Multi‐generational effects of polybrominated diphenylethers exposure: Embryonic exposure of male American kestrels (Falco sparverius) to DE‐71 alters reproductive success and behaviors

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) are additive flame-retardants that are environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative compounds of particular concern to species at high trophic levels, including predatory birds. The developmental effects of in ovo exposure to male birds at environmentally relevant levels of the PBDE technical mixture, DE-71, on reproductive success and behaviors using captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were determined. Males were exposed in ovo by direct maternal transfer to DE-71 and unintentionally to low concentrations of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) at three mean +/- standard error DE-71 concentrations of 288.60 +/- 33.35 ng/g wet weight (low-exposure), 1130.59 +/- 95.34 ng/g wet weight (high-exposure), or background levels of 3.01 +/- 0.46 ng/g wet weight (control). One year following exposure, males were paired with unexposed females. Reproductive success was lower in the high exposure pairs: 43% failed to lay eggs while all other pairs laid complete clutches; they also laid smaller clutches and produced smaller eggs with reduced fertility, parameters that were negatively correlated with paternal in ovo concentrations of all PBDEs, as well as individual congeners and HBCD. Throughout courtship, there were fewer copulations by all in ovo exposed males, fewer mate-calls made by high-exposure males, and decreasing trends in pair-bonding and nest-box behaviors across treatments that continued during brood rearing. The reductions in clutch size and fertility were associated with the reduced frequencies of male courtship behaviors, and were associated with increasing concentrations of the PBDE congeners BDE-47, -99, -100, -53, -138, and HBCD. The results of the present study confirm effects noted in the F(0) generation and demonstrate that exposure to DE-71 affects multiple generations of this predatory avian species at environmentally relevant levels of exposure.

A three‐generational study of In ovo exposure to PBDE‐99 in the zebra finch

“…They suggested that a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for impaired pipping and hatching success could be as low as 1.8 mg/g egg wet weight [26]. Finally, Marteinson et al [27] examined the effect of embryonic exposure of DE-71 (a commercial PBDE mixture) on reproduction in male American kestrels via maternal transfer by feeding mothers. They reported lower reproductive success in pairs with high-exposed males, and female partners of high-exposed males laid smaller clutches, and produced smaller eggs with reduced fertility.…”

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

“…A series of toxicity studies were conducted in which the American kestrel ( Falco sparverius ) was fed DE-71, after which reproduction and development endpoints were measured (Fernie et al 2008(Fernie et al , 2009Marteinson et al 2010Sullivan et al 2010 ). Adult American kestrels were exposed through their diet to control, 0.3, or 1.6 mg DE-71/kg (wm) for 75 days each year (Fernie et al 2008 ).…”

“…In a further study, the reproductive success and behavior of male American kestrels exposed to DE-71 as embryos were assessed (Marteinson et al 2010 ). The F1 progeny of the F0 kestrels exposed via the diet (Fernie et al 2008 ) were never exposed directly via the diet, but only during the 28-days embryonic period via direct maternal transfer to the egg.…”

“…In DE-71, the percentage content of BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, and BDE-153 are 38%, 49%, 13%, and 5.5%, respectively (La Guardia et al 2006 ). DE-71 was extensively used as a fl ame retardant until its global production and use was voluntarily discontinued in 2006 (Marteinson et al 2010 ). The toxic potency of DE-71 has only been studied in a few top predators, such as mink and American kestrel (Fernie et al 2009 ;.…”

Examination of Eurasian Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus fulvus) in Israel for Exposure to Environmental Toxicants Using Dried Blood Spots

“…In this study, we analyzed as a PCB marker the 153 congener, which is both highly persistent and most often found at the highest concentration of PCB congeners in the blood of wild birds (Bustnes et al 2004;Helberg et al 2005). Polybrominated biphenyl ester (PBDE) congeners may deleteriously affect reproduction in raptors (Henny et al 2009;Johansson et al 2009;Marteinson et al 2010). We analyzed as a PBDE marker congener 47, found often in wild birds as the most abundant congener.…”