Surveillance Plan for BisonYellowstone National Park

Need for Surveillance Effects and Effectiveness of Management Actions Vaccination

Free-ranging bison in Yellowstone Remote delivery decision in 2010

Government Accountability Office Define measurable objectives Apply adaptive management

Purpose of Surveillance

Implement long-term research and monitoring for Yellowstone bison and brucellosis

Obtain information to: Evaluate the effects and effectiveness of vaccination

and other management actions Guide decision making Effectively adapt the IBMP

Adaptive Management Principles Management Principles Goals of the IBMP

Reduce the risk of transmission to cattle Conserve a free-ranging bison herd

Measurable Objectives Management and research objectives Define scientific and management questions

Surveillance Activities 13 specific activities to answer questions >1 sampling objectives for each activity

Adaptive Management Principles Management Principles

Incorporate findings into the decision-making process

Inform stakeholders

Adjust the IBMP based on assessments

Decision – remote delivery vaccination

Surveillance Activities 3 Primary Themes

Conservation – preserve a wild bison population

Risk Management – prevent brucellosis transmission from bison to cattle

Brucellosis Suppression – reduce disease prevalence

ConservationConservation1. Estimate the abundance, demographic rates, and limiting factors for bison.

Overall population and 2 subpopulations Abundance Age, pregnancy, recruitment, survival Social structure – group sizes, matrilineal Foraging – landscape heterogeneity Mate competition and sex ratios Role and function – ecosystem effects (e.g., primary production, competition, prey for carnivores and scavengers)

ConservationConservation1. Estimate the abundance, demographic rates,

and limiting factors for bison.

2. Describe migratory and nomadic movements by bison in and out of park.

Distribution, migration, and dispersal Effects of density, environmental

conditions, and management actions

ConservationConservation1. Estimate the abundance, demographic rates,

and limiting factors for bison. 2. Describe migratory and nomadic movements

by bison in and out of park. 3. Estimate genetic diversity and

probabilities of conservation Overall population and 2 subpopulations Interchange rates between subpopulations Long-term conservation of bison genome

Risk ManagementRisk Management4. Estimate risks of transmission within and between species and areas.

Risk assessment model – bison, elk, cattle Transmission pathways through the greater Yellowstone area

Risk ManagementRisk Management4.4. Estimate risks of transmission within and between species and areas.Estimate risks of transmission within and between species and areas.

5. Estimate seroprevalence rates, culture rates, and cross-reactive agents. % seropositive and seronegative bison that are culture positive % seropositive bison that express cross-reactive antibodies (e.g., Yersinia)

Risk ManagementRisk Management4.4. Estimate risks of transmission within and Estimate risks of transmission within and

between species and areas. between species and areas. 5.5. Estimate seroprevalence rates, culture rates, Estimate seroprevalence rates, culture rates,

and cross-reactive agents.and cross-reactive agents.

6. Determine rates of recrudescence. Rate at which latent carriers of Brucella

relapse to infectious state and shed bacteria

Risk ManagementRisk Management4.4. Estimate risks of transmission within and Estimate risks of transmission within and

between species and areas.between species and areas.5.5. Estimate seroprevalence rates, culture rates, Estimate seroprevalence rates, culture rates,

and cross-reactive agents. and cross-reactive agents. 6.6. Determine rates of recrudescence.Determine rates of recrudescence.

7. Determine factors influencing the vulnerability of bison to infection and transmission.

Pregnancy, stress, nutritional condition Identify the best time to vaccinate

Risk ManagementRisk Management5.5. Estimate seroprevalence rates, culture rates, Estimate seroprevalence rates, culture rates,

and cross-reactive agents. and cross-reactive agents. 6.6. Determine rates of recrudescence. Determine rates of recrudescence. 7.7. Determine factors influencing the vulnerability of Determine factors influencing the vulnerability of

bison to infection and transmission.bison to infection and transmission.

8. Estimate the timing and % of removals. Subpopulations Sex and age classes % of calf-cow pairs

Risk ManagementRisk Management6.6. Determine rates of recrudescence. Determine rates of recrudescence. 7.7. Determine factors influencing the vulnerability of Determine factors influencing the vulnerability of

bison to infection and transmission. bison to infection and transmission. 8.8. Estimate the timing and % of removals.Estimate the timing and % of removals.

9. Document bison use of zones outside the park and commingling with cattle.

North and west boundaries of park During likely abortion period (Feb.-April)

Risk ManagementRisk Management7.7. Determine factors influencing the vulnerability of Determine factors influencing the vulnerability of

bison to infection and transmission. bison to infection and transmission. 8.8. Estimate the timing and % of removals.Estimate the timing and % of removals.9.9. Document bison use of zones outside the park Document bison use of zones outside the park

and commingling with cattle.and commingling with cattle.

10. Estimate the effects of hazing or holding bison at capture pens.

Influence on subsequent movements Possible habituation to feeding Exposure to abortion events?

Disease SuppressionDisease Suppression11. Determine the strength and duration of the immune response following syringe vaccination with SRB51.

Cell-mediated immune response compared to non-vaccinated bison Vaccine’s ability to provide protection against Brucella infection Effects of age and condition Booster vaccination necessary?

Disease SuppressionDisease Suppression11.11. Determine the strength and duration of the immune response following syringe vaccination.Determine the strength and duration of the immune response following syringe vaccination.

12. Determine the strength and duration of the immune response following remote delivery vaccination. Bio-bullet with hydrogel encapsulation of SRB51 Cell-mediated immune response compared to syringe-vaccinated bison

Disease SuppressionDisease Suppression13. Document trends in prevalence and the effects of vaccination, other risk management actions, and ecological conditions on these trends.

Effectiveness of intensive vaccination in combination with other actions Decrease seroprevalence Increase % of vaccinated bison Decrease incident rate (seronegative to seropositive)

Managing Brucellosis Risk Prevent Transmission to

Cattle• Separation: bison/cattle • Cattle management • State and treaty hunts • Management removals• Research: disease dynamics & transmission

Brucellosis Suppression Reduce Disease Prevalence

• Vaccination (syringe, remote)• Direct slaughter of exposed• Disease surveillance• Contraception - seropositives?• Research: vaccination/immune response

ConservationPreserve a Functional, Free-Ranging Bison Population

Behavior• Mating• Social• Foraging• Movements

Role and Function• Landscape• Nutrient redistribution• Competition / prey• Habitat creation• Carcasses - scavenge

Genetic Diversity• Population substructure• Gene flow / mutations• Reduce exploitative selection• Create satellite herds (quarantine)

Demography• Population size• Age/sex ratios • Vital rates• Limiting factors• Removals match natural selection

Desired Condition

2500 to 5000 bison

Increased tolerance for

bison outside YNP

Conservation & Disease Management for Yellowstone Bison

Bison won’t always do what we expect or want. Also, many aspects of the proposed disease suppression program are uncertain. Thus, we need to learn and adapt.