Reproductive Ecology of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta Bicolor) With High Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination

McCarty, John P.; Secord, Anne L.

doi:10.1897/1551-5028(1999)018<1433:reotst>2.3.co;2

Cited by 52 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Tree swallows exposed to oil sands mining wastes had lesser masses compared to unexposed populations (Gentes et al 2006). However, TRES nestlings exposed to PCBs on the Hudson River in New York had similar or greater growth compared to upstream locations without PCB contamination (McCarty and Secord 1999). Mean masses of TRES eggs were greater at PCB contaminated versus reference sites along the Kalamazoo River in Michigan (Neigh et al 2006b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…In an area of the Hudson River highly contaminated with PCBs, TRES exhibited a greater incidence of abandoned clutches compared to nests upstream of the contamination (McCarty and Secord 1999). However, based solely on empirical comparisons (since statistical analyses were not possible), both abandonment and depredation rates were variable among areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The majority of studies have reported variable or no significant reproductive effects (Bishop et al 1999; Harris and Elliott 2000; McCarty and Secord 1999; Neigh et al 2006b, 2007; Thiel et al 1988), while a significant negative correlation was observed for TRES hatching success and egg concentrations on the primarily PCB-contaminated Housatonic River in Massachusetts (Custer et al 2003) and site-specific hatching success was less on the primarily TCDD-contaminated Woonasquatucket River in Rhode Island (Custer et al 2005). However, studied species along the Tittabawassee River had similar ΣPCDD/DF or TEQ WHO-Avian concentrations in eggs (Fredricks et al 2011d) to the studies on the Housatonic and Woonasquatucket rivers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Reproductive success of three passerine species exposed to dioxin-like compounds near Midland, Michigan, USA

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nests of three passerine birds, house wren (HOWR), tree swallow (TRES), and eastern bluebird (EABL) were monitored daily (2005–2007) at study areas (SAs) downstream of Midland, Michigan where soil and sediment concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were significantly greater than the regional background concentrations and upstream reference areas (RAs). Similarly, TRES research conducted at sites contaminated with dioxin-like compounds indicated that concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and PCDFs, expressed as ΣPCDD/DFs and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents observed in the diet and eggs of these three species would be predicted to cause significant effects on reproduction. However, site-specific reproductive parameters including hatching success and fledging success at downstream SAs were similar to or greater than those at upstream RAs. Specifically, hatching success was not significantly different among years, species, locations, or between early and late nesting attempts. Of all initiated clutches, 66% (n = 427), 73% (n = 245), and 64% (n = 122) successfully fledged at least one nestling for HOWR, TRES, and EABL, respectively. Overall reproductive performance was similar between SAs and RAs. The reason for these unexpected results is consistent with the fact that there are species-specific and congener-specific differences in sensitivities to the effects of aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10646-012-0869-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Reproductive success of three passerine species exposed to dioxin-like compounds near Midland, Michigan, USA

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nests were monitored from mid-April through the end of the breeding season beginning in 2005 and for the following 2 years (2006 and 2007). Procedures generally followed those used by McCarty and Secord (1999). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Passerine Exposure to Primarily PCDFs and PCDDs in the River Floodplains Near Midland, Michigan, USA

Fredricks

Zwiernik

Seston

et al. 2009

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

House wren (Troglodytes aedon), tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) tissues collected in study areas (SAs) downstream of Midland, Michigan (USA) contained concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) greater than in upstream reference areas (RAs) in the region. The sum of concentrations of PCDD/DFs (ΣPCDD/DFs) in eggs of house wrens and eastern bluebirds from SAs were 4- to 22-fold greater compared to those from RAs, whereas concentrations in tree swallow eggs were similar among areas. Mean concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs and sum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (ΣTEQsWHO-Avian), based on 1998 WHO avian toxic equivalency factors, in house wren and eastern bluebird eggs ranged from 860 (430) to 1500 (910) ng/kg wet weight (ww) and 470 (150) to 1100 (510) ng/kg ww, respectively, at the most contaminated study areas along the Tittabawassee River, whereas mean concentrations in tree swallow eggs ranged from 280 (100) to 760 (280) ng/kg ww among all locations. Concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs in nestlings of all studied species at SAs were 3- to 50-fold greater compared to RAs. Mean house wren, tree swallow, and eastern bluebird nestling concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs and ΣTEQsWHO-Avian ranged from 350 (140) to 610 (300) ng/kg ww, 360 (240) to 1100 (860) ng/kg ww, and 330 (100) to 1200 (690) ng/kg ww, respectively, at SAs along the Tittabawassee River. Concentrations of ΣTEQsWHO-Avian were positively correlated with ΣPCDD/DF concentrations in both eggs and nestlings of all species studied. Profiles of relative concentrations of individual congeners were dominated by furan congeners (69–84%), primarily 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran, for all species at SAs on the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers but were dominated by dioxin congeners at upstream RAs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00244-009-9416-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

“…Since many complex behaviors are the endpoints of neurological processes regulated by hormones, PCBs could have widespread behavioral effects [9]. Yet, few field studies support this hypothesis (but see [12]–[15]). Establishing the magnitude and extent of PCB effects on behavior could provide a framework for assessing, predicting, and mitigating the consequences of sublethal PCB exposure for wildlife populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Song of Two Passerine Species

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chemical pollutants with demonstrated detrimental toxic and developmental effects on humans and wildlife. Laboratory studies suggest that PCBs influence behavior due to their effects on endocrine and neurological systems, yet little is known about the behavioral consequences of sublethal PCB exposure in the field. Additionally, specific PCB congener data (in contrast to total PCB load) is necessary to understand the possible effects of PCBs in living organisms since number and position of chlorine substitution in a PCB molecule dictates the toxicity and chemical fate of individual PCB congeners. We non-lethally investigated total PCB loads, congener specific PCB profiles, and songs of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) along a historical PCB gradient at the Hudson River in New York State. Our results indicate that black-capped chickadees and song sparrows have higher total blood PCBs in regions with higher historic PCB contamination. The two bird species varied substantially in their congener-specific PCB profiles; within sites, song sparrows showed a significantly higher proportion of lower chlorinated PCBs, while black-capped chickadees had higher proportions of highly chlorinated PCBs. In areas of PCB pollution, the species-specific identity signal in black-capped chickadee song varied significantly, while variation in song sparrow trill performance was best predicted by the mono-ortho PCB load. Thus, PCBs may affect song production, an important component of communication in birds. In conclusion, we suggest that the ramifications of changes in song quality for bird populations may extend the toxic effects of environmental PCB pollution.

show abstract

Reproductive Ecology of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta Bicolor) With High Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination

Cited by 52 publications

References 0 publications

Reproductive success of three passerine species exposed to dioxin-like compounds near Midland, Michigan, USA

Reproductive success of three passerine species exposed to dioxin-like compounds near Midland, Michigan, USA

Passerine Exposure to Primarily PCDFs and PCDDs in the River Floodplains Near Midland, Michigan, USA

The Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Song of Two Passerine Species

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About