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Berzins L, Morrissey C, Howerter D, Clark RG. CONSERVING WETLANDS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS CAN SUSTAIN AERIAL INSECTIVORE PRODUCTIVITY AND SURVIVAL. CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Agricultural intensification simplifies natural landscapes and frequently results in the loss of biodiversity. Wetlands are highly productive and may offset these losses, but the amount of wetland area needed to support declining avian species on farmland is unknown. Using an avian aerial insectivore, the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808), we tested whether a gradient of pond area (visible surface water in wetland basins within 500 m of nest boxes; range: 0.2 - 30% pond area) at cropland and grassland sites was related to aquatic insect biomass, reproductive success, and adult female or nestling body condition. Aquatic insect biomass was ~2-8 times higher at the cropland site with intermediate (5.2%) pond area than at sites with the highest (15.6%) and lowest (0.2%) pond area. Swallow clutch initiation date was ~3-4 days earlier and nestling body condition and model-predicted first-year survival were ~10% higher among cropland sites with more pond area and were comparable to birds hatched at grassland sites. Loss of ponds due to agricultural drainage can reduce aquatic insect prey during the breeding season with apparent individual and demographic consequences for insectivorous birds. Overall, results suggest that where wetlands are conserved, intensive croplands may sustain Tree Swallow populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Berzins
- University of Saskatchewan, 7235, Biology, 115 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5E2
| | - Christy Morrissey
- University of Saskatchewan, Biology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada,
| | - D.W. Howerter
- Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada,
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2
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King MD, Elliott JE, Williams TD. Effects of petroleum exposure on birds: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142834. [PMID: 33109373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Birds are vulnerable to petroleum pollution, and exposure has a range of negative effects resulting from plumage fouling, systemic toxicity, and embryotoxicity. Recent research has not been synthesized since Leighton's 1993 review despite the continued discharge of conventional petroleum, including high-volume oil spills and chronic oil pollution, as well as the emergence of understudied unconventional crude oil types. To address this, we reviewed the individual-level effects of crude oil and refined fuel exposure in avifauna with peer-reviewed articles published 1993-2020 to provide a critical synthesis of the state of the science. We also sought to answer how unconventional crude petroleum effects compare with conventional crude oil. Relevant knowledge gaps and research challenges were identified. The resulting review examines avian exposure to petroleum and synthesizes advances regarding the physical effects of oil hydrocarbons on feather structure and function, as well the toxic effects of inhaled or ingested oil, embryotoxicity, and how exposure affects broader scale endpoints related to behavior, reproduction, and survival. Another outcome of the review was the knowledge gaps and challenges identified. The first finding was a paucity of oil ingestion rate estimates in birds. Characterizing environmentally realistic exposure and ingestion rates is a higher research priority than additional conventional oral dosing experiments. Second, there is an absence of toxicity data for unconventional crude petroleum. Although the effects of air and water contamination in the Canadian oil sands region have received attention, toxicity data for direct exposure to unrefined bitumen produced there in high volumes and other such unconventional oil types are needed. Third, we encountered barriers to the interpretation, replication, broad relevance, and comparability of studies. We therefore propose best practices and promising technological advancements for researchers. This review consolidates our understanding of petroleum's effects on birds and points a way forward for researchers and resource managers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason D King
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - John E Elliott
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Division, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC V4K 3N2, Canada.
| | - Tony D Williams
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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3
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Koim-Puchowska B, Drozdz-Afelt JM, Lamparski R, Menka A, Kaminski P. Antioxidant defence barrier of great tit Parus major nestlings in response to trace elements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:20321-20334. [PMID: 32239412 PMCID: PMC7244610 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08495-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Metals can have direct and indirect effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species in wild birds. The aim of this work has been to examine the effect of exposure to trace metals (copper Cu, iron Fe, cobalt Co, manganese Mn) on oxidative stress biomarkers such as lipoperoxidation TBARS and level of superoxide dismutase SOD, catalase CAT, and reduced glutathione GSH in the livers and kidneys of great tit Parus major nestlings (n = 165, 63 broods) living in polluted environments associated with soda plants and agricultural activities (Kujawy region) and from a reference site (Tuchola Forest), both in the north of Poland. As we predicted, the level of TBARS in both organs of chicks from polluted areas was higher than in those from reference site. This could be connected with Fe concentrations, particularly in areas adjacent to soda plants (livers Rs = 0.49, p < 0.002; kidneys Rs = 0.69, p < 0.001). We also showed differences in the level of antioxidants depending on the environment. CAT activity was higher in nestlings from Kujawy than in those from Tuchola. Meanwhile SOD activity (both organs) and GSH levels (kidneys) were lower in the polluted area compared to the reference site. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, Co, and Mn may play a role in regulating the antioxidant system components' activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Koim-Puchowska
- Department of Biotechnology, Kazimierz Wielki University, K.J. Poniatowski St12, 85-671, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Joanna M. Drozdz-Afelt
- Department of Biotechnology, Kazimierz Wielki University, K.J. Poniatowski St12, 85-671, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Robert Lamparski
- Department of Biology and Plant Protection, UTP University of Science and Technology, Prof. S. Kaliski St. 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Menka
- Department of Biotechnology, Kazimierz Wielki University, K.J. Poniatowski St12, 85-671, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Piotr Kaminski
- Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, M. Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biotechnology, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Szafran St. 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
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4
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Godwin CM, Barclay RM, Smits JE. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nest success and nestling growth near oil sands mining operations in northeastern Alberta, Canada. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Industrial development and contaminant exposure may affect reproductive success and food quality for birds. Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) nesting near oil sands development in northern Alberta (Canada) potentially experience elevated environmental stressors that could influence reproduction. We measured reproductive and growth endpoints in Tree Swallows, predicting reduced reproductive success and nestling growth near oil sands operations compared with reference sites. We also identified the invertebrate prey in the stomach contents of nestlings to understand variability in the diet and its potential effect on growth and survival of nestlings. From 2012 to 2015, clutch initiation varied among years but was not influenced by proximity to oil sands operations. Hatching and fledging success decreased in response to increased precipitation, regardless of location. Measurements of nestling growth reflected the variation associated with nestling sex and possibly asynchronous hatching. The composition of the nestling diet was significantly different; birds near oil sands development consumed Odonata, whereas birds at reference sites consumed Ephemeroptera. Nestlings from all sites consumed relatively high quantities of terrestrial insects. Our results demonstrate that factors such as weather conditions, diet, hatching order, and nestling sex are important when interpreting the potential effects of oil sands development on nest success and nestling growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M. Godwin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Robert M.R. Barclay
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Judit E.G. Smits
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
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5
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Ozaki S, Fritsch C, Valot B, Mora F, Cornier T, Scheifler R, Raoul F. How Do Richness and Composition of Diet Shape Trace Metal Exposure in a Free-Living Generalist Rodent, Apodemus sylvaticus. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:5977-5986. [PMID: 31002242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b07194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of terrestrial mammals to chemical contaminants like trace metals (TMs) is considered to be mainly based on trophic transfer. Although relationships between TM transfer to animals and identity of contaminated food have been studied, the variation of the TM transfer with respect to diet diversity has been poorly documented. In this study, the oral exposure to TMs of wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus was investigated with respect to both the number of different items, i.e., diet richness, and the identity of items determined by metabarcoding from their stomach content, i.e., diet composition. The results showed that consuming Salicaceae, a known cadmium accumulator plant family, significantly increased exposure to cadmium and zinc. However, an increase in diet richness minimized exposure to cadmium when mice consumed Salicaceae items. This strongly suggests that TM accumulator items can lead to a high oral exposure to TMs but that such high exposure due to TM accumulator items can be " diluted" by diet richness due to other low accumulator items. Our results clearly indicate that both the presence of certain items in the diet and diet richness are important determinants of exposure to TMs in generalist animals, which matches the predictions of the " diet dilution hypothesis".
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Ozaki
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement , UMR 6249 CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté UsC INRA , 16 Route de Gray , 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Clémentine Fritsch
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement , UMR 6249 CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté UsC INRA , 16 Route de Gray , 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Benoit Valot
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement , UMR 6249 CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté UsC INRA , 16 Route de Gray , 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Frédéric Mora
- Conservatoire Botanique National de Franche-Comté, Observatoire Régional des Invertébrés , 7 Rue Voirin , 25000 Besançon , France
| | - Thierry Cornier
- Centre Régional de Phytosociologie Agréé Conservatoire Botanique National de Bailleul , Hameau de Haendries , F-59270 Bailleul , France
| | - Renaud Scheifler
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement , UMR 6249 CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté UsC INRA , 16 Route de Gray , 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Francis Raoul
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement , UMR 6249 CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté UsC INRA , 16 Route de Gray , 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
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6
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Custer TW, Custer CM, Dummer PM, Goldberg D, Franson JC. Element Concentrations in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) from the U.S. and Binational Great Lakes Areas of Concern. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 76:414-424. [PMID: 30734087 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-019-00601-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Selected elements were targeted in state Remedial Action Plans as one group of chemicals affecting the Beneficial Use Impairments of Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). Livers of nestling tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, were harvested from 76 sites in the Great Lakes, which included multiple sites at 27 AOCs and 12 reference sites from 2010 to 2015, and were analyzed for 21 elements. Mercury concentrations were at background levels at all sites. Elevated cadmium (Cd) concentrations were associated with industry. The highest Cd values were from the Black River, OH AOC and were associated with historic coke production but were not at toxic levels. Lead (Pb) concentrations were highest on the Rouge River, MI AOC-the oldest and most heavily populated and industrialized area in southeast Michigan. Individual Pb concentrations were elevated to a level associated with delta-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase inhibition but not to a level considered toxic. In contrast, livers harvested from sites on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan had selenium (Se) concentrations elevated to levels associated with reduced avian reproduction. One likely source of the high Se concentrations was pollution from a local coal-fired power plant. Concentrations of the remaining elements were at background levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Custer
- Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA
| | - Christine M Custer
- Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA.
| | - Paul M Dummer
- Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA
| | - Diana Goldberg
- National Wildlife Health Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - J Christian Franson
- National Wildlife Health Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
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7
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Fernie KJ, Marteinson SC, Chen D, Palace V, Peters L, Soos C, Smits JEG. Changes in thyroid function of nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) in relation to polycyclic aromatic compounds and other environmental stressors in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 169:464-475. [PMID: 30530086 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) raised near mining-related activities accumulated greater concentrations of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) that contributed to their poorer condition, growth, and reproductive success. Here, we report changes in thyroid function of the same 14 day old (do) nestlings (N ≤ 68) at these mining-related sites (OS1, OS2) compared to reference nestlings (REF1), and in relation to multiple environmental stressors that influence avian thyroid function. Thyroid function was compromised for OS1 nestlings but generally comparable between OS2 and REF1 chicks. In 2012, circulating total triiodothyronine (TT3) and thyroxine (TT4) were similar among all nestlings. The OS1 chicks had more active thyroid glands based on histological endpoints. Hepatic T4 outer-ring deiodinase (T4-ORD) activity was suppressed in OS1 and OS2 chicks. Despite inter-annual differences, OS1 chicks continued experiencing compromised thyroid function with significantly higher circulating TT4 and more active thyroid glands in 2013. The OS2 chicks had less active thyroid glands, which conceivably contributed to their suppressed growth (previously reported) relative to the heavier OS1 nestlings with more active thyroid glands. Thyroid gland activity was more influenced by the chicks' accumulation of (muscle), than exposure (feces) to naphthalene, C2-naphthalenes, and C1-fluorenes. Of four major volatile organic contaminants, sulfur dioxide (SO2) primarily influenced thyroid gland activity and structure, supporting previous findings with captive birds. When collectively considering environmental-thyroidal stressors, chicks had a greater thyroidal response when they experienced colder temperatures, accumulated more C2-naphthalenes, and consumed aquatic-emerging insects with higher PAC burdens than terrestrial insects (carbon (δ13C)). We hypothesize that the more active thyroid glands and higher circulating TT4 of the OS1 chicks supported their growth and survival despite having the highest PAC burdens, whereas the lack of thyroid response in the OS2 chicks combined with high PAC burdens, contributed to their smaller size, poorer condition and poorer survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7R 1A2.
| | - S C Marteinson
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7R 1A2
| | - D Chen
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - V Palace
- International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area, 111 Lombard Avenue, Suite 325, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0T4
| | - L Peters
- Riddell Faculty of Earth Environment and Resources, University of Manitoba, 125 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - C Soos
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X4
| | - J E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6
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8
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Hernout BV, Gibson LJ, Walmsley AJ, Arnold KE. Interspecific variation in the spatially-explicit risks of trace metals to songbirds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 642:679-689. [PMID: 29909336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Many wild animals can be adversely affected by trace metals around point sources but little is known about the risks to birds across their ranges. Trace metals in the soil are ubiquitously, if heterogeneously distributed, across the world due to natural and anthropogenic sources. Here, we built, parameterized and applied a spatially explicit modelling framework to determine the risks of soil-associated metals to 30 invertebrate-consuming passerine species across their spatial distribution in England and Wales. The model uses a risk characterization approach to assess the risks of soil-associated metals. Various monitoring datasets were used as input parameters: soil metal concentrations in England and Wales, bird spatial distribution; bird diet, bioaccumulation and toxicity data were extracted from the literature. Our model highlights significant differences in toxicity risks from Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn across the UK distributions of different species; Pb and Zn posed risks to all species across most of species' distributions, with more localised risks to some species of conservation concern from Cd and Cu. No single taxa of invertebrate prey drove avian exposure to metal toxicity. Adults were found to be at higher risk from Pb and Zn toxicity across their distributions than nestlings. This risk was partially driven by diet, with age differences in diets identified. Our spatially explicit model allowed us to identify areas of each species' national distribution in which the population was at risk. Overall, we determined that for all species studied an average of 32.7 ± 0.2%, 8.0 ± 0.1%, 86.1 ± 0.1% and 93.2 ± 0.1% of the songbird spatial distributions in the UK were characterized at risk of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively. Despite some limitations, our spatially explicit model helps in understanding the risks of metals to wildlife and provides an efficient method of prioritising areas, contaminants and species for environmental risk assessments. The model could be further evaluated using a targeted monitoring dataset of metal concentration in bird tissues. Our model can assess and communicate to stakeholders the potential risks of environmental contaminants to wildlife species at a national and potentially international scale.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise J Gibson
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Adam J Walmsley
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Kathryn E Arnold
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, UK.
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9
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Fernie KJ, Marteinson SC, Chen D, Eng A, Harner T, Smits JEG, Soos C. Elevated exposure, uptake and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) through multiple exposure routes in active mining-related areas of the Athabasca oil sands region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:250-261. [PMID: 29253773 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the Athabasca Oil Sands (OS) Region, the exposure (by air, water, diet), uptake and deposition of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including parent and alkylated hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), was assessed in nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) at mining-related (OS1, OS2) and reference (REF) sites. The OS sites did not receive oil-sands processed waters (OSPW) and were ≥60km from the reference sites. Most of the 42 PACs (≤98%) were detected in all matrices. Swallows at the OS sites were exposed to higher air and water concentrations of individual PAC congeners, ΣPACs, Σparent-PAHs, Σalkyl-PAHs and ΣDBTs. Compared to reference nestlings (ΣPACs: 13-27ng/g wet weight (ww)), PACs were significantly higher in OS nestlings (31-106ng/gww) that also accumulated higher concentrations of major PAHs (i.e., naphthalene, C1-naphthalene, C2-naphthalene, C1-fluorenes, C2-fluorenes, C1-phenanthrenes) measured in 60% of nestlings. Uptake and deposition of PAHs in the birds' muscle was related to diet (δ15N: C1-naphthalenes, C2-naphthalenes, C1-fluorenes), water (C1-phenanthrenes), and air through inhalation and feather preening (C1-fluorenes), but fecal concentrations were not well explained by diet or environmental concentrations. While PAH concentrations were much higher in muscle than feces, they were highly correlated (p≤0.001 for all). Thus feces may represent a non-lethal method for characterizing PAH exposure of birds, with muscle characterizing accumulation and sources of PAH exposure. Tree swallows in the Athabasca OS Region are exposed to many PACs, accumulating higher concentrations when developing in close proximity to mining activity through diet, aerial deposition and mining-impacted freshwater sources (e.g., wetlands).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 1A2, Canada.
| | - Sarah C Marteinson
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 1A2, Canada
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China.
| | - Anita Eng
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Tom Harner
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Judit E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Catherine Soos
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada
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10
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Fernie KJ, Cruz-Martinez L, Peters L, Palace V, Smits JEG. Inhaling Benzene, Toluene, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide, Disrupts Thyroid Function in Captive American Kestrels (Falco sparverius). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:11311-11318. [PMID: 27646166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Research investigating the effects of air contaminants on biota has been limited to date. Captive adult female American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were exposed to a mixture of benzene (0.6 ppm), toluene (1 ppm), nitrogen dioxide (NO2; 2 ppm) and sulfur dioxide (SO2; 5.6 ppm), in a whole-body inhalation chamber. Thyroid axis responses to meet metabolic demands were examined through thyroid histology, plasma thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3), and hepatic outer ring deiodination (T4-ORD). Plasma free (F) T3 and T4 were measured at baseline, and at 9 days and 18 days of exposure, whereas total (T) T3 and TT4, thyroid histology and hepatic T4-ORD were determined at the final 18 day exposure. Inhalation of these contaminants significantly suppressed plasma FT4 and TT4, and depleted follicular colloid and increased epithelial cell height at 18 days, and significantly altered the temporal pattern of plasma FT4. Significant histological changes in the follicular colloid:epithelial cell height ratio indicated sustained T4 production and release by the thyroid glands. There was no effect on plasma FT3, TT3, or hepatic T4-ORD. We hypothesize that contaminant-related activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in the kestrels increased elimination of plasma T4 through Phase II enzymes. Further research is required to test this hypothesis in wild birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ontario Canada , L7R 4A6
| | - Luis Cruz-Martinez
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada , T2N4Z6
- Ross University , School of Veterinarian Medicine, Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts West Indies
| | - Lisa Peters
- Stantec Consulting Ltd., 500-311 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB Canada R3B 2B9
| | - Vince Palace
- IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, 111 Lombard Ave., Suite 325 Winnipeg, MB Canada R3B 0T4
| | - Judit E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada , T2N4Z6
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