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Ruberg EJ, King MD, Elliott JE, Tomy GT, Idowu I, Vermette ML, Williams TD. Effects of diluted bitumen exposure on the survival, physiology, and behaviour of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 229:113071. [PMID: 34915220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113071] [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: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Diluted bitumen (dilbit) is an unconventional crude petroleum increasingly being extracted and transported to market by pipeline and tanker. Despite the transport of dilbit through terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal habitat important to diverse bird fauna, toxicity data are currently only available for fish and invertebrates. We used the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) as a tractable, avian model system to investigate exposure effects of lightly weathered Cold Lake blend dilbit on survival, tissue residue, and a range of physiological and behavioural endpoints. Birds were exposed via oral gavage over 14-days with dosages of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 mL dilbit/kg bw/day. We identified an LD50 of 9.4 mL/kg/d dilbit, with complete mortality at 12 mL/kg/d. Mortality was associated with mass loss, external oiling, decreased pectoral and heart mass, and increased liver mass. Hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (EROD) was elevated in all dilbit-dosed birds compared with controls but there was limited evidence of sublethal effects of dilbit on physiological endpoints at doses < 10 mL/kg/d (hematocrit, hemoglobin, total antioxidants, and reactive oxygen metabolites). Dilbit exposure affected behavior, with more dilbit-treated birds foraging away from the feeder, more birds sleeping or idle at low dilbit doses, and fewer birds huddling together at high dilbit doses. Naphthalene, dibenzothiophene, and their alkylated congeners in particular (e.g. C2-napthalene and C2-dibenzothiophene) accumulated in the liver at greater concentrations in dilbit-treated birds compared to controls. Although directly comparable studies in the zebra finch are limited, our mortality data suggest that dilbit is more toxic than the well-studied MC252 conventional light crude oil with this exposure regime. A lack of overt sublethal effects at lower doses, but effects on body mass and composition, behaviour, high mortality, and elevated PAC residue at doses ≥ 10 mL/kg/d suggest a threshold effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Ruberg
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Mason D King
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Division, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Gregg T Tomy
- University of Manitoba, Department of Chemistry, 144 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Ifeoluwa Idowu
- University of Manitoba, Department of Chemistry, 144 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Melissa L Vermette
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Tony D Williams
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
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King MD, Elliott JE, Marlatt V, Crump D, Idowu I, Wallace SJ, Tomy GT, Williams TD. Effects of Avian Eggshell Oiling With Diluted Bitumen Show Sublethal Embryonic Polycyclic Aromatic Compound Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:159-174. [PMID: 34918379 PMCID: PMC9299908 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Breeding birds that become oiled may contaminate the shells of their eggs, and studies of conventional crude oil suggest that even small quantities can be absorbed through the eggshell and cause embryotoxicity. Unconventional crude oils remain untested, so we evaluated whether a major Canadian oil sands product, diluted bitumen (dilbit), would be absorbed and cause toxicity when applied to eggshells of two species, domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum). We artificially incubated eggs and applied lightly weathered dilbit (Cold Lake blend) to the eggshells (0.015-0.15 mg g-1 egg in chicken; 0.1-0.4 mg g-1 egg in cormorant) at various points during incubation before sampling prehatch embryos. Polycyclic aromatic compound (PAC) residue in cormorant embryos was elevated only at the highest dilbit application (0.4 mg g-1 egg) closest (day 16) to sampling on day 22. In contrast, cormorant liver cytochrome P450 1a4 (Cyp1a4) mRNA expression (quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay) was elevated only in embryos treated with the earliest and lowest dilbit application (0.1 mg g-1 egg on day 4). These results confirm that dilbit can cross through the eggshell and be absorbed by embryos, and they imply rapid biotransformation of PACs and a nonmonotonic Cyp1a4 response. Despite evidence of exposure in cormorant, we found no detectable effects on the frequency of survival, deformity, and gross lesions, nor did we find effects on physiological endpoints indicative of growth and cardiovascular function in either chicken or cormorant. In ovo dilbit exposure may be less toxic than well-studied conventional crude oils. The effects of an oil spill scenario involving dilbit to bird embryos might be subtle, and PACs may be rapidly metabolized. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:159-174. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason D. King
- Department of Biological SciencesSimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - John E. Elliott
- Department of Biological SciencesSimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Science and Technology DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaDeltaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Vicki Marlatt
- Department of Biological SciencesSimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Doug Crump
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Ifeoluwa Idowu
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Sarah J. Wallace
- Institut National de la Recherche ScientifiqueCentre Eau Terre EnvironnementQuebecQuebecCanada
| | - Gregg T. Tomy
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Tony D. Williams
- Department of Biological SciencesSimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyBritish ColumbiaCanada
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Takeshita R, Bursian SJ, Colegrove KM, Collier TK, Deak K, Dean KM, De Guise S, DiPinto LM, Elferink CJ, Esbaugh AJ, Griffitt RJ, Grosell M, Harr KE, Incardona JP, Kwok RK, Lipton J, Mitchelmore CL, Morris JM, Peters ES, Roberts AP, Rowles TK, Rusiecki JA, Schwacke LH, Smith CR, Wetzel DL, Ziccardi MH, Hall AJ. A review of the toxicology of oil in vertebrates: what we have learned following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2021; 24:355-394. [PMID: 34542016 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2021.1975182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, a number of government agencies, academic institutions, consultants, and nonprofit organizations conducted lab- and field-based research to understand the toxic effects of the oil. Lab testing was performed with a variety of fish, birds, turtles, and vertebrate cell lines (as well as invertebrates); field biologists conducted observations on fish, birds, turtles, and marine mammals; and epidemiologists carried out observational studies in humans. Eight years after the spill, scientists and resource managers held a workshop to summarize the similarities and differences in the effects of DWH oil on vertebrate taxa and to identify remaining gaps in our understanding of oil toxicity in wildlife and humans, building upon the cross-taxonomic synthesis initiated during the Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Across the studies, consistency was found in the types of toxic response observed in the different organisms. Impairment of stress responses and adrenal gland function, cardiotoxicity, immune system dysfunction, disruption of blood cells and their function, effects on locomotion, and oxidative damage were observed across taxa. This consistency suggests conservation in the mechanisms of action and disease pathogenesis. From a toxicological perspective, a logical progression of impacts was noted: from molecular and cellular effects that manifest as organ dysfunction, to systemic effects that compromise fitness, growth, reproductive potential, and survival. From a clinical perspective, adverse health effects from DWH oil spill exposure formed a suite of signs/symptomatic responses that at the highest doses/concentrations resulted in multi-organ system failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Takeshita
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Steven J Bursian
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
| | - Kathleen M Colegrove
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brookfield, Illinois, United States
| | - Tracy K Collier
- Zoological Pathology Program, Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States
| | - Kristina Deak
- College of Marine Sciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
| | | | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States
| | - Lisa M DiPinto
- Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Cornelis J Elferink
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, United States
| | - Robert J Griffitt
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
| | - Martin Grosell
- RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
| | | | - John P Incardona
- NOAA Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Richard K Kwok
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, North Carolina, United States
| | | | - Carys L Mitchelmore
- University of Maryland Center of Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, Maryland, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Morris
- Health and Environment Division, Abt Associates, Boulder, Colorado, United States
| | - Edward S Peters
- Department of Epidemiology, LSU School of Public Health, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Aaron P Roberts
- Advanced Environmental Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, United States
| | - Teresa K Rowles
- NOAA Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Jennifer A Rusiecki
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Cynthia R Smith
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Dana L Wetzel
- Environmental Laboratory of Forensics, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States
| | - Michael H Ziccardi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, California, United States
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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Møller AP, Laursen K, Izaguirre J, Marzal A. Antibacterial and anatomical defenses in an oil contaminated, vulnerable seaduck. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12520-12528. [PMID: 34594517 PMCID: PMC8462148 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oil spills have killed thousands of birds during the last 100 years, but nonlethal effects of oil spills on birds remain poorly studied. We measured phenotype characters in 819 eiders Somateria mollissima (279 whole birds and 540 wings) of which 13.6% were oiled. We tested the hypotheses that (a) the morphology of eiders does not change due to oil contamination; (b) the anatomy of organs reflects the physiological reaction to contamination, for example, increase in metabolic demand, increase in food intake, and counteracting toxic effects of oil; (c) large locomotion apparatus that facilitates locomotion increases the risk of getting oiled; and (d) individual eiders with a higher production of secretions from the uropygial grand were more likely to have oil on their plumage. We tested whether 19 characters differed between oiled and nonoiled individuals, showing a consistent pattern. The final model retained seven predictor variables showing relationships between eiders contaminated with oil and food consumption, flight, and diving abilities. We tested whether these effects were due to differences in body condition, liver mass, empty gizzard mass, or other characters that could have been affected by impaired flight and diving ability. There was no evidence of such negative impact of oiling on eiders. We found that significant exposure to oil was associated with increased diversity of antibacterial defense. Oiled eiders did not constitute a random sample, and superior diving ability as reflected by large foot area was at a selective disadvantage during oil spills. Thus, specific characteristics predispose eiders to oiling, with an adaptation to swimming, diving, and flying being traded against the costs of oiling. In contrast, individuals with a high degree of physiological plasticity may experience an advantage because their uropygial secretions counteract the effects of oil contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Pape Møller
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- Ecologie Systématique EvolutionCNRSUniversité Paris‐SaclayOrsay CedexFrance
| | | | | | - Alfonso Marzal
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of ExtremaduraBadajozSpain
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Bautista NM, do Amaral-Silva L, Dzialowski E, Burggren WW. Dietary Exposure to Low Levels of Crude Oil Affects Physiological and Morphological Phenotype in Adults and Their Eggs and Hatchlings of the King Quail ( Coturnix chinensis). Front Physiol 2021; 12:661943. [PMID: 33897469 PMCID: PMC8063051 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.661943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the current knowledge of the devastating effects of external exposure to crude oil on animal mortality, the study of developmental, transgenerational effects of such exposure has received little attention. We used the king quail as an animal model to determine if chronic dietary exposure to crude oil in a parental population would affect morpho-physiological phenotypic variables in their immediate offspring generation. Adult quail were separated into three groups: (1) Control, and two experimental groups dietarily exposed for at least 3 weeks to (2) Low (800 PAH ng/g food), or (3) High (2,400 PAH ng/g food) levels of crude oil. To determine the parental influence on their offspring, we measured metabolic and respiratory physiology in exposed parents and in their non-exposed eggs and hatchlings. Body mass and numerous metabolic (e.g., O2 consumption, CO2 production) and respiratory (e.g., ventilation frequency and volume) variables did not vary between control and oil exposed parental groups. In contrast, blood PO2, PCO2, and SO2 varied among parental groups. Notably, water loss though the eggshell was increased in eggs from High oil level exposed parents. Respiratory variables of hatchlings did not vary between populations, but hatchlings obtained from High oil-exposed parents exhibited lower capacities to maintain body temperature while exposed to a cooling protocol in comparison to hatchlings from Low- and Control-derived parents. The present study demonstrates that parental exposure to crude oil via diet impacts some aspects of physiological performance of the subsequent first (F1) generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naim M Bautista
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
| | - Lara do Amaral-Silva
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States.,Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, College of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edward Dzialowski
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
| | - Warren W Burggren
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
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King MD, Elliott JE, Williams TD. Effects of petroleum exposure on birds: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142834. [PMID: 33109373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Birds are vulnerable to petroleum pollution, and exposure has a range of negative effects resulting from plumage fouling, systemic toxicity, and embryotoxicity. Recent research has not been synthesized since Leighton's 1993 review despite the continued discharge of conventional petroleum, including high-volume oil spills and chronic oil pollution, as well as the emergence of understudied unconventional crude oil types. To address this, we reviewed the individual-level effects of crude oil and refined fuel exposure in avifauna with peer-reviewed articles published 1993-2020 to provide a critical synthesis of the state of the science. We also sought to answer how unconventional crude petroleum effects compare with conventional crude oil. Relevant knowledge gaps and research challenges were identified. The resulting review examines avian exposure to petroleum and synthesizes advances regarding the physical effects of oil hydrocarbons on feather structure and function, as well the toxic effects of inhaled or ingested oil, embryotoxicity, and how exposure affects broader scale endpoints related to behavior, reproduction, and survival. Another outcome of the review was the knowledge gaps and challenges identified. The first finding was a paucity of oil ingestion rate estimates in birds. Characterizing environmentally realistic exposure and ingestion rates is a higher research priority than additional conventional oral dosing experiments. Second, there is an absence of toxicity data for unconventional crude petroleum. Although the effects of air and water contamination in the Canadian oil sands region have received attention, toxicity data for direct exposure to unrefined bitumen produced there in high volumes and other such unconventional oil types are needed. Third, we encountered barriers to the interpretation, replication, broad relevance, and comparability of studies. We therefore propose best practices and promising technological advancements for researchers. This review consolidates our understanding of petroleum's effects on birds and points a way forward for researchers and resource managers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason D King
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - John E Elliott
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Division, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC V4K 3N2, Canada.
| | - Tony D Williams
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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7
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Goodchild CG, Love AC, Krall JB, DuRant SE. Weathered Mississippi Canyon 252 crude oil ingestion alters cytokine signaling, lowers heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, and induces sickness behavior in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 267:115302. [PMID: 33254636 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115302] [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: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill caused an estimated 100,000 bird mortalities. However, mortality estimates are often based on the number of visibly oiled birds and likely underestimate the true damage to avian populations as they do not include toxic effects from crude oil ingestion. Elevated susceptibility to disease has been postulated to be a significant barrier to recovery for birds that have ingested crude oil. Effective defense against pathogens involves integration of physiological and behavioral traits, which are regulated in-part by cytokine signaling pathways. In this study, we tested whether crude oil ingestion altered behavioral and physiological aspects of disease defense in birds. To do so, we used artificially weathered Mississippi Canyon 242 crude oil to orally dose zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with 3.3 mL/kg or 10 mL/kg of crude oil or a control (peanut oil) for 14 days. We measured expression of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-10) and proinflammatory pathways (NF-κB, COX-2) in the intestine, liver, and spleen (tissues that exhibit pathology in oil-exposed birds). We also measured heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratio and complement system activity, and video-recorded birds to analyze sickness behavior. Finches that ingested crude oil exhibited tissue-specific changes in cytokine mRNA expression. Proinflammatory cytokine expression decreased in the intestine but increased in the liver and spleen. Birds exposed to crude oil had lower H:L ratios compared to the control on day 14, but there were no differences in complement activity among treatments. Additionally, birds exposed to 10 mL/kg crude oil had reduced activity, indicative of sickness behavior. Our results suggest cytokines play a role in mediating physiological and behavioral responses to crude oil ingestion. Although most avian population damage assessments focus on mortality caused by external oiling, crude oil ingestion may also indirectly affect survival by altering physiological and behavioral traits important for disease defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher G Goodchild
- Oklahoma State University, Department of Integrative Biology, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA; Virginia Tech, Biological Sciences, 926 West Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Ashley C Love
- Oklahoma State University, Department of Integrative Biology, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA; University of Arkansas, Department of Biological Sciences, 601 Science and Engineering, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Krall
- Oklahoma State University, Department of Integrative Biology, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Sarah E DuRant
- University of Arkansas, Department of Biological Sciences, 601 Science and Engineering, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
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Bonisoli-Alquati A, Xu W, Stouffer PC, Taylor SS. Transcriptome analysis indicates a broad range of toxic effects of Deepwater Horizon oil on Seaside Sparrows. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 720:137583. [PMID: 32325582 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In marine species, the transcriptomic response to Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil implicated many biochemical pathways, with corresponding adverse outcomes on organ development and physiological performance. Terrestrial organisms differ in their mechanisms of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their physiological challenges, and may reveal either distinct effects of oil on biochemical pathways or the generality of the responses to oil shown in marine species. Using a cross-species hybridization microarray approach, we investigated the transcriptomic response in the liver of Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) exposed to DWH oil compared with birds from a control site. Our analysis identified 295 genes differentially expressed between birds exposed to oil and controls. Gene ontology (GO) and canonical pathway analysis suggested that the identified genes were involved in a coordinated response that promoted hepatocellular proliferation and liver regeneration while inhibiting apoptosis, necrosis, and liver steatosis. Exposure to oil also altered the expression of genes regulating energy homeostasis, including carbohydrate metabolism and gluconeogenesis, and the biosynthesis, transport and metabolism of lipids. These results provide a molecular mechanism for the long-standing observation of hepatic hypertrophy and altered lipid biosynthesis and transport in birds exposed to crude oil. Several of the activated pathways and pathological outcomes shown here overlap with the ones altered in fish species upon exposure to oil. Overall, our study shows that the path of oil contamination from the marine system into salt marshes can lead to similar responses in terrestrial birds to those described in marine organisms, suggesting similar adverse outcomes and shared machinery for detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bonisoli-Alquati
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States of America.
| | - W Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America
| | - P C Stouffer
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America; LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - S S Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America; LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
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9
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Horak KE, Barrett NL, Ellis JW, Campbell EM, Dannemiller NG, Shriner SA. Effects of Deepwater Horizon oil on feather structure and thermoregulation in gulls: Does rehabilitation work? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 718:137380. [PMID: 32325625 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137380] [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: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Impacts of large-scale oil spills on avian species are far-reaching. While media attention often focuses on lethal impacts, sub-lethal effects and the impacts of rehabilitation receive less attention. The objective of our study was to characterize effects of moderate external oiling and subsequent rehabilitation on feather structure and thermoregulation in gulls. We captured 30 wild ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) and randomly assigned each individual to an experimental group: 1) controls, 2) rehabilitated birds (externally oiled, rehabilitated by washing), or 3) oiled birds (externally oiled, not rehabilitated). We externally oiled birds with weathered MC252 Deepwater Horizon oil (water for controls) and collected feathers and thermography imagery (FLIR) approximately weekly for four weeks to investigate feather structure (quantified using a barbule clumping index) and thermoregulatory ability (characterized by internal body temperature and external surface temperature). Post-oiling feather clumping was significantly higher in oiled and rehabilitated birds compared to controls, but steadily declined over time in both groups. However, feather microstructure in rehabilitated birds was indistinguishable from controls within three weeks of washing whereas the feathers of oiled birds were still significantly clumped a month post oiling. Internal body temperatures didn't differ in any of the groups, suggesting birds maintain thermoregulatory homeostasis in spite of moderate external oiling. External temperatures for rehabilitated birds didn't differ from controls within a week of rehabilitation. Overall, rehabilitation procedures were effective and washed birds were in better condition compared to non-rehabilitated, oiled birds. This study provides evidence that the benefits of rehabilitation for moderately oiled birds likely outweigh the costs with regard to feather structure and thermoregulation. While feather preening and time were insufficient to reestablish baseline fine scale feather structure in moderately oiled birds, the significant clumping reduction over time may indicate that rehabilitation of lightly oiled birds may not be necessary and deserves further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Horak
- National Wildlife Research Center, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
| | - Nicole L Barrett
- National Wildlife Research Center, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Jeremy W Ellis
- National Wildlife Research Center, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Emma M Campbell
- National Wildlife Research Center, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Nicholas G Dannemiller
- National Wildlife Research Center, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 1601 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Susan A Shriner
- National Wildlife Research Center, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
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10
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Varela VW, Zimmerman GS. Persistence of avian carcasses on sandy beaches and marsh edges in the northern Gulf of Mexico. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 191:815. [PMID: 32185585 PMCID: PMC7078173 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7920-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
As part of the natural resource damage assessment for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a mathematical model was used to estimate the total number of bird carcasses deposited on shorelines based on the number of carcasses collected and adjustment factors such as detection probability and carcass persistence. Studies of carcass persistence occurred along sandy beaches and marsh edges in the northern Gulf of Mexico to obtain site-specific inputs for the model. We estimated persistence rates for these habitat types and evaluated the influence on persistence of carcass size, location of the carcass on the beach, dominant vegetation type in the marsh, carcass distance into marsh vegetation, and length of time a carcass was stranded on a shoreline. The length of time stranded had the greatest influence on persistence in both habitat types, with persistence initially relatively low and increasing logarithmically. Carcass size and position were weakly influential on sandy beaches. Carcass size had stronger influences along marsh edges, and marsh habitat type also affected persistence. We found evidence of a positive relationship between distance into the marsh and persistence during the first 24 h after carcass deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica W Varela
- Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E Tudor Rd, MS 361, Anchorage, AK, 99503, USA.
| | - Guthrie S Zimmerman
- Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA
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11
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Dannemiller NG, Horak KE, Ellis JW, Barrett NL, Wolfe LL, Shriner SA. Effects of External Oiling and Rehabilitation on Hematological, Biochemical, and Blood Gas Analytes in Ring-Billed Gulls ( Larus delawarensis). Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:405. [PMID: 31803767 PMCID: PMC6877692 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian species experience extensive morbidity and mortality following large-scale oil spills, often resulting in oiled birds being rescued, and admitted to rehabilitation. Our objective was to experimentally establish time-specific, descriptive blood analyte data following sublethal oil exposure and subsequent rehabilitation. Thirty wild Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups of 10 birds each. One treatment group served as controls and two treatment groups were externally oiled daily for 3 days with weathered MC252 oil collected from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, mimicking the upper threshold of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's moderate oiling classification. Following external oiling, one oiled treatment group was cleaned via standard rehabilitation practices. Serial venous blood samples were collected for a month to measure packed cell volume, total solids, blood gas and select plasma biochemistry analytes, total white blood cell estimates and differentials, and reticulocyte estimates. We found that both sublethal oil exposure and aspects of captivity were associated with a mild non-regenerative anemia. No other differences in venous blood gas and biochemical analytes as well as white blood cell concentrations were observed among the three groups. These findings suggest that the mild anemia seen in oiled birds undergoing rehabilitation is possibly multifactorial and that moderately oiled gulls have subtle, but potentially not insignificant clinicopathological abnormalities following sublethal oil exposure. Oiled gulls did not develop any clinicopathological derangements post-rehabilitation, suggesting current standard practices for rehabilitation cause minimal morbidity in clinically stable, moderately oiled gulls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G Dannemiller
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Katherine E Horak
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Jeremy W Ellis
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Nicole L Barrett
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Lisa L Wolfe
- Wildlife Health Program, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Susan A Shriner
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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12
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Khursigara AJ, Ackerly KL, Esbaugh AJ. Oil toxicity and implications for environmental tolerance in fish. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 220:52-61. [PMID: 30878452 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Crude oil and its constituent chemicals are common environmental toxicants in aquatic environments worldwide, and have been the subject of intense research for decades. Importantly, aquatic environments are also the sites of numerous other environmental disturbances that can impact the endemic fauna. While there have been a number of attempts to explore the potential additive and synergistic effects of oil exposure and environmental stressors, many of these efforts have focused on the cumulative effects on typical toxicological endpoints (e.g. survival, growth, reproduction and cellular damage). Fewer studies have investigated the impact that oil exposure may have on the ability of exposed animals to tolerate typically encountered environmental stressors, despite the fact that this is an important consideration when placing oil spills in an ecological context. Here we review the available data and highlight potentially understudied areas relating to how oil exposure may impair organismal responses to common environmental stressors in fishes. We focused on four common environmental stressors in aquatic environments - hypoxia, temperature, salinity and acid-base disturbances - while also considering social stress and impacts on the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis. Overall, we believe the evidence supports treating the impacts of oil exposure on environmental tolerance as an independent endpoint of toxicity in fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Khursigara
- The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channelview Drive, Port Aransas, TX, USA.
| | - Kerri L Ackerly
- The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channelview Drive, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channelview Drive, Port Aransas, TX, USA
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13
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Bursian SJ, Alexander CR, Cacela D, Cunningham FL, Dean KM, Dorr BS, Ellis CK, Godard-Codding CA, Guglielmo CG, Hanson-Dorr KC, Harr KE, Healy KA, Hooper MJ, Horak KE, Isanhart JP, Kennedy LV, Link JE, Maggini I, Moye JK, Perez CR, Pritsos CA, Shriner SA, Trust KA, Tuttle PL. Reprint of: Overview of avian toxicity studies for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 146:4-10. [PMID: 28559122 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 establishes liability for injuries to natural resources because of the release or threat of release of oil. Assessment of injury to natural resources resulting from an oil spill and development and implementation of a plan for the restoration, rehabilitation, replacement or acquisition of natural resources to compensate for those injuries is accomplished through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process. The NRDA process began within a week of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred on April 20, 2010. During the spill, more than 8500 dead and impaired birds representing at least 93 avian species were collected. In addition, there were more than 3500 birds observed to be visibly oiled. While information in the literature at the time helped to identify some of the effects of oil on birds, it was not sufficient to fully characterize the nature and extent of the injuries to the thousands of live oiled birds, or to quantify those injuries in terms of effects on bird viability. As a result, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed various assessment activities to inform NRDA injury determination and quantification analyses associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, including avian toxicity studies. The goal of these studies was to evaluate the effects of oral exposure to 1-20ml of artificially weathered Mississippi Canyon 252 oil kg bw-1 day-1 from one to 28 days or one to five applications of oil to 20% of the bird's surface area. It was thought that these exposure levels would not result in immediate or short-term mortality but might result in physiological effects that ultimately could affect avian survival, reproduction and health. These studies included oral dosing studies, an external dosing study, metabolic and flight performance studies and field-based flight studies. Results of these studies indicated changes in hematologic endpoints including formation of Heinz bodies and changes in cell counts. There were also effects on multiple organ systems, cardiac function and oxidative status. External oiling affected flight patterns and time spent during flight tasks indicating that migration may be affected by short-term repeated exposure to oil. Feather damage also resulted in increased heat loss and energetic demands. The papers in this special issue indicate that the combined effects of oil toxicity and feather effects in avian species, even in the case of relatively light oiling, can significantly affect the overall health of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Bursian
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | - C R Alexander
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - D Cacela
- Abt Associates, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - F L Cunningham
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Mississippi Field Station, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - K M Dean
- Abt Associates, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - B S Dorr
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Mississippi Field Station, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - C K Ellis
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - C A Godard-Codding
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - C G Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada
| | - K C Hanson-Dorr
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Mississippi Field Station, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | | | - K A Healy
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Office, Fairhope, AL, USA
| | - M J Hooper
- US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - K E Horak
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - L V Kennedy
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada
| | - J E Link
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - I Maggini
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada
| | - J K Moye
- Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - C R Perez
- Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - C A Pritsos
- Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - S A Shriner
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - K A Trust
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - P L Tuttle
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Office, Fairhope, AL, USA
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14
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Dean KM, Bursian SJ. Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: What we know about the effects of oil on birds? ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 146:1-3. [PMID: 28899549 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.08.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Dean
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Steven J Bursian
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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15
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Bursian SJ, Alexander CR, Cacela D, Cunningham FL, Dean KM, Dorr BS, Ellis CK, Godard-Codding CA, Guglielmo CG, Hanson-Dorr KC, Harr KE, Healy KA, Hooper MJ, Horak KE, Isanhart JP, Kennedy LV, Link JE, Maggini I, Moye JK, Perez CR, Pritsos CA, Shriner SA, Trust KA, Tuttle PL. Overview of avian toxicity studies for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 142:1-7. [PMID: 28376347 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 establishes liability for injuries to natural resources because of the release or threat of release of oil. Assessment of injury to natural resources resulting from an oil spill and development and implementation of a plan for the restoration, rehabilitation, replacement or acquisition of natural resources to compensate for those injuries is accomplished through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process. The NRDA process began within a week of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred on April 20, 2010. During the spill, more than 8500 dead and impaired birds representing at least 93 avian species were collected. In addition, there were more than 3500 birds observed to be visibly oiled. While information in the literature at the time helped to identify some of the effects of oil on birds, it was not sufficient to fully characterize the nature and extent of the injuries to the thousands of live oiled birds, or to quantify those injuries in terms of effects on bird viability. As a result, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed various assessment activities to inform NRDA injury determination and quantification analyses associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, including avian toxicity studies. The goal of these studies was to evaluate the effects of oral exposure to 1-20ml of artificially weathered Mississippi Canyon 252 oil kg bw-1 day-1 from one to 28 days or one to five applications of oil to 20% of the bird's surface area. It was thought that these exposure levels would not result in immediate or short-term mortality but might result in physiological effects that ultimately could affect avian survival, reproduction and health. These studies included oral dosing studies, an external dosing study, metabolic and flight performance studies and field-based flight studies. Results of these studies indicated changes in hematologic endpoints including formation of Heinz bodies and changes in cell counts. There were also effects on multiple organ systems, cardiac function and oxidative status. External oiling affected flight patterns and time spent during flight tasks indicating that migration may be affected by short-term repeated exposure to oil. Feather damage also resulted in increased heat loss and energetic demands. The papers in this special issue indicate that the combined effects of oil toxicity and feather effects in avian species, even in the case of relatively light oiling, can significantly affect the overall health of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Bursian
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | - C R Alexander
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - D Cacela
- Abt Associates, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - F L Cunningham
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Mississippi Field Station, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - K M Dean
- Abt Associates, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - B S Dorr
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Mississippi Field Station, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - C K Ellis
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - C A Godard-Codding
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - C G Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada
| | - K C Hanson-Dorr
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Mississippi Field Station, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | | | - K A Healy
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Office, Fairhope, AL, USA
| | - M J Hooper
- US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - K E Horak
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - L V Kennedy
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada
| | - J E Link
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - I Maggini
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON Canada
| | - J K Moye
- Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - C R Perez
- Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - C A Pritsos
- Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - S A Shriner
- US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - K A Trust
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - P L Tuttle
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Office, Fairhope, AL, USA
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