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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources

USGS2024

Mercury concentrations in Seaside Sparrows and Marsh Rice Rats differ across the Mississippi River Estuary

Mercury (Hg) concentrations and their associated toxicological effects in terrestrial ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico are largely unknown. Compounding this uncertainty, a large input of organic matter from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have altered Hg cycling and bioaccumulation dynamics. To test this idea, we quantified blood concentrations of total mercury (THg) in Seaside Sparrows ( Ammospiza maritima ) and Marsh Rice Rats ( Oryzomys palustris ) in marshes west and east of the Mississippi River in 2015 and 2016. We also tested for a difference in THg concentrations between oiled and non-oiled sites. To address the potential confounding effect of diet variation on Hg transfer, we used stable nitrogen (δ 15 N) and carbon (δ 13 C) isotope values as proxies of trophic position and the source of primary production, respectively. Our results revealed that five to six years after the spill, THg concentrations were not higher in sites oiled by the spill compared to non-oiled sites. In both species, THg was higher at sites east of the Mississippi River compared to control and oiled sites, located west. In Seaside Sparrows but not in Marsh Rice Rats, THg increased with δ 15 N values, suggesting Hg trophic biomagnification. Overall, even in sites with the most elevated THg, concentrations were generally low. In Seaside Sparrows, THg concentrations were also lower than previously reported in this and other closely related passerines, with only 7% of tested birds exceeding the lowest observed effect concentration associated with toxic effects across bird species (0.2 µg/g ww ) . The factors associated with geographic heterogeneity in Hg exposure remain uncertain. Clarification could inform risk assessment and future restoration and management actions in a region facing vast anthropogenic changes.

Ecotoxicology↗

USGS2017

Assessing multi-tissue lead burdens in free-flying obligate scavengers in eastern North America

Avian scavengers are regularly exposed to anthropogenic lead. Although many studies evaluate lead concentrations of either blood or tissues of lead-poisoned birds, there is comparatively less research on lead burdens of free-flying, apparently healthy individuals and populations. Here, we address this lack of information by assessing lead levels of multiple tissues (femur, liver, kidney, breast muscle, thigh muscle) in free-flying black vultures (n = 98) and turkey vultures (n = 10) collected outside the hunting season. We found only one individual had a soft tissue lead concentration indicative of acute exposure (6.17 mg/kg wet weight in the liver), while the other 107 vultures showed consistent low-level lead exposure throughout the soft tissues. All vultures, however, had femur lead concentrations indicative of chronic lead exposure (black vultures x¯¯¯=x¯= 31.80 ± 20.42 mg/kg (±SD); turkey vultures 23.21 ± 18.77 mg/kg). Lead levels were similar in all tissues in both vulture species (in each case, p > 0.05) and were generally highest in the femur, intermediate in the kidney and liver, and lowest in the breast and thigh muscle. Despite the consistency of these patterns, there were few strong correlations between lead levels in different tissues within each species, and those correlations that did exist were not consistent between species. Because these vultures were free flying and apparently healthy, the organism-wide lead distributions and between-species trends we report here provide important insight into the sublethal lead burdens that black vultures and turkey vultures commonly carry. Furthermore, these data offer a framework to better interpret and contextualize lead exposure data collected from these and other species.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment↗

USGS2025

Irrigated agriculture influences selenium levels in an endangered marsh bird

Selenium bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs poses risks to wildlife, particularly in wetlands receiving irrigation runoff. The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, is primarily sustained by agricultural drainage. This drainage creates wetland habitat along the lakeshore that many bird species depend on, including the federally endangered Yuma Ridgway’s rail ( Rallus obsoletus yumanensis ). However, these marshes may pose an ecological trap – attracting rails despite high selenium exposure. We captured rails during the 2020–2023 breeding seasons and compared rail selenium levels within three types of marshes (fed with irrigation runoff, Colorado River water, or groundwater). We collected blood, breast feathers, and head feathers of rails in all three water sources for selenium comparisons. We tagged adult rails with GPS transmitters to locate nests and foraging locations where we collected eggshells, unhatched eggs, and prey. We assessed selenium exposure by collecting multiple prey species commonly eaten by rails in all three water sources. Selenium concentrations varied among sampling locations. Selenium concentrations in most sample types were predominately influenced by water source and marsh inflow velocity (sometimes in combination with marsh size). Distance to inflow, however, did not influence selenium concentrations in any sample type. Selenium concentrations were highest in agricultural-fed marshes compared to river-fed and spring-fed marshes. Increased marsh inflow velocities resulted in lower selenium concentrations. Given the risk of an ecological trap, our results suggest that supplementing wetlands with Colorado River water could mitigate selenium bioaccumulation in Yuma Ridgway’s rails.

California↗

USGS2024

Tissue distribution and temporal and spatial assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the mid-Atlantic United States

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become an environmental issue worldwide. A first step to assessing potential adverse effects on fish populations is to determine if concentrations of concern are present in a region and if so, in which watersheds. Hence, plasma from adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu collected at 10 sites within 4 river systems in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, from 2014 to 2019, was analyzed for 13 PFAS. These analyses were directed at better understanding the presence and associations with land use attributes in an important sportfish. Four substances, PFOS, PFDA, PFUnA, and PFDoA, were detected in every plasma sample, with PFOS having the highest concentrations. Sites with mean plasma concentrations of PFOS below 100 ng/ml had the lowest percentage of developed landcover in the upstream catchments. Sites with moderate plasma concentrations (mean PFOS concentrations between 220 and 240 ng/ml) had low (< 7.0) percentages of developed land use but high (> 30) percentages of agricultural land use. Sites with mean plasma concentrations of PFOS > 350 ng/ml had the highest percentage of developed land use and the highest number PFAS facilities that included military installations and airports. Four of the sites were part of a long-term monitoring project, and PFAS concentrations of samples collected in spring 2017, 2018, and 2019 were compared. Significant annual differences in plasma concentrations were noted that may relate to sources and climatic factors. Samples were also collected at two sites for tissue (plasma, whole blood, liver, gonad, muscle) distribution analyses with an expanded analyte list of 28 PFAS. Relative tissue distributions were not consistent even within one species of similar ages. Although the long-chained legacy PFAS were generally detected more frequently and at higher concentrations, emerging compounds such as 6:2 FTS and GEN X were detected in a variety of tissues.

Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virgin↗

USGS2010

Isolation of microsatellite loci from the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbuenae)

Leptonycteris yerbabuenae is a nectarivore (subfamily: Glossophaginae, family: Phyllostomidae), is found from southern Arizona/southwestern New Mexico to southern Mexico including the Baja California peninsula (Ceballos et al.1997; Cockrum 1991). Leptonycteris yerbabuenae is listed as endangered in the United States (Shull 1988) and threatened in Mexico (SEMARNAT 2002). They migrate up to 1,800 km between wintering and breeding grounds (Fleming and Eby 2001). Females mate in the winter in southern Mexico, and migrate to maternity roosts in northern Mexico/southern Arizona to give birth in late spring-early summer (Ceballos et al.1997; Cockrum 1991). Wilkinson and Fleming (1996) have suggested two separate migration corridors where bats occupy southeastern Arizona and southwestern Arizona arrive and leave through separate corridors. We isolated 12 microsatellites loci to estimate gene flow between southwestern and southeastern Arizona roosts, as well as Sonora, Baja California, and Jalisco, Mexico. Genomic DNA was extracted using the DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen). Approximately 5 μg of genomic DNA was digested with RsaI (NEB) and fragments were ligated to double-stranded SuperSNX-24 linkers to construct an enriched genomic DNA library using a modified version of Glenn and Schable (2005). Linker-ligated fragments ranging from 300–1400 bp were recovered using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a SuperSNX-24 forward primer and Platinum high-fidelity Taq DNA polymerase (Invitrogen), and were hybridized to 5′-biotinylated microsatellite oligonucleotide probes (GT) 15 , (CT) 15 , (GATA) 10 and (GACA) 8 . Hybridized fragments were captured on streptavidin-coated paramagnetic beads (Dynal) and then recovered by PCR. These fragments were ligated into the vector PCR4-TOPO (Invitrogen), and transformed into TOP10 chemically competent E. coli cells (Invitrogen) following the manufacturer’s protocol.

Conservation Genetics Resources↗

USGS2019

Establishing genome sizes of focal fishery and aquaculture species along Baja California, Mexico

Genome size—the total haploid content of nuclear DNA— is constant in all cells in individuals within a species, but differs among species. Consequently, the genome size is a quantifiable genetic signature that not only characterizes a species, but it can reflect chromatin modifications, which play fundamental roles in most biological processes that are involved in the manipulation and expression of DNA. This characteristic makes the genome size a crucial parameter for genetic research on endemic aquatic species and for genetic manipulations in aquaculture species. Technologies for genetic assessments and improvements applied to fishery and aquaculture species use genome size values as a means by which hybrids, polyploids, and sex can be identified, when sex chromosomes exist. The objectives of this study were to determine genome sizes of aquatic species with economic and biological importance along the Pacific coast of Mexico, as well as to identify the appropriate reference standards for use in this study. Blood, hemolymph or milt were collected from 10 species occurring along the coast of Baja California: Sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria , Black Snapper Lutjanus novemfasciatus , California Halibut Paralichthys californicus , Pacific Sardine Sardinops sagax , Flag Rockfish Sebastes rubrivinctus , Starry Rockfish Sebastes constellatus, Totoaba Totoaba macdonaldi , Whiteleg Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and two Yellowtail Seriola lalandi and S. dorsalis . Nuclear DNA was stained with propidium iodide solution and the genome size was determined by flow cytometry, with results ranging from 0.61 pg (1.22 pg/diploid cell) to 2.59 pg (5.18 pg/diploid cell), with the smallest value in Sablefish and the largest in the Whiteleg Shrimp. No significant differences were detected ( P ≤ 0.05) among individuals of the same species; the likely reason behind any dissimilar DNA content values with those from the literature were differences in methodologies or variations in genetics. Red-ear Slider Turtle Trachemys scripta elegans 2.65 pg (5.30 pg/diploid cell) and Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus 1.27 pg (2.54 pg/diploid cell) were chosen as the standards for reference values. These results establish the basis for the Mexican National Aquatic Genetic Resources project supporting genetic improvements for aquaculture and conservation status parameters for fisheries species.

Baja California↗

USGS1995

DNA fingerprint similarity between female and juvenile brown-headed cowbirds trapped together

This DNA fingerprinting study investigates whether females of the brood parasite brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater, associate with their own juvenile offspring at feeding sites more often than would be expected by chance. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of a variety of host species and, as far as is known, leave them to the care of foster parents. Using baited walk-in funnel traps, 36 adult female-juvenile pairs (or trios) of cowbirds were trapped. Blood samples were collected from these individuals to conduct DNA fingerprinting analyses, calculate similarity indices, and to compare S-values for the 11 comparisons of juveniles and the females with which they were caught with S-values of random pairings of juveniles and the females in adjacent gel lanes with which they were not caught. Overall band-sharing was significantly higher for the individuals trapped together than for the random pairings. These associations between juvenile cowbirds and their mothers could occur as a result of female cowbirds monitoring the development of their young in the nests where they have laid. Alternatively, nestling cowbirds in the nest could become familiar visually and locally with a female parent that is frequently in their territory and could follow her when she departs for feeding grounds. In either case these data suggest that adult cowbirds associate with juveniles, in some cases their own offspring, and that offspring may learn to function as cowbirds in part from this association.

Animal Behaviour↗

USGS1985

Tolerance of West Indian manatees to capture and handling

Ninety-two West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) have been captured in the southeastern United States from October 1975 through November 1983 with no evidence of an unusual susceptibility to capture myopathy. Of these, 53 were radio-tracked or observed in the field following capture with no evidence of delayed capture stress. Blood samples obtained at capture for 20 wild individuals displayed no elevation in biochemical variables typically seen in mammalian capture myopathy cases. Thirty-one manatees captured for rescue and rehabilitation generally did not exhibit symptoms of capture myopathy, although in one case marked elevations in creatinine phosphokinase were observed, probably related to lengthy transport. Necropsy findings for 20 terminal cases that died of various causes unrelated to their rescue or handling did not indicate the involvement of any gross or histological lesions of capture myopathy. Historical records for the capture and handling of about 150 West Indian manatees during the 1900s also suggest a tolerance to these activities. Recent observations on the probable susceptibility of dugongs (Dugong dugon) to capture stress apparently cannot be extended to West Indian manatees.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi↗

USGS1983

Effects of dietary cadmium on mallard ducklings

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducklings were fed cadmium in the diet at 0, 5, 10, or 20 ppm from 1 day of age until 12 weeks of age. At 4-week intervals six males and six females from each dietary group were randomly selected, bled by jugular venipuncture, and necropsied. Significant decreases in packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and a significant increase in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were found at 8 weeks of age in ducklings fed 20 ppm cadmium. Mild to severe kidney lesions were evident in ducklings fed 20 ppm cadmium for 12 weeks. No other blood chemistry measurement, hematological parameter, or tissue histopathological measurement indicated a reaction to cadmium ingestion. Body weight, liver weight, and the ratio of the femur weight to length were not affected by dietary cadmium. Femur cadmium concentration In all ducklings 12 weeks of age declined from the values detected at 4 and 8 weeks of age. Liver cadmium concentrations were significantly higher in relation to the increased dietary levels and in relation to the length of time the ducklings were fed the cadmium diets. At 12 weeks of age the cadmium concentration in liver tissue was twice that in the diet.

Environmental Research↗

USGS1989

Plasma catecholamine concentrations in rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri ) at rest and after anesthesia and surgery

The effects of surgery and anesthesia on concentrations of plasma epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) were investigated in rainbow trout fitted with dorsal aorta cannulae. Baseline catecholamines (CA) concentrations, established in resting rainbow trout, were 1.55 ± 0.90 ϱmol/ml ( X ± SD) for E, 2.07 ± 1.26 for NE, and 1.33 ± 0.87 for DA. These values were based on the pooled analyses of five individual fish taken over seven different sampling periods. The E:NE ratio in resting fish was always less than 1.0. In a second experiment, fish were subjected to dorsal aorta cannulation and sequential blood samples were taken immediately after surgery, and 6, 24, and 48 hr later. Plasma E concentrations were 36 times greater than baseline values in the first sample; NE was 15 times greater and DA was 41 times greater. After surgery, plasma concentrations of all CAs fell rapidly but values were still higher than baseline 6 hr after surgery, then were near baseline at 24 and 48 hr after surgery. The E:NE ratio was about 3.0 immediately after surgery, dropped to 1.8 at 6 hr, and was about 1.0 at 24 and 48 hr. In a third experiment, plasma CAs were determined in a group of five animals anesthetized with tricaine methanesulfonate (100 mg/ml) to advanced anesthesia, and then allowed to recover in flowing well water over a 12-hr observation period. Plasma E and NE concentrations in the fish during early anes-thesia (1.14 ± 0.14 min) were not significantly different from preanesthesia values. During advanced anesthesia (2.31 ± 0.21 min), values for E and NE were significantly greater and continued to be elevated during the 12-hr recovery period. The E:NE ratio exceeded 1.0 during advanced anesthesia and for the rest of the experiment.

General and Comparative Endocrinology↗

USGS1991

Effects of prolacton chloride cells opercular membrane of seawater-adapted tilapia

Effects of prolactin on morphology and numbers of chloride cells in the opercular membrane of seawater-adapted tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ) have been examined. Following five daily injections of ovine prolactin at a dose of 10 μg · g body wt −1 , blood samples were taken and opercular membranes were removed and stained with a fluorescent mitochondrial dye (dimethylaminostyrylethylpyridiniumiodine), a fluorescent derivative of ouabain (anthroylouabain), and a histological stain specific for the extensive tubular system of chloride cells (zinc-osmium-iodine). Mean plasma osmolarity and sodium increased 23–24% following prolactin injection. An increase in the relative frequency of chloride cells between 20 and 180 μm 2 in cross-sectional area and a decrease in the relative frequency of chloride cells greater than 180 μm 2 were observed following prolactin injections. Average cell size decreased 46–70% and cell height decreased 26–38% following prolactin injections. There was no significant change in cell density. Anthroylouabain staining was observed in both prolactin- and saline-injected fish, and no significant effect on Na + ,K + -adenosinetri-phosphatase activity was seen in either opercular membrane or gill tissue. The results demonstrate an effect of prolactin on chloride cell size and provide a morphological correlate for decreased secretory activity of chloride cells following prolactin injections.

General and Comparative Endocrinology↗

USGS1982

Embryotoxic and biochemical effects of waste crankcase oil on birds' eggs

Waste crankcase oil (WCO) is a major source of oil pollution in both the aquatic and terrestrial environment and has been implicated in the poisoning of mammals and fish. It is also mutagenic. Since birds' eggs are highly sensitive to external microliter applications of environmentally polluting oils, we examined the developmental effects of external applications of WCO on eggs of the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and the bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). At 48 hr of development, mallard eggs were exposed externally to 2, 5, or 15 :l of WCO or 15 :l of clean crankcase oil (CCO) while bobwhite eggs received proportional doses of 0.5, 1, or 3 :l of WCO and 3 :l of CCO in a similar manner. WCO was highly embryotoxic to both species compared to CCO and resulted in dose-dependent mortality, reduced growth, and abnormal survivors. Application of 15 :l WCO resulted in 84% mortality in mallards and 3 :l WCO resulted in 88% mortality in bobwhites. Abnormal survivors included embryos with subcutaneous edema, incomplete ossification, and eye and brain defects. Red blood cell *-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, liver ALAD activity, and hemoglobin concentration were significantly lower after treatment with WCO in embryos and hatchlings of both species. Plasma uric acid, plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and plasma aspartate aminotransferese (AST) were significantly elevated in WCO-treated mallards after hatching. Biochemical effects, growth retardation, and mortality at proportionally lower dose levels were more pronounced in mallards than in bobwhites. Chemical analysis of the WCO and CCO revealed a considerably higher content of aromatic hydrocarbons in WCO than in CCO. Lead levels were highly elevated in WCO (4600 ppm) compared to CCO (2 ppm).

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology↗

USGS1994

Effect of dietary vitamin E and selenium on growth, survival and the prevalence of Renibacterium salmoninarum infection in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Groups of juvenile spring chinook salmon naturally infected with Renibacterium salmoninarum , the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease, were fed diets containing different levels of vitamin E and selenium for 214 days in fresh water and 110 days in seawater. The fish were fed vitamin E at concentrations of either 53±3 mg (designated e ) or 299±9 mg (designated E ) α -tocopheryl acetate equivalence/kg dry diet in combination with sodium selenite to give selenium concentrations of either 0.038±0.008 mg (designated s ) or 2.49±0.15 mg (designated S )/kg dry diet. No mortality occurred in the group fed the diet, whereas mortality was 3% in the groups fed the and diets, and 31% in the group fed the diet. At the end of the experiment, weight gain and hematocrit values were significantly greater in those fish fed the E diets compared with those fed the e diets, whereas the hepato-somatic index was significantly higher in fish fed the e diets. Glutathione peroxidase activity in blood plasma was significantly higher in fish fed the S diets compared with those fed the s diets. No definite effect of dietary vitamin E and selenium on the prevalence and severity of natural R. salmoninarum infections was demonstrated.

Aquaculture↗

USGS1983

Relationships of environmental contaminants to reproductive success in red-breasted mergansers (Mergus serrator) from Lake Michigan

In 1977 and 1978, we studied red-breasted mergansers Mergus serrator nesting on islands in northwestern Lake Michigan to determine whether environmental contaminants were having effects on reproduction. Seventeen contaminants were measured in randomly chosen eggs from 206 nests under study. Using a variety of statistical approaches, we looked for effects of individuals contaminants and combinations of contaminants on reproductive measurements such as nest desertion, failure of eggs to hatch, death of newly hatched ducklings, percentage hatching success, number of ducklings leaving the nest and eggshell thickness. We also looked for relationships between the levels of some contaminants in blood samples of 39 incubating females and reproductive success. A small degree of eggshell thinning was attributed to DDE and a few other statistical tests were significant, but no contaminant or combination of contaminants we measured seemed to have a pronounced effect on the aspects of reproduction we followed.

Wisconsin↗

USGS1985

Metal contamination in wildlife living near two zinc smelters

Wildlife in an oak forest on Blue Mountain was studied 10 km upwind (Bake Oven Knob site) and 2 km downwind (Palmerton site) of two zinc smelters in eastern Pennsylvania, USA. Previous studies at sites near these smelters had shown changes in populations of soil microflora, lichens, green plants and litter-inhabiting arthropods. The 02 soil litter horizon at Palmerton was heavily contaminated with Pb (2700 mg kg −1 ), Zn (24 000 mg kg −1 ), and Cd (710 mg kg −1 ), and to a lesser extent with Cu (440 mg kg −1 ). Various kinds of invertebrates (earthworms, slugs and millipedes) that feed on soil litter or soil organic matter were rare at, or absent from, the Palmerton site. Those collected at Bake Oven Knob tended to have much higher concentrations of metals than did other invertebrates. Frogs, toads and salamanders were very rare at, or absent from, the Palmerton site, but were present at Bake Oven Knob and at other sites on Blue Mountain farther from the smelters. Metal concentrations (dry wt) in different organisms from Palmerton were compared. Concentrations of Pb were highest in shrews (110 mg kg −1 ), followed by songbirds (56 mg kg −1 ), leaves (21 mg kg −1 ), mice (17 mg kg −1 ), carrion insects (14 mg kg −1 ), berries (4·0 mg kg −1 ), moths (4·3 mg kg −1 ) and fungi (3·7 mg kg −1 ). Concentrations of Cd, in contrast, were highest in carrion insects (25 mg kg −1 ), followed by fungi (9·8 mg kg −1 ), leaves (8·1 mg kg −1 ), shrews (7·3 mg kg −1 ), moths (4·9 mg kg −1 ), mice (2·6 mg kg −1 ), songbirds (2·5 mg kg −1 ) and berries (1·2 mg kg −1 ). Concentrations of Zn and Cu tended to be highest in the same organisms that had the highest concentrations of Cd. Only a small proportion of the metals in the soil became incorporated into plant foliage, and much of the metal contamination detected in the biota probably came from aerial deposition. The mice from both sites seemed to be healthy. Shrews had higher concentrations of metals than did mice, and one shrew showed evidence of Pb poisoning; its red blood cell ALAD activity was greatly reduced, one kidney contained acid-fast intranuclear inclusion bodies, and the other kidney had 280 mg kg −1 Pb (wet wt). The livers from two cuckoos from Palmerton had elevated Pb concentrations (18 and 25 mg kg −1 , wet wt). Most of the songbirds seemed to be healthy.

Pennsylvania↗

USGS1986

Lead concentrations and reproductive success in European starlings Sturnus vulgaris nesting within highway roadside verges

In 1981, the authors studied lead concentrations and reproductive success in free-living European starlings Sturnus vulgaris nesting within the verges of two Maryland highways with different traffic volumes, Route 197(average daily traffic volume[ADT] = 10,800 vehicles) and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (ADT=52,500 vehicles) and a nearby control area. Concentrations (mg kg-1 dry weight) of lead in the ingesta (84-94 mg kg-1), carcasses (4.0-9.6 mg kg-1)and feathers (6.8-52 mg kg-1) of Parkway nestlings and adults were 3 to 13 times those found in starlings from the control area, whereas lead concentrations in the ingesta and tissues of starlings from the verge of Route 197 were similar to those of controls. Activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) in red blood cells (RBCs) of adult and nestling starlings from the Parkway was depressed from 43 to 60% compared to controls. RBC ALAD activity in adults from nests along Route 197 was similar to that of adult starlings from the control area, but that of their young was depressed 17%. Haemoglobin concentrations (-16%) and haematocrits (-10%) in Parkway nestlings were depressed compared with those of nestlings from the other two study areas, whereas those of adults were not affected. Clutch size, number of young hatched and the number of young in nests 1 to 3 days before fledging were similar among sites, as were body weights of adults and prefledging weights of their young. However, brain weights of Parkway nestlings were lower (P < 0.05) than those of nestlings from the other study areas. Results suggests that lead within verges of major highways probably does not pose a serious hazard to adult ground-foraging songbirds. However, the effects of lead-induced reductions in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, RBC ALAD activity and brain weight on the postfledging survival of their young are not known.

Environmental Pollution (Series A)↗

USGS1986

Reproductive success and heavy metal contamination in Rhode Island common terns

Common tern cIutch size, reproductive success and growth of young recorded from an abandoned barge on the Providence River, an area of heavy metal contamination, were equal to, or greater than, .from less contaminated areas. Concentrations of copper and zinc were higher in livers of nestling terns from the Providence River than from other, less contaminated, areas. However, concentrations of magnesium, manganese, and iron and the frequency of nickel were equal, or lower, at Providence than other, less contaminated, locations. Among-colony trends in residues of copper, zinc and nickel in prey samples were similar to trends .found in nestling livers. Uric acid concentrations in nestling blood were twice as high in the Providence River than another colony and may have resulted from moderate levels of chromium in the diet.

Environmental Pollution (Series A)↗

USGS1982

Biological effects of dietary T-2 toxin on rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri

A 16-wk feeding study was conducted to evaluate the chronic toxicity of graded levels (0, 1.0, 2.5.5, 10 and 15 mg/kg of chemically pure dietary T-2 toxin (4,15-diacetoxy-8-(3-methylbutyryloxy)-12,13-epoxy-Δ 9 -tricothecen-3-ol) in 1-g rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri , held in 9°C single-passage well water. Levels of T-2 toxin > 2.5 mg/kg depressed growth, efficiency of feed use, hematocrit, blood hemoglobin concentration and feed acceptance, and caused a transitory edema in a dose-dependent manner. Growth of trout fed a semipurified diet containing the toxin was described by the function: Y = 0.265 + 142.075 e (0.029 X 1 − 1.554x 2 3.7 ), where Y = gain as percentage starting weight per wk; X 1 is time in wk and 0 ⩽ X 1 ⩽16; and X 2 is T-2 content of diet in mg/kgand 0⩽ X 2 ⩽15. Exposure of fish to T-2 toxin did not affect activity of intestinal lumen chymoirypsin or trypsin, nitrogen digestibility or metabolizabte energy. Feeding of 15 mg/kg T-2 toxin to adult trout caused hemorrhaging in the intestines and regurgitation of subsequently intubated feed regardless of T-2 loxin content.

Aquatic Toxicology↗