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Khwankitrittikul P, Poapolathep A, Poapolathep S, Prasanwong C, Kulprasertsri S, Khidkhan K. Species Differences and Tissue Distribution of Heavy Metal Residues in Wild Birds. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:308. [PMID: 38254477 PMCID: PMC10812407 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Birds are useful as bioindicators of metal pollution, but the variety of species and tissue distribution may influence the study of heavy metal burdens in birds. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of heavy metals in wild birds' carcasses to acquire information on species differences and the tissue distribution of metals in wild birds in Thailand. Species differences in metal buildup were observed in the livers and kidneys, but not in the feathers. A significantly higher accumulation of Cd was found in the livers and kidneys of the granivorous birds compared to those in the water birds. In all the groups of birds, the Pb level in the livers (>15 ppm) and feathers (>4 ppm) exceeded the threshold limits, causing potential lead poisoning and disturbing the reproductive success. The Cd accumulation in the kidneys was above 2-8 ppm, indicating increased environmental exposure to Cd in these birds. The Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Fe concentrations in the livers could be estimated using the kidneys, while the Pb level in the liver may be predicted using feathers. Furthermore, water birds' feathers may be potentially appropriate bioindicators for long-term exposure. Research on the origin of metal contamination is needed to reduce the threat of heavy metals to the health of both birds and other wildlife species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patamawadee Khwankitrittikul
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.K.); (A.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Amnart Poapolathep
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.K.); (A.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Saranya Poapolathep
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.K.); (A.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Chayanid Prasanwong
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Bangphra Waterbird Breeding Center, Bangphra, Sriracha, Chonburi 20110, Thailand;
| | - Sittinee Kulprasertsri
- Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand;
| | - Kraisiri Khidkhan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.K.); (A.P.); (S.P.)
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Westerduin C, Suokas M, Petäjä T, Saarela U, Vainio S, Mutanen M. Exploring and validating observations of non-local species in eDNA samples. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10612. [PMID: 37841221 PMCID: PMC10576249 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of DNA-based methods in recent decades has opened the door to numerous new lines of research in the biological sciences. While the speed and accuracy of DNA methodologies are clearly beneficial, the sensitivity of these methods has the adverse effect of increased susceptibility to false positives resulting from contamination in field or lab. Here, we present findings from a metabarcoding study on the diet of and food availability for five insectivorous birds, in which multiple lepidopteran species not known to occur locally were discovered. After describing the pattern of occurrences of these non-local species in the samples, we discuss various potential origins of these sequences. First, we assessed that the taxonomic assignments appeared reliable, and local occurrences of many of the species could be plausibly ruled out. Then, we looked into the possibilities of natural environmental contamination, judging it to be unlikely, albeit impossible to fully falsify. Finally, while dissimilar combinations of non-local species' occurrences across the samples did not initially suggest lab contamination, we found overlap with taxa and sequences handled in the same lab, which was undoubtedly not coincidental. Even so, not all exact sequences were accounted for in these locally conducted studies, nor was it clear if these and other sequences could remain detectable years later. Although the full explanation for the observations of non-local species remains inconclusive, these findings highlight the importance of critical examination of metabarcoding results, and showcase how species-level taxonomic assignments utilizing comprehensive reference libraries may be a tool in detecting potential contamination events, and false positives in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coen Westerduin
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
| | - Marko Suokas
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
| | - Tuukka Petäjä
- Department of Physics, Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Ulla Saarela
- CRC, The Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular MedicineUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
| | - Seppo Vainio
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular MedicineUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
| | - Marko Mutanen
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
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Stenhouse EH, Bellamy P, Kirby W, Vaughan IP, Symondson WOC, Orozco-terWengel P. Herbivorous dietary selection shown by hawfinch ( Coccothraustes coccothraustes) within mixed woodland habitats. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230156. [PMID: 37181798 PMCID: PMC10170347 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of diet and dietary selectivity is vital, especially for the conservation of declining species. Accurately obtaining this information, however, is difficult, especially if the study species feeds on a wide range of food items within heterogeneous and inaccessible environments, such as the tree canopy. Hawfinches (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), like many woodland birds, are declining for reasons that are unclear. We investigated the possible role that dietary selection may have in these declines in the UK. Here, we used a combination of high-throughput sequencing of 261 hawfinch faecal samples assessed against tree occurrence data from quadrats sampled in three hawfinch population strongholds in the UK to test for evidence of selective foraging. This revealed that hawfinches show selective feeding and consume certain tree genera disproportionally to availability. Positive selection was shown for beech (Fagus), cherry (Prunus), hornbeam (Carpinus), maples (Acer) and oak (Quercus), while Hawfinch avoided ash (Fraxinus), birch (Betula), chestnut (Castanea), fir (Abies), hazel (Corylus), rowan (Sorbus) and lime (Tilia). This approach provided detailed information on hawfinch dietary choice and may be used to predict the effects of changing food resources on other declining passerines populations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan H. Stenhouse
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales, UK
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy SG19 2DL, UK
| | - Paul Bellamy
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy SG19 2DL, UK
| | - Will Kirby
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy SG19 2DL, UK
| | - Ian P. Vaughan
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales, UK
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Stenhouse EH, Bellamy P, Kirby W, Vaughan IP, Drake LE, Marchbank A, Workman T, Symondson WOC, Orozco‐terWengel P. Multi-marker DNA metabarcoding reveals spatial and sexual variation in the diet of a scarce woodland bird. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10089. [PMID: 37206688 PMCID: PMC10191781 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian diet can be affected by site-specific variables, such as habitat, as well as intrinsic factors such as sex. This can lead to dietary niche separation, which reduces competition between individuals, as well as impacting how well avian species can adapt to environmental variation. Estimating dietary niche separation is challenging, due largely to difficulties in accurately identifying food taxa consumed. Consequently, there is limited knowledge of the diets of woodland bird species, many of which are undergoing serious population declines. Here, we show the effectiveness of multi-marker fecal metabarcoding to provide in-depth dietary analysis of a declining passerine in the UK, the Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes). We collected fecal samples from (n = 262) UK Hawfinches prior to, and during, the breeding seasons in 2016-2019. We detected 49 and 90 plant and invertebrate taxa, respectively. We found Hawfinch diet varied spatially, as well as between sexes, indicating broad dietary plasticity and the ability of Hawfinches to utilize multiple resources within their foraging environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan H. Stenhouse
- School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The LodgeSandyUK
| | - Paul Bellamy
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The LodgeSandyUK
| | - Will Kirby
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The LodgeSandyUK
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Mansor MS, Rozali FZ, Davies S, Nor SM, Ramli R. High-throughput sequencing reveals dietary segregation in Malaysian babblers. Curr Zool 2021; 68:381-389. [PMID: 36090137 PMCID: PMC9450176 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The coexistence of numerous species within a community results from how those species use available resources. Babblers are one of the major groups of Malaysian insectivorous birds, which frequently forage in dense vegetation cover and have a high level of sympatry. Therefore, examining the diet, prey selection, and niche segregation of babblers can be challenging. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to investigate potential dietary overlap or segregation among 10 babbler species of the 4 genera of the family Pellorneidae and Timaliidae: Pellorneum, Malacopteron, Stachyris, and Cyanoderma in central peninsular Malaysia. We tested the hypothesis that trophically similar species may differ in resource use to avoid competitive exclusion. We identified 81 distinct arthropod taxa from fecal samples, belonging to 71 families representing 13 orders, which were predominantly from 16 dipteran, 13 lepidopteran, and 10 coleopteran families. Of all the prey taxa consumed, 45% were found to be distinct across the 10 babbler species, and ˂35% were shared simultaneously by ≥3 babbler species, indicating minimal dietary overlap. The black-throated babbler Stachyris nigricollis and moustached babbler Malacopteron magnirostre had the most generalist tendencies because they consumed a greater variety of prey taxa. Small dietary overlap values (Ojk) and a relatively wide range of food resources suggest that dietary segregation occurred among the studied babblers. The great diversity of prey consumed revealed the presence of dietary flexibility among the sympatric insectivorous birds, thus reducing any active dietary competition and facilitating the coexistence through niche partitioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Saiful Mansor
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Sian Davies
- Micropathology Ltd, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7EZ, UK
| | - Shukor Md Nor
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rosli Ramli
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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