Effects of dietary nickel on survival and growth of mallard ducklings

Abstract

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducklings were fed nickel sulphate in their diet from day one to 90 days of age. Ducklings fed 1,200 ppm nickel began to tremor and show signs of paresis after 14 days of dosage (age) and 71% of this group died within 60 days of age. Birds fed 1,200 ppm nickel weighed significantly less (P less than 0.05) at 28 days of age than birds fed the other diets. Weights of ducklings fed untreated food or dietary dosages of 200 and 800 ppm nickel diets were not significantly different (P less than 0.05). The weight/length ratio of the humerus (an expression of bone density) from the 800 ppm diet females was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than the control fed females at 30 and 60 days and for all ducklings fed 1,200 ppm at 30 days of age. The organ-weight/body-weight ratios for heart, liver, and gizzard did not differ from controls or between any dosage group. Liver nickel residues from ducklings that died during this study ranged between 1.0 to 22.7 ppm and kidney residues ranged between 2.7 and 74.4 ppm. Liver and kidney tissues from all ducklings that survived to 90 days of age contained less than 1.0 ppm nickel.

Spread of metals through an invertebrate food chain as influenced by a plant that hyperaccumulates nickel

“…Grasshoppers are a major component of arthropod biomass (Devkota & Schmidt 2000), and the concentrations of Ni observed in their tissues approach the level at which mammals and birds become unable to regulate their absorption and excretion of this element (Outridge & Sheuhammer 1993). The concentrations found in the "other invertebrates" category could be acutely toxic to wildlife (Cain & Pafford 1981).…”

Acute Toxicity of Lead, Steel, and an Iron-Tungsten-Nickel Shot to Mallard Ducks (Anas Platyrhynchos)

“…The NOAEL dose is approximately 10 times greater than the dose to mallards given H-S pellets and the LOAEL dose is close to 700 times greater than the H-S dose. Furthermore, all birds that showed effects of the Ni exposure had liver and kidney residues at least 10 times higher (Cain and Pafford, 1981) than those detected in H-S dosed birds.…”

“…Finally, verification of receipt of a nontoxic dose of Ni from ingestion of H-S shot is found by comparing exposure to ducklings fed diets containing highly soluble nickel sulfate (Cain and Pafford, 1981). These authors found no effects on duckling survival or growth when birds were fed 176 ppm Ni in the diet (determined to be the no observable adverse effects level [NOAEL]).…”

Report on the remedial investigation of Bear Creek Valley at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Volume 6: Appendix G -- Baseline ecological risk assessment report

“…Doses of 21.4 mgkgday administered as nickel sulfate in the diet had no adverse effects on weight gain after 4 weeks. Mallard ducklings on diets with 2800 ppm nickel would be adversely affected (Cain and Pafford, 1981). Selenium Selenium (Se) has a combination of attributes which make it an unusual pollutant (EPA 1987).…”