Dose dependent effects of plumage-oiling on thermoregulation of Common Eiders Somateria mollissima residing in water

Jenssen, Bjørn Munro; Ekker, Morten

doi:10.1111/j.1751-8369.1991.tb00675.x

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Birds exposed experimentally to oil for only a few hours showed increases in heat production and thermal conductance even at room temperature (McEwan and Koelink, 1973;Erasmus et al, 1981). Jackass penguins (Spheniscus demersus) with environmental oil exposure covering up to 70% of their bodies had a 2.5 o C drop in body temperature after only 15 min in water at 19.5-20.5 o C. In water temperatures of 4.5-6 o C, common eiders (Somateria mollissima) exposed to 70 ml of oil became hypothermic in only 70 min (Jenssen and Ekker, 1991). Sanderlings (Calidris alba) with 20% oil coverage of their feathers spent significantly more time preening and less time resting and were more aggressive (Burger and Tsipoura, 1998).…”

Section: Thermoregulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reprint of: Overview of avian toxicity studies for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment

Bursian

Alexander

Cacela

et al. 2017

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

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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 day 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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Section: Thermoregulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reprint of: Overview of avian toxicity studies for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment

Bursian

Alexander

Cacela

et al. 2017

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

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“…Exposed birds were observed shivering and microscopic feather inspection revealed that barbules of oiled feathers were matted into clumps leading the authors to conclude that disruption of the smooth, organized structure of feathers caused water to penetrate the plumage. Jenssen and Ekker (1991) found that metabolic heat production of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) resting in 5.5 o C water for three hours after external application of 10 to 70 mL of crude oil increased over time and with dose, and that there was no change in metabolic rate at the low dose of 2.5 ml. Eiders are a large, wellinsulated northern bird and any impacts of oiling found in eiders likely would be as bad or worse in other smaller, or less insulated seabirds (Robertson et al 2014).…”

Section: Metabolic Ratementioning

confidence: 98%

“…Preening can result in eventual, effective removal of oil from plumage for some birds, primarily those with access to land and warmer climates; however, behavioural changes during the cleaning time and toxic effects from ingestion pose serious threats to survival and reproduction for many marine bird species. Yet, another study found that preening resulted in greater effects than oil left alone on the feathers since preening resulted in oil being spread around and into feathers, enhancing metabolic heat loss (Jenssen and Ekker 1991).…”

Section: Behavioural Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Offshore oil and gas, and operational sheen occurrence: is there potential harm to marine birds?

Morandin¹,

O’Hara

2016

Environ. Rev.

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Hydrocarbon discharges into the ocean, both regulated and accidental, occur from offshore drilling and production operations, and can result in oil sheen (≤3 μm thick) and slick (>3 μm thick) formation, potentially harming marine birds. Sheens may commonly occur around offshore oil and gas platforms in Atlantic Canada, however, there is little information on regularity of occurrence. Further, there are few direct studies on potential impacts of sheens, associated with offshore oil and gas operations, on marine birds. We reviewed potential sources and frequency of hydrocarbon accumulation on sea surfaces from offshore oil and gas operations in Atlantic Canada, and the likelihood of overlap with marine birds. We conducted a literature review on lethal and sub-lethal effects of low levels of oil contact and ingestion on marine birds, focusing on studies that describe measured dosages of oil. We extrapolated from these data on low-dose oil exposure to link possible effects to marine birds resulting from exposure to sheens. We found that sheens occur around production operations in Atlantic Canada at allowable levels of oil concentrations in produced water. Frequency and extent of occurrence cannot be estimated from current monitoring practices. While immediate lethal effects to seabirds likely are not common from external oiling of feathers from sheens, added stressors, such as cold weather, can result in external oiling from sheens having significant impact on seabird metabolic rate and can be ultimately lethal. Ingestion of small amounts of oil, doses that realistically could be expected from exposure to sheens, in some cases resulted in sub-lethal effects to adult seabirds, primarily affecting metabolic rate, sub-lethal health impacts, and reproductive output. Nestlings and eggs do not come in direct contact with sheens, yet these life stages are highly sensitive to oil, and transfer of oil from adults exposed to sheens likely is above tolerance levels at times. Negative effects to reproductive output from small doses of ingested oil could be causing undetected impacts on marine birds and marine bird populations. Lack of standardized monitoring of marine bird contact with sheens and potential harm makes assessments of magnitude and extent of impact problematic.

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“…Assuming that the heat capacity and mass remain constant, we may solve for body temperature as a function of time (Equation 3 in Table 2). 2001Thickness Δx Jenssen and Ekker (1991) PBOM = physiologically based oiling model; COEI = common eider; SPSA = spotted sandpiper; DOVE = dovekie; GBHE = great blue heron; AWPE = American white pelican; k = thermal conductivity in W/mK; ρ = density in kg/m3; Q = heat transfer in W; ΔT = thermal gradient in K; c = specific heat capacity in J/kg K; h = latent heat of vaporization in J/kg; Δhr = humidity ratio, unitless.…”

Section: Submodels In the Pbommentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ambient air temperature was maintained at 5.5°C. Jenssen and Ekker (1991) reported that exposure to 10 to 15 mL oil resulted in a "small, transient rise in heat production." Exposure to 35 to 50 mL oil resulted in an "immediate increase in heat production, which leveled off at approximately 2 to 2.5 times the baseline level."…”

Section: Validation Of the Pbom Against Empirical Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Physiologically Based Oiling Model (PBOM) to Predict Thermoregulatory Response in Birds

Tuarze

Stephenson

Mazzocco

et al. 2020

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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When birds are exposed to oil, their ability to thermoregulate is impaired as a result of damage to the insulative properties of their feathers. If an oiled bird is unable to maintain thermal homeostasis, hypothermia and death can follow rapidly. Physiological responses to oiling depend on several variables including environmental conditions (e.g., ambient air and water temperatures), life history of bird species (e.g., body size and habitat selection), and foraging strategies (e.g., divers, surface feeders, shorebirds). The most widely used approach to assess the effect of spilled oil on birds is the US Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Type A Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Model for Coastal and Marine Environments. This approach addresses body size and time spent in a hypothetical slick but lacks the flexibility to assess other variables related to physiological response. We developed a dynamic physiologically based oiling model (PBOM) for birds to address this need. The PBOM has been validated against empirical data from a dose-response study in which common eiders were exposed to Statfjord A crude oil. The PBOM can be used to predict time to hypothermia for birds of differing body size and habitat preferences, in environments ranging from Arctic to subtropical. The model presently includes 5 representative bird species: common eider, spotted sandpiper, great blue heron, dovekie, and American white pelican, but could be adapted to represent almost any bird.

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Dose dependent effects of plumage-oiling on thermoregulation of Common Eiders Somateria mollissima residing in water

Cited by 15 publications

References 12 publications

Reprint of: Overview of avian toxicity studies for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment

Reprint of: Overview of avian toxicity studies for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment

Offshore oil and gas, and operational sheen occurrence: is there potential harm to marine birds?

A Physiologically Based Oiling Model (PBOM) to Predict Thermoregulatory Response in Birds

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