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Mansfield I, Reynolds SJ, Lynch I, Matthews TJ, Sadler JP. Birds as bioindicators of plastic pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments: A 30-year review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123790. [PMID: 38537798 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global concern that has grown ever more acute in recent years. Most research has focused on the impact of plastic pollution in marine environments. However, plastic is increasingly being detected in terrestrial and freshwater environments with key inland sources including landfills, where it is accessible to a wide range of organisms. Birds are effective bioindicators of pollutants for many reasons, including their high mobility and high intra- and interspecific variation in trophic levels. Freshwater and terrestrial bird species are under-represented in plastic pollution research compared to marine species. We reviewed 106 studies (spanning from 1994 onwards) that have detected plastics in bird species dwelling in freshwater and/or terrestrial habitats, identifying knowledge gaps. Seventy-two studies focused solely on macroplastics (fragments >5 mm), compared to 22 microplastic (fragments <5 mm) studies. A further 12 studies identified plastics as both microplastics and macroplastics. No study investigated nanoplastic (particles <100 nm) exposure. Research to date has geographical and species' biases while ignoring nanoplastic sequestration in free-living freshwater, terrestrial and marine bird species. Building on the baseline search presented here, we urge researchers to develop and validate standardised field sampling techniques and laboratory analytical protocols such as Raman spectroscopy to allow for the quantification and identification of micro- and nanoplastics in terrestrial and freshwater environments and the species therein. Future studies should consistently report the internalised and background concentrations, types, sizes and forms of plastics. This will enable a better understanding of the sources of plastic pollution and their routes of exposure to birds of terrestrial and freshwater environments, providing a more comprehensive insight into the potential impacts on birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Mansfield
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - S J Reynolds
- School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; The Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 1PS, UK
| | - I Lynch
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - T J Matthews
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - J P Sadler
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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Kucharska K, Binkowski ŁJ, Dudzik K, Barker J, Barton S, Rupérez D, Hahn A. Temporal and spatial trends in lead levels in the blood and down of Black Stork nestlings in central Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165758. [PMID: 37495121 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Young birds at an intensive growth stage are especially vulnerable to the deleterious effects of contaminants such as lead (Pb). This element negatively influences organs, development and even behavior, which can consequently lead to lower survival and reproductive success of the population. There was a suspicion that these mechanisms, along with other factors, retarded population growth of the Black Stork - still a heavily understudied species in respect to pollution, especially Pb. Therefore, we undertook a study concerning Pb concentrations in the down and blood of Black Stork nestlings from breeding grounds in central and southern Poland (Europe). To investigate the effects of Pb exposure on nestling condition, scale mass index and reduced glutathione levels were also studied, but results indicated that Pb did not influence either of these parameters. The highest blood Pb concentration reached 0.247 μg/g, while the highest down Pb concentrations was significantly higher reaching 4.95 μg/g. Concentrations in blood and down were not correlated with each other. Nest location and year of sampling were not influential for blood but were influential for down Pb concentrations. Relationships between Pb concentrations, habitat characteristics and proximity to emitters were not significant. Overall Pb concentrations in Black Stork nestlings were below the toxicity threshold and did not have negative effects on specimens studied. They were probably related to maternal exposure during migration, on stopover and breeding grounds as well as with food provided by parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kucharska
- Institute of Biology and Earth Sciences, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Łukasz J Binkowski
- Institute of Biology and Earth Sciences, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Dudzik
- Eagle Conservation Committee, K. Jagiellończyka 45, 10-062 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - James Barker
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, KT1 2EE Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK.
| | - Stephen Barton
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, KT1 2EE Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK.
| | - David Rupérez
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, KT1 2EE Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK.
| | - Andreas Hahn
- School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, KT1 2EE Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK.
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Carpenter BG, Sieving KE, Terhune T, Picardi S, Griffith A, Sheilds R, Pittman HT. Linking wild turkey hen movement data to nesting behavior. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bobbi G. Carpenter
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Gainesville FL 32601 USA
| | - Kathryn E. Sieving
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL 32611‐0430 USA
| | | | - Simona Picardi
- Department of Wildland Resources and Jack H. Berryman Institute Utah State University Logan UT 84322 USA
| | | | - Roger Sheilds
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Nashville TN 37211 USA
| | - Henry Tyler Pittman
- Extension Agent, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Trenton FL 32693 USA
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Yao T, Zhu G, Zhang Y, Yan P, Li C, de Boer WF. Bird's feather as an effective bioindicator for detection of trace elements in polymetallic contaminated areas in Anhui Province, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 771:144816. [PMID: 33545476 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution, especially because of trace metals, seriously affects ecological safety, and bird feathers are often used as bioindicators to monitor this risk in various environments. However, the feasibility of feathers as bioindicators for trace metals in polymetallic contaminated areas has not been extensively studied. In this study, we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify and compare the contents of nine trace metal(loid)s (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) among soil, plants, insects and birds (feathers and internal tissues) sampled in the mining area of Tongling, a polymetallic contaminated area in Anhui Province, eastern China. We detected significant trace metal pollution in the abiotic and biotic materials. The contents of Cr, Cu, Zn, As and Pb in feathers differed among bird species and among sampling sites, with higher contents often recorded in tree sparrows (Passer montanus). The metal(loid)s V, Mn, Co, Zn, and As had higher contents in feathers than in internal tissues including heart, liver, kidneys, muscles and bones. The contents of some elements in feathers were positively correlated with those in internal tissues, for example, Co, As, and Cd in the heart, V and Co in the kidneys, Cd in the liver, Pb in bones, and As in muscles. Furthermore, the contents of V, Cr, As and Pb in feathers were higher than those in other biomaterials, implying an increasing trend from plants, insects, and feathers. Our study indicates that bird feathers can be used as effective, non-destructive bioindicators to monitor trace metal(loid) pollution, especially for V, Co, As, Cd and Pb, in polymetallic contaminated areas, providing reliable information for ecological assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yao
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Guang Zhu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, No.159, Longpan Road, 210037 Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, No. 1, Beijing East Road, 241000 Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Chunlin Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China; Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, No. 111, Jiulong Road, 230601 Hefei, China.
| | - Willem F de Boer
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, 6708PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Bala M, Sharma A, Sharma G. Assessment of heavy metals in faecal pellets of blue rock pigeon from rural and industrial environment in India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:43646-43655. [PMID: 32737784 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The study was conducted to monitor concentration of six toxic metals in faecal pellets of blue rock pigeon from six industrial areas of Jaipur, i.e. Jhotwara, Malviya, Mansarover, Sitapura, Vishwakarma industrial areas and Sanganer industries, by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. At the same time, trace metals were also analysed for a reference area so that a comparative impact of the metal pollution from the industries could be figured out. From the data obtained, the highest Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations were found in the faecal pellets from Sitapura industrial area (1.12 ± 0.60 μg/g; 128.9 ± 11.10 μg/g; 17 ± 2.87 μg/g; 79.6 ± 42.69 μg/g; 2250 ± 1390.16 μg/g) and the highest Cr (18.6 ± 3.65 μg/g) from Jhotwara industrial area. However, industrial environment has high deposition of studied trace metals (except Ni for Sanganer industries) as compared with reference area. The concentration of Cd was below the detectable level in faecal pellets from reference area. The trend of trace metals from Malviya, Sitapura, Jhotwara and reference areas was noticed as Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd and almost same for Sanganer industries and Mansarover industrial area as Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The excretion of heavy metals in fa1ecal pellets from Vishwakarma industrial area was noticed as Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. Further levels of metals were varied significantly among different industrial areas, P ≤ 0.05, as well as between industrial areas and reference area. The observed high concentration of different heavy metals in faecal pellets of bird species shows their exposure to metal contamination which is warning to spiked environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manju Bala
- Department of Applied and Biosciences, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India.
| | - Asha Sharma
- Department of Zoology, Swargiya PNKS Government P.G. College, Dausa, Rajasthan, India
| | - Gaurav Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India
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Koim-Puchowska B, Drozdz-Afelt JM, Lamparski R, Menka A, Kaminski P. Antioxidant defence barrier of great tit Parus major nestlings in response to trace elements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:20321-20334. [PMID: 32239412 PMCID: PMC7244610 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08495-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Metals can have direct and indirect effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species in wild birds. The aim of this work has been to examine the effect of exposure to trace metals (copper Cu, iron Fe, cobalt Co, manganese Mn) on oxidative stress biomarkers such as lipoperoxidation TBARS and level of superoxide dismutase SOD, catalase CAT, and reduced glutathione GSH in the livers and kidneys of great tit Parus major nestlings (n = 165, 63 broods) living in polluted environments associated with soda plants and agricultural activities (Kujawy region) and from a reference site (Tuchola Forest), both in the north of Poland. As we predicted, the level of TBARS in both organs of chicks from polluted areas was higher than in those from reference site. This could be connected with Fe concentrations, particularly in areas adjacent to soda plants (livers Rs = 0.49, p < 0.002; kidneys Rs = 0.69, p < 0.001). We also showed differences in the level of antioxidants depending on the environment. CAT activity was higher in nestlings from Kujawy than in those from Tuchola. Meanwhile SOD activity (both organs) and GSH levels (kidneys) were lower in the polluted area compared to the reference site. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, Co, and Mn may play a role in regulating the antioxidant system components' activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Koim-Puchowska
- Department of Biotechnology, Kazimierz Wielki University, K.J. Poniatowski St12, 85-671, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Joanna M. Drozdz-Afelt
- Department of Biotechnology, Kazimierz Wielki University, K.J. Poniatowski St12, 85-671, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Robert Lamparski
- Department of Biology and Plant Protection, UTP University of Science and Technology, Prof. S. Kaliski St. 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Menka
- Department of Biotechnology, Kazimierz Wielki University, K.J. Poniatowski St12, 85-671, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Piotr Kaminski
- Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, M. Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biotechnology, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Szafran St. 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Bervoets L, Pinxten R, Eens M. Proximity to roads, but not exposure to metal pollution, is associated with accelerated developmental telomere shortening in nestling great tits. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 256:113373. [PMID: 31672366 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Comprehensively understanding the factors affecting physiology and fitness in urban wildlife requires concurrently considering multiple stressors. To this end, we simultaneously assessed how metal pollution and proximity to roads affect body condition and telomere shortening between days 8 and 15 of age in nestling great tits (Parus major), a common urban bird. We employed a repeated-measures sampling design to compare telomere shortening and body condition between nestlings from four urban study sites south of Antwerp, Belgium, which are located at different distances from a metal pollution point source. In addition, we explored associations between metal exposure and telomere dynamics on the individual level by measuring blood concentrations of five metals/metalloids, of which lead, copper and zinc were present at concentrations above the limit of detection. To assess whether roadway-associated stressors (e.g. noise and air pollution) might affect nestling condition and telomere shortening, we measured the proximity of nest boxes to roads. Metal exposure was not associated with nestling telomere length or body condition, despite elevated blood lead concentrations close to the metal pollution source (mean ± SE = 0.270 ± 0.095 μg/g wet weight at the most polluted study site), suggesting that nestlings may have some capacity to detoxify metals. However, nestlings from nest boxes near roads exhibited more telomere shortening between days 8 and 15 of age, and shorter telomeres at day 15. Nestlings in poorer condition also had shorter telomeres, but proximity to the road was unrelated to body condition. Thus, nutritional stress is unlikely to mediate the relationship between proximity to roads and telomere length. Rather, proximity to roads could have affected telomere shortening by exposing nestlings to air or noise pollution. Our study highlights that traffic-related pollution, which is implicated in human health problems, might also affect urban wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - M L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - L Bervoets
- Department of Biology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - R Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Faculty of Social Sciences, Antwerp School of Education, University of Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
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