Reproductive success of barn swallows nesting near a selenium-contaminated lake in east Texas, USA

Metal Levels in Mourning Doves from South Carolina: Potential Hazards to Doves and Hunters

“…Selenium levels in seabirds have ranged as high as 77,600 ppb (Leach's storm petrel; Oceanodroma leucorhoa; Elliott et al, 1992), although most seabirds ranged from 3000 ppb (Canadian Atlantic herring gulls; Larus argentatus; Elliot et al, 1992) to 24,000 ppb (seabirds; Norheim, 1987). Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) from Texas averaged 5800 to 14,000 ppb (King et al, 1994). Thus, liver selenium levels of doves from South Carolina (mean of 519 ppb) are clearly below these levels reported for other species.…”

Contaminant Exposure of Barn Swallows Nesting on Bayou D'Inde, Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana, USA

“…Impairment of reproductive success has been associated with egg concentrations of 2.5 to 10 μ g/g dry weight (Thompson, 1996; converted to dry weight assuming 80% moisture). Barn swallow eggs in Texas averaged 0.1 μ g/g dry weight Hg (maximum value was 0.71 μ g/g dry weight), and no reproductive effects were noted (King et al, 1994).…”

“…Mercury concentrations in tree swallow eggs from the Arkansas River, Colorado (Custer et al, 2003a), North Platte River, Wyoming (Custer et al, 2001), and Housatonic River, Massachusetts (Custer et al, 2003b) were 0.2, 0.3, and 0.6 μ g/g dry weight, respectively. Mercury concentrations in barn swallow eggs collected in west Texas were 0.1 μ g/g dry weight (King et al, 1994). Impairment of reproductive success has been associated with egg concentrations of 2.5 to 10 μ g/g dry weight (Thompson, 1996; converted to dry weight assuming 80% moisture).…”

“…They feed near their nest site (Quinney and Ankney, 1985) on emergent insects (Blancher and McNicol, 1991), so residues in their tissues reflect sediment contamination for chemicals that transfer into the biota (Fairchild et al, 1992). Data are available on contaminant levels in swallows at a number of locations in North America for PCBs (Ankley et al, 1993;Bishop et al, 1995;Nichols et al, 1995;Custer et al, 1998Custer et al, , 2003bMcCarty and Secord, 1999), other organochlorines (Shaw, 1983;DeWeese et al, 1985), dioxins, furans (Custer et al, 2003b(Custer et al, , 2005, trace elements (Kraus, 1989;King et al, 1994;Custer et al, 2001Custer et al, , 2003a, and PAHs (Custer et al, 2001).…”

Regulatory Implications of Using Constructed Wetlands to Treat Selenium-Laden Wastewater

“…What might seem to be unattractive conditions from an engineering standpoint, e.g., shallow, hot, hypersaline water, no macrophytes or emergent vegetation, can turn out to be a magnet for wildlife because of invertebrates that flourish under those conditions (e.g., Parker and Knight, 1989 (Zahm, 1986;Hoffman et al, 1986). Even covering a wetland with screening to exclude birds still allows passage of selenium-contaminated insects, which can be a significant route of exposure for insectivorous birds and mammals King et al, 1994). Taking the steps necessary to reduce ecological liability can increase the cost of wetland treatment dramatically, perhaps to the point of making the project unfeasible from an economic standpoint.…”