level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 0.8 14.1 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) Chloride Chloride level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 109 128 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) CO2 Carbon dioxide (CO2) level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 12 39 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) Amylase Amylase level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 594 2396 Units per liter (U/L) Lipase Amount of lipase measured in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 24 507 Units per liter (U/L) Calcium Calcium level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 7.6 24.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Phosphorous Phosphorous level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 0.5 7.4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Magnesium Amount of magnesium measured in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 2.3 3.5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Cholesterol Blood cholesterol level in plasma sample measuring the total amount of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 148 330 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) UricAcid Uric acid level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 3.0 33.8 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Triglycerides Triglyceride level in plasma sample measuring the total amount of triglycerides circulating in the bloodstream. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 49 1706 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) TotalProtein Total protein level in plasma sample measuring the combined concentration of both albumin and globulin in the blood. Author defined 2.9 6.4 grams per deciliter (g/dL) AST Aspartate Transaminase (AST) level in plasma sample. Author defined 150 1498 Units per liter (U/L) CPK Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) level in plasma sample. Author defined 44 1514 Units per liter (U/L) GGT Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined <10 23 Units per liter (U/L) GLDH Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GLDH) level in plasma sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 1.02 43.96 Units per liter (U/L) Pre-albumin Pre-albumin level in plasma sample. Author defined 0.02 0.23 grams per deciliter (g/dL) Albumin Albumin level in plasma sample. Author defined 0.68 2.29 grams per deciliter (g/dL) Alpha1Globulins Alpha-1 Globulin level in plasma sample. Author defined 0.04 0.22 grams per deciliter (g/dL) Alpha2Globulins Alpha-2 Globulin level in plasma sample. Author defined 0.48 1.44 grams per deciliter (g/dL) BetaGlobulins Beta Globulins level in plasma sample. Author defined 0.49 2.24 grams per deciliter (g/dL) GammaGlobulins Gamma Globulins level in plasma sample. Author defined 0.31 1.90 grams per deciliter (g/dL) Corticosterone Corticosterone level in plasma sample. Author defined 3.06 38.01 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) oon_bloodCount_ACP_uherKoch.csv Table with results from complete blood count (CBC) analyses performed by the University of Miami Division of Comparative Pathology Avian and Wildlife Laboratory. Information on loon species, sex, sample collection date, and sample location can be found in the sample attribute table. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table. Author defined BirdID Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. Identifiers represent the last five digits of metal-band number. BirdIDs in this table correspond with BirdIDs in the other tables included in this data package. Author defined Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. EstWBC Estimated white blood count (x1000) used to measure the number of white blood cells (WBC) in the blood. Author defined 5 15 Ten thousand per microLiter (10^3/ul) Heterophils Heterophil percentage in blood sample. Author defined 14 72 percent ImmHeterophils Immature Heterophil percentage in the blood. Author defined 0 1 percent Lymphocytes Lymphocytes percentage in the blood. Author defined 16 60 percent Monocytes Monocytes percentage in the blood. Author defined 0 15 percent Eosinophils Eosinophils percentage in the blood. Author defined 0 31 percent Basophils Basophils percentage in the blood. Author defined 0 5 percent Imm/MatRBC Immature to mature red blood cell (RBC) ratio in blood sample. "NA" indicates that the test was not conducted on this sample. Author defined 7.0 35.0 Immature RBC/100 Mature RBC BloodParasites Presence of blood parasites (e.g., Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucoctozoon) in blood sample. Author defined Negative No blood parasites were detected in this sample. Author defined Thromb Thrombocytes (platelets) in blood sample. Author defined Adequate No platelet disorders Author defined loon_samples_ACP_uherKoch.csv Table with attribute data (species, sex, sample collection date, and sampling location) for loon blood samples collected in northern Alaska in 2023. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table. Author defined BirdID Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. Identifiers represent the last five digits of metal-band number. BirdIDs in this table correspond with BirdIDs in the other tables included in this data package. Author defined Individual identifier for each sample analyzed. Species The species code for the loon species associated with each sample. Author defined PALO Pacific Loon Author defined RTLO Red-throated Loon Author defined Age Age of individual loon. Author defined ATY After Third Year. A bird known to have hatched prior to two years prior to the year of banding, now in at least its fourth calendar year of life. Author defined CollDate Date when the sample was collected. Author defined 2023-06-20 2023-07-07 Date (YYYY-MM-DD) Midazolam Adult loon received dose of midazolam at point of capture. Author defined Y Midazolam was administered at the point of capture to individual. Author defined N Saline was administered at the point of capture to individual. Author defined Sex Sex of the individual loon. Author defined F Female Author defined M Male Author defined Lat Latitude of capture location Author defined 70.04974 70.37997 Decimal degrees (WGS84) Long Longitude of capture location Author defined -148.58095 -145.81889 Decimal degrees (WGS84) U.S. Geological Survey USGS ScienceBase Team Mailing and Physical

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Denver Colorado 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov The U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source of these data, distributed by ScienceBase (a USGS Trusted Digital Repository). Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes or on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. CSV Tabular data in CSV format; FGDC metadata in XML and HTML formats. https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JWKVHP None 20250521 U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) FGDC-STD-001.1-1999