Effects of Lead Shot Ingestion on Captive Mourning Dove Survivability and Reproduction

LEAD TOXICITY: CONSEQUENCES AND INTERVENTIONS IN AN INTENSIVELY MANAGED (GYPS COPROTHERES) VULTURE COLONY

“…From published literature, it is recognized that subclinical lead toxicity occurs at concentrations ranging between 20 and 50 lg/dl, although a study on Californian condors (Gymnogyps californianus) suggested a lower limit of 10 lg/dl. 2 Effects would manifest as poor egg quality, egg fertility, and survivability, including abnormalities in chick bones despite the presence of healthy females and normal egg production, 1,6 all signs evident in this vulture population. It would therefore appear that the lead exposure in this current study caused a subclinical effect, as is evident from the poor hatchability of eggs despite the large number of eggs produced, i.e., 1.25 eggs/ pair/year compared to the normal production in the wild with 1 egg/pair/year.…”

A method of identifying priority spatial patterns for the management of potential ecological risks posed by heavy metals

“…To our knowledge, although most of the studies have shown that HM can influence the general health of wild birds, none of them concludes that HM has caused significant bird population decrease. Lead and cadmium have been proved to be toxic to birds in both laboratory and field studies [27,34]. Cadmium's toxic effects on birds include decreased egg production, damaged kidney and testicular, and altered behavioral response [27].…”

Lead Shot Ingestion in Two Raptor Species from Doñana, Spain

“…Unfortunately, there are no data available on no-observed-adverse e!ect concentrations (NOAECs) of Pb in avian eggs. Nevertheless, Buerger et al (1986) found a lower hatchability of eggs from female mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) dosed orally with a Pb shot, and it was due to an increase in early embryonic mortality. Transfer of Pb from female parents to eggs and young has been reported in birds (Kendall and Scanlon, 1981), and Pb exposure can a!ect their behavioral development (Burger and Gochfeld, 1996) or can reduce their survivability at lower doses than in adults (Ho!man et al, 1985).…”