Abstract
To examine the relationships among liver element concentrations, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on data from a case series of 54 common loons collected in Michigan during the period from July 1988 to February 1993. Data available for each bird included season and district of collection, age, sex, necropsy findings, and liver concentrations of twelve elements as determined by spectrophotometry. The first three principal components (PC) accounted for 86% of the total variability of the data, which made possible a substantial reduction in dimensionality. Within PC1-PC3, calcium, iron, mercury and lead were the most influential elements in accounting for variation. The possibility of a competitive interaction between mercury and lead for selenium is suggested, with consideration given to possible alterations in bioavailability due to environmental acidification. PCA can generate hypotheses that subsequently can be investigated under conditions which allow causal inference and better control of confounding factors. Consequently, sparse field data can be used efficiently to generate information on risk factors for environmental diseases, and to provide bases for intervention strategies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 37-49 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1995 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Exploratory data analysis
- Lead
- Loons
- Mercury
- Principal component analysis (PCA)
- Selenium
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Food Animals
Cite this
An exploratory analysis of liver element relationships in a case series of common loons (Gavia immer). / O'Brien, Daniel J.; Poppenga, Robert H; Ramm, Carl W.
In: Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 25, No. 1, 1995, p. 37-49.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An exploratory analysis of liver element relationships in a case series of common loons (Gavia immer)
AU - O'Brien, Daniel J.
AU - Poppenga, Robert H
AU - Ramm, Carl W.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - To examine the relationships among liver element concentrations, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on data from a case series of 54 common loons collected in Michigan during the period from July 1988 to February 1993. Data available for each bird included season and district of collection, age, sex, necropsy findings, and liver concentrations of twelve elements as determined by spectrophotometry. The first three principal components (PC) accounted for 86% of the total variability of the data, which made possible a substantial reduction in dimensionality. Within PC1-PC3, calcium, iron, mercury and lead were the most influential elements in accounting for variation. The possibility of a competitive interaction between mercury and lead for selenium is suggested, with consideration given to possible alterations in bioavailability due to environmental acidification. PCA can generate hypotheses that subsequently can be investigated under conditions which allow causal inference and better control of confounding factors. Consequently, sparse field data can be used efficiently to generate information on risk factors for environmental diseases, and to provide bases for intervention strategies.
AB - To examine the relationships among liver element concentrations, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on data from a case series of 54 common loons collected in Michigan during the period from July 1988 to February 1993. Data available for each bird included season and district of collection, age, sex, necropsy findings, and liver concentrations of twelve elements as determined by spectrophotometry. The first three principal components (PC) accounted for 86% of the total variability of the data, which made possible a substantial reduction in dimensionality. Within PC1-PC3, calcium, iron, mercury and lead were the most influential elements in accounting for variation. The possibility of a competitive interaction between mercury and lead for selenium is suggested, with consideration given to possible alterations in bioavailability due to environmental acidification. PCA can generate hypotheses that subsequently can be investigated under conditions which allow causal inference and better control of confounding factors. Consequently, sparse field data can be used efficiently to generate information on risk factors for environmental diseases, and to provide bases for intervention strategies.
KW - Exploratory data analysis
KW - Lead
KW - Loons
KW - Mercury
KW - Principal component analysis (PCA)
KW - Selenium
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0001956776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0001956776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0167-5877(95)00497-1
DO - 10.1016/0167-5877(95)00497-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0001956776
VL - 25
SP - 37
EP - 49
JO - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
JF - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
SN - 0167-5877
IS - 1
ER -