Data and code for: Veterinary Expert System for Outcome (VESOP) Prediction

Timely detection and understanding of causes for population decline are essential for effective wildlife management and conservation. Assessing trends in population size has been the standard approach but we propose that monitoring population health could prove more effective. We collated data from seven bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations in the southeastern U.S. to develop the Veterinary Expert System for Outcome Prediction (VESOP), which estimates survival probability using a suite of health measures identified by experts as indices for inflammatory, metabolic, pulmonary, and neuroendocrine systems. VESOP was implemented using logistic regression within a Bayesian analysis framework, and parameters were fit using records from five of the sites that had robust stranding network and frequent photographic identification (photo-ID) surveys to document definitive survival outcomes. We also conducted capture-mark-recapture (CMR) analyses of photo-ID data to obtain separate ..., We collated data from seven bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) health assessment studies in the southeastern U.S. to develop the Veterinary Expert System for Outcome Prediction (VESOP), which estimates survival probability using a suite of health measures. VESOP was implemented using logistic regression within a Bayesian analysis framework. Data include morphometrics, hematologic and serum biochemical results, pulmonary ultrasound scores, hormone measurements, and one- and two-year survival outcomes. , All code was implement in R and Rjags., # Veterinary Expert System for Outcome Prediction (VESOP) data and code

We collated health data from seven bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations in the southeastern U.S. to develop the Veterinary Expert System for Outcome Prediction (VESOP), which estimates survival probability using a suite of health measures. VESOP was implemented using logistic regression within a Bayesian analysis framework. Data include morphometrics, hematologic and serum biochemical results, pulmonary ultrasound scores, hormone measurements, and one- and two-year survival outcomes.

## Description of the Data and file structure

The following files were used to implement the VESOP model for the manuscript and associated supplemental information:
Schwacke, LH, L Thomas, RS Wells, TK Rowles, G Bossart, F Townsend, M Mazzoil, JB Allen, BC Balmer, AA Barleycorn, A Barratclough, ML Burt, S De Guise, D Fauquier, FM Gomez, NM Kellar, JH Schwacke, TR Speakman, E Stolen, BM Quigley, ES Zolman, and CR Smith....