NSF Org:	IOS Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
Recipient:	THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	June 13, 2001
Latest Amendment Date:	June 13, 2001
Award Number:	0118069
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	William E. Zamer IOS  Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems BIO  Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	June 15, 2001
End Date:	May 31, 2003 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$32,774.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$32,774.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2001 = $32,774.00
History of Investigator:	Martin Wikelski (Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Princeton University 1 NASSAU HALL PRINCETON NJ  US  08544-2001 (609)258-3090
Sponsor Congressional District:	12
Primary Place of Performance:	Princeton University 1 NASSAU HALL PRINCETON NJ  US  08544-2001
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	12
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	NJ1YPQXQG7U5
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	ECOLOGICAL & EVOLUTIONARY PHYS
Primary Program Source:	01000102DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	9196, EGCH
Program Element Code(s):	114800
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.074

ABSTRACT

On January 17, 2001, a medium size oil spill hit the Galapagos islands, Ecuador, a Natural World Heritage site. Although few animals were killed immediately, there is strong concern about the long-term impacts on the endemic wildlife. Long-lived species, like the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) in particular, offer ideal model systems to study potential chronic effects of environmental pollution. Marine iguanas forage on intertidal algae and are therefore highly exposed to water-borne pollutants. I have 14 years of physiological and demographic data for the marine iguana population most strongly affected, on Santa Fe island. Furthermore, as part of my most recent field project, I collected baseline data on environmental stress (plasma corticosterone levels), algae quality and digestive endosymbionts up to two days before the oil spill (Jan 17, 2001). Ample pre-oil spill data are also available for El Nino, La Nina and 'regular' seasons. To quantify the impacts of oiling I propose to measure the following parameters immediately, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months after the spill: i) baseline and stress-induced corticosterone levels, ii) blood cell counts, iii) activity of hindgut endosymbiontic microbes, iv) standing algae crop, and v) survival rates of individually marked animals. Furthermore, an Ecuadorian assistant will conduct an experiment simulating an oil spill on captive marine iguanas at the Charles Darwin Research Station. This experiment will also allow us to test the feasibility of re-inoculating the hindgut of oiled marine iguanas with microbes from unaffected conspecifics. My detailed pre-spill data will allow me to quantify behavioral and physiological consequences of a severe environmental perturbation. These data will be immensely important for conservation and policy measures in Galapagos but will also be scientifically useful for global conservation issues.

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