Metal exposure influences the melanin and carotenoid-based colorations in great tits

Giraudeau, Mathieu; Mateos‐González, Fernando; Cotín, Javier; Pagani‐Núñez, Emilio; Torné‐Noguera, Anna; Senar, Juan Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.021

Cited by 35 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In insects, tolerance of dietary heavy metals has also been attributed to the ability to efficiently excrete ingested metals, which has been linked to potential evolutionary changes in regulatory genes for metal-binding proteins such as metallothioneins (Janssens et al, 2009). A handful of studies suggest that melanisation may be linked to metal tolerance as melanin pigments also aid in sequestration and excretion of heavy metals in vertebrates (Chatelain et al, 2014;Giraudeau et al, 2015;Goiran et al, 2017), but it is unclear whether this translates to insects, which use melanin for immune defence (Barnes & Siva-Jothy, 2000;True, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing zinc tolerance in two butterfly species: consequences for conservation in polluted environments

Shephard¹,

Mitchell

Henry

et al. 2020

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Zinc is a widespread pollutant released from industrial combustion, automobile residue, and mining. Zinc accumulates in soils and mobilises into plant tissue where it may be consumed to potentially toxic levels by leaf feeding insects, including developing pollinators. While zinc tolerance thresholds have been previously assessed in insect pollinators, most observations are limited to model organisms and pest species. We lack understanding of zinc tolerance in insects of conservation concern. We assess dietary zinc tolerance of developing caterpillars from wild populations of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), a species of conservation concern, whose caterpillars are commonly exposed to elevated dietary zinc exposure in milkweed plants along roadsides. We contrast monarch zinc tolerance with that of cabbage white butterfly caterpillars (Pieris rapae), a non‐native pest species. Tolerance was assessed by rearing caterpillars on artificial diets containing varying levels of zinc. Zinc reduced monarch survival at levels as low as 344 mg kg−1 but positively impacted cabbage white survival at 227 and 738 mg kg−1. Cabbage whites also displayed prolonged development time, smaller adult body size, and slower growth rate, consistent with the possibility that zinc tolerance had fitness costs. Our results support previous observations that heavy metal tolerance varies between species and highlight the importance of broadening our understanding of tolerance to insect species of conservation concern before drawing general conclusions about insect susceptibility to heavy metal pollution. Nonetheless, our results suggest that zinc pollution alone is unlikely a risk in developing roadside habitat for monarch butterflies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing zinc tolerance in two butterfly species: consequences for conservation in polluted environments

Shephard¹,

Mitchell

Henry

et al. 2020

Insect Conserv Diversity

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“…Giraudeau, Mateos‐Gonzalez, et al. (2015) show a negative correlation of carotenoid‐based coloration with mercury concentration ( p = 0.02), as well as with the sum of metals (Hg, Cu, Pb, Cr, As, Cd, Sb, and Zn) ( F 1,30 = 2.07, p = 0.16). Chicks of great tits living nearer a pollution source (a factory complex producing Cu, Ni, and fertilizers) had paler yellow plumage than chicks living further away from the factory (Eeva et al., 1998).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2015), the determined total content of metals was positively correlated with the size of the melanin‐based black tie. Melanin pigmentation was also positively correlated with copper level and negatively with chromium concentration (Giraudeau, Mateos‐Gonzalez, et al., 2015). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Because the data were incomplete, all trace elements (zinc, lead, cadmium, calcium, copper) were examined separately (Table 1; Figure 1). In analysis, following studies were used: Chatelain et al, 2014;Chatelain, Gasparini, & Frantz, 2016;Giraudeau, Chavez, et al, 2015;Giraudeau, Mateos-Gonzalez, et al, 2015;Gochfeld et al 1991;McGraw, 2007;Niecke et al, 2003;Zduniak et al, 2014 . Small sample sizes in the available research result in a high confidence interval.…”

Section: Average Effect Sizementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Black sections of the feather shaft were significantly enriched with zinc, calcium, copper, and magnesium according to a study by Hanć, Zduniak, Erciyas-Yavuz, Sajnóg, and Barałkiewicz (2017). In Giraudeau, Mateos-Gonzalez, et al (2015), the determined total content of metals was positively correlated with the size of the melanin-based black tie. Melanin pigmentation was also positively correlated with copper level and negatively with chromium concentration (Giraudeau, Mateos-Gonzalez, et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biological responses to environmental contamination. How can metal pollution impact signal honesty in avian species?

Pacyna

Ruman

Mazerski

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Environmental pollution, for example with metals, can significantly affect the ecosystem balance leading to severe changes. Biologically active pigments are relevant for the appearance and condition of birds. Melanin and carotenoid particles are the most frequently deposited pigments in avian integument. They are responsible for the majority of colors of bird plumage. The phenotypic expression can be affected by metal contamination. It can be manifested as color bleaching or differences in the size of plumage badges. In this study, we performed a comprehensive review of related studies in order to estimate the underlying population effect of this potential dependency. The study is based on the review of the literature regarding several avian species. It was designed to identify an area where the effect of the exposure is still poorly known. The analysis was specifically conducted to investigate the correlation between trace element concentration and eumelanin deposition. Moreover, we searched for factors that could affect spectral properties of feathers with carotenoid‐based pigmentation. As a result, we found carotenoid‐based pigmentation to be of a good use in terms of visual condition assessment. Changes in melanin‐based pattern should be analyzed separately for eu‐ and pheomelanin as well as for a range of essential and toxic elements. Comprehensive studies on the subject are still scarce. Therefore, the issue requires further investigation.

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Methylmercury Concentrations More Strongly Associated With Trait Variation Than Food Web Position in Plethodontid Salamanders

Tennant,

Cosentino,

Cleckner

et al. 2024

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Salamanders serve as bioindicators of mercury (Hg) in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats and are an important link in the food web between low‐trophic prey and higher‐trophic predators. We investigated the drivers of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in three common plethodontid salamander species in New York State, USA, including comparisons among regions, habitat types (terrestrial and semiaquatic), and color morphs of Plethodon cinereus (striped and unstriped). Nonlethal tail samples were collected from one terrestrial species (P. cinereus) and two semiaquatic species (Eurycea bislineata and Desmognathus spp.) in the Adirondack Mountains (ADK) and the Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) regions. Samples were analyzed for MeHg and stable isotopes, including δ15N and δ13C which are proxies of trophic position and diet, respectively. Despite elevated biota Hg concentrations typically found in the ADK, salamander MeHg concentrations did not differ by region in the terrestrial species and one of the semiaquatic species. In addition, diet and trophic level did not explain MeHg exposure in salamanders. Semiaquatic salamanders exhibited higher MeHg concentrations than terrestrial salamanders in the FLNF only. Within species, only snout–vent length predicted MeHg concentrations in E. bislineata with few other variables significant as predictors of MeHg concentrations in path models. Among P. cinereus individuals in the FLNF, the striped morph had greater MeHg concentrations than the unstriped morph, and food web tracers were not different between morphs. Overall, New York State salamander Hg concentrations were elevated compared to other locations where these species are present. The present study establishes baseline Hg data in salamanders for future assessments of changes in Hg bioavailability to forests of New York State. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1–13. © 2024 SETAC

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Metal exposure influences the melanin and carotenoid-based colorations in great tits

Cited by 35 publications

References 51 publications

Assessing zinc tolerance in two butterfly species: consequences for conservation in polluted environments

Assessing zinc tolerance in two butterfly species: consequences for conservation in polluted environments

Biological responses to environmental contamination. How can metal pollution impact signal honesty in avian species?

Methylmercury Concentrations More Strongly Associated With Trait Variation Than Food Web Position in Plethodontid Salamanders

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