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Grace J, Duran E, Ann Ottinger M, Maness T. Sublethal effects of early-life exposure to common and emerging contaminants in birds. Curr Res Toxicol 2024; 7:100190. [PMID: 39220619 PMCID: PMC11365322 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2024.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The plight of wild birds is becoming critical due to exposure to environmental contaminants. Although laboratory studies have provided insights into the developmental effects of chemical exposures, less is known about the adverse effects of environmental chemicals in developing wild birds. Early life stages are critical windows during which long-term organization of physiological, behavioral, and neurological systems can occur. Thus, contaminant exposure at early life stages can directly influence survival and reproductive success, with consequences for population stability and resilience in wild species. This review synthesizes existing knowledge regarding both short- and long-term effects of early-life exposure to widespread contaminants in birds. We focus especially on wild birds and on contaminants of concern within the Gulf of Mexico as an example of a habitat under anthropogenic stress from exposure to a complex mixture of chemicals and changing land uses that exacerbate existing vulnerabilities of wildlife in this region. Chemical contaminants for discussion in this review are based on avian mortality records from the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership (WHISPers) database and on additional review of the literature regarding avian contaminants of concern for the northern Gulf of Mexico, and include oil and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, flame retardants, pesticides, heavy metals, and plastics. We provide an overview of effects in bird species at both the pre-hatching and post-hatching early life stages, discuss differences in sensitivities by route of exposure, life stage, and life history, and provide recommendations for future research. We find that additional research is needed on altricial species, post-hatching early-life exposure, long-term effects, and on ecologically relevant contaminant concentrations and routes of exposure. Given the increasing frequency and intensity of anthropogenic stressors encountered by wild animals, understanding both lethal and sublethal impacts of contaminants on the health of individuals and populations will be critical to inform restoration, management, and mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Grace
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840-2258, USA
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840-2258, USA
| | - Elena Duran
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840-2258, USA
| | - Mary Ann Ottinger
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Terri Maness
- School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USA
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2
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Hurtado TC, de Medeiros Costa G, de Carvalho GS, Brum BR, Ignácio ÁRA. Mercury and methylmercury concentration in the feathers of two species of Kingfishers Megaceryle torquata and Chloroceryle amazona in the Upper Paraguay Basin and Amazon Basin. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:1084-1095. [PMID: 37349507 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02680-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination remains a significant environmental concern. In aquatic ecosystems, Hg can undergo methylation, forming its organic form, methylmercury (MeHg), which bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in the food chain, ultimately reaching the top predators, including waterfowl. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution and levels of Hg in wing feathers, with a specific focus on evaluating heterogeneity in the primary feathers of two kingfisher species (Megaceryle torquata and Chloroceryle amazona). The concentrations of total Hg (THg) in the primary feathers of C. amazona individuals from the Juruena, Teles Pires, and Paraguay rivers were 4.724 ± 1.600, 4.003 ± 1.532, and 2.800 ± 1.475 µg/kg, respectively. The THg concentrations in the secondary feathers were 4.624 ± 1.718, 3.531 ± 1.361, and 2.779 ± 1.699 µg/kg, respectively. For M. torquata, the THg concentrations in the primary feathers from the Juruena, Teles Pires, and Paraguay rivers were 7.937 ± 3.830, 6.081 ± 2.598, and 4.697 ± 2.585 µg/kg, respectively. The THg concentrations in the secondary feathers were 7.891 ± 3.869, 5.124 ± 2.420, and 4.201 ± 2.176 µg/kg, respectively. The percentage of MeHg in the samples increased during THg recovery, with an average of 95% in primary feathers and 80% in secondary feathers. It is crucial to comprehend the current Hg concentrations in Neotropical birds to mitigate potential toxic effects on these species. Exposure to Hg can lead to reduced reproductive rates and behavioral changes, such as motor incoordination and impaired flight ability, ultimately resulting in population decline among bird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaysa Costa Hurtado
- Center for the Study of Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal (CELBE) - Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil.
| | - Gerlane de Medeiros Costa
- Center for the Study of Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal (CELBE) - Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
| | - Giovani Spínola de Carvalho
- Center for the Study of Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal (CELBE) - Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
| | - Bruno Ramos Brum
- Center for the Study of Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal (CELBE) - Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
| | - Áurea Regina Alves Ignácio
- Center for the Study of Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal (CELBE) - Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
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3
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Lazarus M, Sergiel A, Ferenčaković M, Orct T, Kapronczai L, Pađen L, Janz DM, Reljić S, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Zięba F, Selva N, Huber Đ. Stress and reproductive hormones in hair associated with contaminant metal(loid)s of European brown bear (Ursus arctos). CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 325:138354. [PMID: 36907481 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138354] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contaminants like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) or lead (Pb) may disrupt hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes due to their endocrine toxicity potential. Resulting long-term physiological stress or adverse effects on wildlife reproduction and ontogeny may cause detrimental effects at the individual and population levels. However, data on environmental metal(loid)s' impact on reproductive and stress hormones in wildlife, especially large terrestrial carnivores, are scarce. Hair cortisol, progesterone and testosterone concentrations were quantified and modelled with hair As, Cd, total Hg, Pb, biological, environmental and sampling factors to test for potential effects in free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Croatia (N = 46) and Poland (N = 27). Testosterone in males (N = 48) and females (N = 25) showed positive associations with Hg and an interaction between Cd and Pb, but a negative association with interaction between age and Pb. Higher testosterone was found in hair during its growth phase compared to quiescent phase. Body condition index was negatively associated with hair cortisol and positively associated with hair progesterone. Year and conditions of sampling were important for cortisol variation, while maturity stage for progesterone variation (lower concentrations in cubs and yearlings compared to subadult and adult bears). These findings suggest that environmental levels of Cd, Hg and Pb might influence the HPG axis in brown bears. Hair was shown to be a reliable non-invasive sample for investigating hormonal fluctuations in wildlife while addressing individual and sampling specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Lazarus
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation of Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
| | | | - Tatjana Orct
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Lana Pađen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - David M Janz
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | | | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation of Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland; Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Física, Matemáticas y Computación, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain.
| | - Đuro Huber
- Institute of Nature Conservation of Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
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4
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Carravieri A, Vincze O, Bustamante P, Ackerman JT, Adams EM, Angelier F, Chastel O, Cherel Y, Gilg O, Golubova E, Kitaysky A, Luff K, Seewagen CL, Strøm H, Will AP, Yannic G, Giraudeau M, Fort J. Quantitative meta-analysis reveals no association between mercury contamination and body condition in birds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1253-1271. [PMID: 35174617 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mercury contamination is a major threat to the global environment, and is still increasing in some regions despite international regulations. The methylated form of mercury is hazardous to biota, yet its sublethal effects are difficult to detect in wildlife. Body condition can vary in response to stressors, but previous studies have shown mixed effects of mercury on body condition in wildlife. Using birds as study organisms, we provide the first quantitative synthesis of the effect of mercury on body condition in animals. In addition, we explored the influence of intrinsic, extrinsic and methodological factors potentially explaining cross-study heterogeneity in results. We considered experimental and correlative studies carried out in adult birds and chicks, and mercury exposure inferred from blood and feathers. Most experimental investigations (90%) showed a significant relationship between mercury concentrations and body condition. Experimental exposure to mercury disrupted nutrient (fat) metabolism, metabolic rates, and food intake, resulting in either positive or negative associations with body condition. Correlative studies also showed either positive or negative associations, of which only 14% were statistically significant. Therefore, the overall effect of mercury concentrations on body condition was null in both experimental (estimate ± SE = 0.262 ± 0.309, 20 effect sizes, five species) and correlative studies (-0.011 ± 0.020, 315 effect sizes, 145 species). The single and interactive effects of age class and tissue type were accounted for in meta-analytic models of the correlative data set, since chicks and adults, as well as blood and feathers, are known to behave differently in terms of mercury accumulation and health effects. Of the 15 moderators tested, only wintering status explained cross-study heterogeneity in the correlative data set: free-ranging wintering birds were more likely to show a negative association between mercury and body condition. However, wintering effect sizes were limited to passerines, further studies should thus confirm this trend in other taxa. Collectively, our results suggest that (i) effects of mercury on body condition are weak and mostly detectable under controlled conditions, and (ii) body condition indices are unreliable indicators of mercury sublethal effects in the wild. Food availability, feeding rates and other sources of variation that are challenging to quantify likely confound the association between mercury and body condition in natura. Future studies could explore the metabolic effects of mercury further using designs that allow for the estimation and/or manipulation of food intake in both wild and captive birds, especially in under-represented life-history stages such as migration and overwintering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Carravieri
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Centre for Ecological Research-DRI, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, 18/C Bem tér, Debrecen, 4026, Hungary.,Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 5-7 Clinicilor street, Cluj-Napoca, 400006, Romania
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, U.S.A
| | - Evan M Adams
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, U.S.A
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 405 Route de Prissé la Charrière, Villiers-en-Bois, 79360, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 405 Route de Prissé la Charrière, Villiers-en-Bois, 79360, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 405 Route de Prissé la Charrière, Villiers-en-Bois, 79360, France
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 CNRS-Chrono-environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, Besançon, 25000, France.,Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 16 rue de Vernot, Francheville, 21440, France
| | - Elena Golubova
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 16 rue de Vernot, Francheville, 21440, France.,Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, Portovaya Str., 18, Magadan, RU-685000, Russia
| | - Alexander Kitaysky
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, U.S.A
| | - Katelyn Luff
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Chad L Seewagen
- Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological Research Center, 225 State Route 37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, U.S.A
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NO-9296, Norway
| | - Alexis P Will
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, U.S.A
| | - Glenn Yannic
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 16 rue de Vernot, Francheville, 21440, France.,UMR 5553 CNRS-Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 2233 Rue de la Piscine, Saint-Martin d'Hères, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France.,Centre de Recherches en Écologie et en Évolution de la Santé (CREES), MIVEGEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Domaine La Valette, 900 rue Breton, Montpellier, 34090, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France
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5
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Rohonczy J, O'Dwyer K, Rochette A, Robinson SA, Forbes MR. Meta-analysis shows environmental contaminants elevate cortisol levels in teleost fish - Effect sizes depend on contaminant class and duration of experimental exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 800:149402. [PMID: 34399351 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149402] [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: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) help vertebrates maintain homeostasis during and following challenging events. Short-term elevations in GC levels are necessary for survival, whereas longer-term changes can lead to reduced reproductive output and immunosuppression. Persistent environmental contaminants (ECs) are widespread globally. Experimental exposure of individuals to ECs is associated with varying GC responses, within, and across, species and contaminants. Individuals exposed to ECs over long durations are expected to have prolonged GC elevations, which likely affect their health. We conducted a meta-analysis to test for a relationship between fish GC levels and experimental exposure to ECs, and to explore potential moderators, including duration of exposure, that could help explain the variation in effect sizes within and between studies. We report almost exclusively on cortisol responses of teleost fish to ECs. Although there was much variation in effect sizes, captive-bred fish exposed to ECs had baseline GC levels 1.5× higher than unexposed fish, and fish exposed to pharmaceuticals (estradiols and stimulants being mainly considered) had baseline GC levels approximately 2.5× higher than unexposed fish. We found that captive-bred and wild-caught fish did not differ in GC levels after exposure to the same classes of ECs - studies on captive bred fish may thus enable inferences about GC responses to ECs for wild species. Furthermore, effect sizes did not differ between baseline and challenge-induced GC measures. In different analyses, duration of exposure was negatively correlated to effect size, suggesting that the GC response may acclimate after chronic exposure to some ECs which could potentially alter the GC response of EC-exposed fish to novel stressors. Future studies should explore the effect of multiple stressors on the fish GC response and perform tests on a broader array of contaminant types and vertebrate classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Rohonczy
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Katie O'Dwyer
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland
| | - Alicia Rochette
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Stacey A Robinson
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Mark R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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6
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Martín J, Barja I, Rodríguez-Ruiz G, Recio P, García LV. Soil pollution by heavy metals correlates with levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites of a fossorial amphisbaenian reptile. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab085. [PMID: 34804536 PMCID: PMC8599815 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Soil degradation may have strong negative consequences for soil biodiversity, but these potential effects are understudied and poorly understood. Concentration of nesting seabirds may be a source of soil pollution by heavy metals, which are incorporated into the food chain and may have toxicological effects in vertebrates, especially in fossorial animals with low dispersal ability. We examined whether contamination by heavy metals, derived from seagull depositions, and other soil characteristics, may affect the levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (as a potential indicator of physiological stress) of the fossorial amphisbaenian reptile Trogonophis wiegmanni. We found a relationship between soil pollution by heavy metals and increased levels of faecal corticosterone metabolite of the amphisbaenians that live buried in those soils. This can be due to the strong endocrine disruption effect of heavy metals. In addition, there was an independent effect of the soil texture, with amphisbaenians showing higher levels of faecal corticosterone metabolite in soils with less sand and more silt and clay, which are more energetically costly to dig. Long-term exposure to high glucocorticoid levels might have serious effects on health state and fitness of fossorial animals that may be unnoticed. Our study emphasizes that, to prevent future conservation problems, we need to perform periodic surveys on the physiological health state of the little-known subterranean biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Martín
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Barja
- Etho-Physiology Group, Unidad de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Rodríguez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Recio
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis V García
- Departamento de Biogeoquímica, Ecología Vegetal y Microbiana, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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Biswas S, Bellare J. Adaptive mechanisms induced by sparingly soluble mercury sulfide (HgS) in zebrafish: Behavioural and proteomics analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 270:129438. [PMID: 33429232 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) causes great health concerns due to its extreme neurotoxicity. However, here we show that pretreatment of sparingly soluble mercury compound (HgS) could induce adaptive mechanisms in zebrafish, which can resist the neurotoxic effects of mercury chloride (HgCl2). In this study, zebrafish were treated with HgS (in the form of 99% HgS arising from traditional Ayurvedic medicine Rasasindura (RS), chosen for its particle and crystallite sizes). This work was prompted by the traditional use of this form of HgS to treat nervous and immune-related diseases. Our investigation on zebrafish behaviour showed that RS pretreated fish group (RS-HG) was less severely affected by HgCl2 exposure, as compared to the RS non-treated (VC-HG) group. Further, biochemical tests showed that RS pretreatment prevents alteration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and cortisol as compared to the VC-HG group. Proteomics and bioinformatics studies of zebrafish brain tissues suggested that Rasasindura (RS-HG group) protects alteration of various protein expression related to KEGG pathways, including citrate cycle (TCA cycle) and glutathione metabolism that are directly or indirectly linked to the oxidative stress, against HgCl2 induced neurotoxicity. We found that adaptive mechanisms were initiated by the initiation of response to stress (enrichment of GO:0006950 pathway), due to the accumulation of a small amount of ionic Hg (60 ± 10 ng/g) after 15 days of RS treatment. These adaptive mechanisms avoid further adverse neurotoxicity of HgCl2. Thus, HgS (RS) pretreatment can induce protective effects in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehasis Biswas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Jayesh Bellare
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India; Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.
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8
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Grieves LA, Bottini CLJ, Branfireun BA, Bernards MA, MacDougall-Shackleton SA, MacDougall-Shackleton EA. Food stress, but not experimental exposure to mercury, affects songbird preen oil composition. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:275-285. [PMID: 32036507 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02171-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a global pollutant and potent neurotoxic metal. Its most toxic and bioavailable form, methylmercury, can have both lethal and sublethal effects on wildlife. In birds, methylmercury exposure can disrupt behavior, hormones, the neuroendocrine system, and feather integrity. Lipid-rich tissues and secretions may be particularly susceptible to disruption by lipophilic contaminants such as methylmercury. One such substance is feather preen oil, a waxy secretion of the uropygial gland that serves multiple functions including feather maintenance, anti-parasitic defense, and chemical signaling. If methylmercury exposure alters preen oil composition, it could have cascading effects on feather quality, susceptibility to ectoparasites, and mate choice and other social behaviors. We investigated whether exposure to methylmercury, either alone or in association with other stressors, affects preen oil chemical composition. We used a two-factor design to expose adult song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) to an environmentally relevant dietary dose of methylmercury and/or to another stressor (unpredictable food supply) for eight weeks. The wax ester composition of preen oil changed significantly over the 8-week experimental period. This change was more pronounced in the unpredictable food treatment, regardless of dietary methylmercury. Contrary to our prediction, we found no main effect of methylmercury exposure on preen oil composition, nor did methylmercury interact with unpredictable food supply in predicting the magnitude of chemical shifts in preen oil. While it remains critical to study sublethal effects of methylmercury on wildlife, our findings suggest that the wax ester composition of preen oil is robust to environmentally relevant doses of this contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Grieves
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - C L J Bottini
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - B A Branfireun
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - M A Bernards
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - S A MacDougall-Shackleton
- Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada
| | - E A MacDougall-Shackleton
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
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9
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Powolny T, Bassin N, Crini N, Fourel I, Morin C, Pottinger TG, Massemin S, Zahn S, Coeurdassier M. Corticosterone mediates telomere length in raptor chicks exposed to chemical mixture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 706:135083. [PMID: 31841853 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Stressors experience early in life by animals may have carry over impacts on life-traits over the life cycle. Accelerated telomere attrition induced by stress during development and growth could play a role in such delayed effects. Among stressors, exposure to chemicals may modify telomere dynamic but, to date, the trends evidenced between exposure and telomere shortening remains inconsistent. Moreover, the role of corticosterone as a possible mediator of chemical impact on telomere is not yet clearly established. Here, we investigated in wild populations of Red kite whether nestling exposure to metals and pesticides was related to corticosterone concentrations in feathers and telomere length measured in 47 individuals. Lead and mercury concentrations in blood ranged from 2.3 to 59.0 µg L-1 and to 1.4 to 115.7 µg L-1, respectively, and were below the toxicity thresholds proposed for wildlife. Rodenticides were detected in 30% of the chicks. Corticosterone increased with mercury and lead in interaction, showing a synergistic effect of these 2 non-essential metals on this stress hormone. Telomere length was not linked to metals and/or rodenticide exposure while it was related negatively to corticosterone. The relationship between telomere and corticosterone was modulated by nestling's age, which suggests that the rate of telomere shortening is higher when corticosterone increases. Our findings propose an effect of low exposure of Red Kite nestlings to mercury and lead mixture to raise baseline corticosterone in feathers. The relationships established suggest the hypothesis that telomere attrition could be an indirect consequence of metal exposure mediated by corticosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Powolny
- Laboratoire Chrono-environment - University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR/CNRS 6249, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France.
| | - N Bassin
- Laboratoire Chrono-environment - University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR/CNRS 6249, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - N Crini
- Laboratoire Chrono-environment - University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR/CNRS 6249, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - I Fourel
- USC 1233 RS2GP, VetAgro Sup, INRA, Univ Lyon, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - C Morin
- LPO Franche-Comté, 7 rue Voirin, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - T G Pottinger
- CEH, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4AP, Lancaster, UK
| | - S Massemin
- IPHC - University of Strasbourg, 23 rue du Loess, 67038 Strasbourg, France
| | - S Zahn
- IPHC - University of Strasbourg, 23 rue du Loess, 67038 Strasbourg, France
| | - M Coeurdassier
- Laboratoire Chrono-environment - University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR/CNRS 6249, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France
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10
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Individual differences in glucocorticoid regulation: Does it relate to disease risk and resilience? Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 56:100803. [PMID: 31697962 PMCID: PMC7189329 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid (GC) signaling varies among individuals, and this variation may relate to individual differences in health outcomes. To determine if and which aspects of signaling (basal, circadian, integrative, or reactivity) are associated with specific health outcomes, we reviewed recent studies that relate GCs to health outcomes. We identified papers through PubMed and reviewed 100 original research articles related to mental health, cardiovascular health, cancer, diabetes, obesity, pulmonary health, sleep, and fitness. Many studies reported elevated GC secretion associated with worse health, but this was only particularly true for integrative GC measures. On the other hand, accentuated cortisol awakening response and a steeper circadian rhythm were both associated with positive health outcomes. Overall, relationships between GC secretion and health outcomes were relatively weak. This systematic review of relationships between GC metrics and health outcomes highlights the importance of careful consideration when selecting methods to measure GC regulation in health research.
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11
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Peterson SH, Ackerman JT, Toney M, Herzog MP. Mercury Concentrations Vary Within and Among Individual Bird Feathers: A Critical Evaluation and Guidelines for Feather Use in Mercury Monitoring Programs. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:1164-1187. [PMID: 30924957 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Feathers are widely used to represent mercury contamination in birds. Yet, few recommendations exist that provide guidance for using bird feathers in mercury monitoring programs. We conducted a literature review and 5 experiments to show that mercury concentrations vary substantially within (vane >100% higher than calamus) and among (>1000%) individual feathers from the same bird. We developed a research tool and guidelines for using bird feathers for mercury studies based on 3 components: 1) variability of feather mercury concentrations within an individual bird (coefficient of variation), 2) desired accuracy of the measured mercury concentration, and 3) feather and bird mass. Our results suggest a general rule that if the goal is to limit analytical and processing costs by using whole feathers in only one sample boat, then to achieve an accuracy within 10% of a bird's overall average feather mercury concentration a bird with a coefficient of variation ≤10% must be <190 g (size of a large shorebird). To achieve an accuracy within 20%, a bird with a coefficient of variation ≤10% must be <920 g (a large duck). When more than one sample boat is needed to fit the required number of feathers to achieve the desired accuracy, the results suggest homogenizing feathers and analyzing an aliquot of ≥20 mg for mercury. The present study suggests increasing the number of feathers typically used per bird to assess mercury concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1164-1187. Published 2019 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Peterson
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
| | - Matthew Toney
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
| | - Mark P Herzog
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
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12
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Soto M, Lewis R, Curtis JT. Chronic exposure to inorganic mercury alters stress responses in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Horm Behav 2019; 109:53-55. [PMID: 30769014 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Male, but not female, prairie voles that experience chronic exposure to inorganic mercury display aberrant social behavior - avoiding unfamiliar conspecifics rather than approaching them. The mechanisms that underlie such behavioral changes are unknown, but likely involve the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We tested this hypothesis by providing voles of both sexes with mercury chloride in their drinking water for ten weeks and then staging same-sex dyadic encounters after which plasma was assayed for corticosterone as an index of HPA activity. Consistent with sex-specific behavioral responses previously reported, mercury-treated males had lower plasma corticosterone after social encounters than did similarly-treated females or males that consumed normal drinking water. The results suggest that mercury-treated males may be less inclined toward social engagement with conspecifics due to reduced HPA activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Soto
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK 74107, United States of America
| | - Robert Lewis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK 74107, United States of America
| | - J Thomas Curtis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK 74107, United States of America.
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13
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Scheiber IBR, Weiß BM, de Jong ME, Braun A, van den Brink NW, Loonen MJJE, Millesi E, Komdeur J. Stress behaviour and physiology of developing Arctic barnacle goslings ( Branta leucopsis) is affected by legacy trace contaminants. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20181866. [PMID: 30963902 PMCID: PMC6304058 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural populations are persistently exposed to environmental pollution, which may adversely impact animal physiology and behaviour and even compromise survival. Responding appropriately to any stressor ultimately might tip the scales for survival, as mistimed behaviour and inadequate physiological responses may be detrimental. Yet effects of legacy contamination on immediate physiological and behavioural stress coping abilities during acute stress are virtually unknown. Here, we assessed these effects in barnacle goslings ( Branta leucopsis) at a historical coal mine site in the Arctic. For three weeks we led human-imprinted goslings, collected from nests in unpolluted areas, to feed in an abandoned coal mining area, where they were exposed to trace metals. As control we led their siblings to feed on clean grounds. After submitting both groups to three well-established stress tests (group isolation, individual isolation, on-back restraint), control goslings behaved calmer and excreted lower levels of corticosterone metabolites. Thus, legacy contamination may decisively change stress physiology and behaviour in long-lived vertebrates exposed at a young age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella B. R. Scheiber
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte M. Weiß
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Margje E. de Jong
- Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, 9718 CW Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Braun
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nico W. van den Brink
- Department of Toxicology, Wageningen University, 6700 EA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Eva Millesi
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Chatelain M, Gasparini J, Frantz A, Angelier F. Reproduction impairments in metal-polluted environments and parental hormones: No evidence for a causal association in an experimental study in breeding feral pigeons exposed to lead and zinc. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 161:746-754. [PMID: 29957582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Humans are responsible for land-cover changes resulting in the emission of hazardous chemical elements including metallic trace elements i.e. MTEs. As a consequence, urban wildlife is exposed to high concentrations of MTEs, which exposure is linked to reproductive impairments. MTE effects on reproduction outputs might result from MTE exposure disrupting the endocrine pathways involved in reproductive behaviours. In birds, there is strong evidence that prolactin, corticosterone and testosterone are all involved in the regulation of parental effort during incubation and chick rearing. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals might stimulate or inhibit the production of those hormones and consequently alter parental investment and reproductive success outcomes. We measured baseline corticosterone, prolactin and testosterone plasma levels, and the corticosterone stress response of breeding feral pigeons (Columba livia) experimentally exposed to ecologically relevant lead and/or zinc concentrations. Independently of lead and/or zinc exposure, male and female plasma levels of corticosterone and prolactin (but not testosterone) showed temporal variations along the reproduction stages (i.e. incubation, early rearing and late rearing). In addition, both hatching and fledging success were slightly correlated with corticosterone, prolactin and testosterone levels. However, our study did not find any influence of lead or zinc exposure on hormone levels, suggesting that MTE effects on reproductive outputs might not be explained by MTE-induced modifications of corticosterone, prolactin and testosterone-linked behaviours during incubation and rearing. Alternatively, MTE-induced reproductive impairments might result from MTE exposure having direct effects on offspring phenotypes or prenatal indirect effects on the embryo (e.g. maternal transfer of MTEs, hormones or immune compounds).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chatelain
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UPEC, Paris 7, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, Paris, F-75005, France.
| | - J Gasparini
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UPEC, Paris 7, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, Paris, F-75005, France
| | - A Frantz
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UPEC, Paris 7, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, Paris, F-75005, France
| | - F Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, F-79360 Villiers en Bois, France
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15
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Whitney MC, Cristol DA. Impacts of Sublethal Mercury Exposure on Birds: A Detailed Review. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 244:113-163. [PMID: 28710647 DOI: 10.1007/398_2017_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant known to accumulate in, and negatively affect, fish-eating and oceanic bird species, and recently demonstrated to impact some terrestrial songbirds to a comparable extent. It can bioaccumulate to concentrations of >1 μg/g in tissues of prey organisms such as fish and insects. At high enough concentrations, exposure to mercury is lethal to birds. However, environmental exposures are usually far below the lethal concentrations established by dosing studies.The objective of this review is to better understand the effects of sublethal exposure to mercury in birds. We restricted our survey of the literature to studies with at least some exposures >5 μg/g. The majority of sublethal effects were subtle and some studies of similar endpoints reached different conclusions. Strong support exists in the literature for the conclusion that mercury exposure reduces reproductive output, compromises immune function, and causes avoidance of high-energy behaviors. For some endpoints, notably certain measures of reproductive success, endocrine and neurological function, and body condition, there is weak or contradictory evidence of adverse effects and further study is required. There was no evidence that environmentally relevant mercury exposure affects longevity, but several of the sublethal effects identified likely do result in fitness reductions that could adversely impact populations. Overall, 72% of field studies and 91% of laboratory studies found evidence of deleterious effects of mercury on some endpoint, and thus we can conclude that mercury is harmful to birds, and the many effects on reproduction indicate that bird population declines may already be resulting from environmental mercury pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret C Whitney
- Department of Biology, Institute for Integrative Bird Behavior Studies, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 23187, USA
| | - Daniel A Cristol
- Department of Biology, Institute for Integrative Bird Behavior Studies, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 23187, USA.
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