Oxidative status in nestlings of three small passerine species exposed to metal pollution

Characterising the hydrological regime of an ungauged temporary river system: a case study

“…However, comparisons of the effects of heavy metals in excreta or tissues on various bird species are very difficult, due to interspecies differences in ecology (especially diet) as well as ability to tolerate and detoxicate heavy metals (Koivula and Eeva 2010). Even closely related species like Great tits and Blue tits may vary significantly in their metal levels, which may be related to differences in their detoxification capacity or antioxidant defence, such as levels of antioxidant enzyme activity, which have been shown to differ between those species (Rainio et al 2013). Belskii et al (1995) showed that heavy metal contents in Pied flycatchers' tissues and faeces were 1.4-3 times as high as in the Great tits inhabiting the same area.…”

“…Studies on the influence of heavy metals on the condition of wild bird nestlings are scarce. Mainly a narrow group of passerine species: Great tit (Parus major), Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), have been studied in this aspect so far (Janssens et al 2003;Rainio et al 2013;Berglund et al 2014;Sánchez-Virosta et al 2015).…”

A review on exposure and effects of arsenic in passerine birds

“…In contrast, fewer studies have focused on passerine birds, probably because of the assumption that these species are in a lower position in the food chain and they are relatively short-lived (Burger et al, , 2004. However, passerine birds have successfully been used to monitor environmental pollution by metals (Belskii et al, 2005;Berglund et al, 2012;Dauwe et al, 2002;Eeva et al, 2005bEeva et al, , 2006Eeva et al, , 2009Mora, 2003;Mora et al, 2003;Rainio et al, 2013). Some passerines such as the great tit (Parus major) are suitable bioindicators of metal pollution since (i) they are ubiquitous, living in different habitats and often in large densities; (ii) they are mainly insectivorous during the breeding season, and they are high in the food chain; (iii) they are resident in many populations and forage in small home ranges reflecting local contamination; (iv) they readily nest in holes and man-made nest boxes, so they are rapidly established and easily monitored; and (v) ecological and behavioral infomation is abundant (Cramp and Perrins, 1993;Dauwe et al, 1999Dauwe et al, , 2000Dauwe et al, , 2004Dauwe et al, , 2005aEens et al, 1999;Janssens et al, 2002).…”

Interspecies variation in the risks of metals to bats

“…However, specific differences in metal sensitivity may occur due to differences in detoxification processes. For example, the regulation of oxidative stress after metal exposure and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes have been shown to vary across other wildlife species such as passerine birds (Rainio et al, 2013). It may be that interspecific differences occur in metal accumulation, detoxification and regulation across bat species, as seen in other small terrestrial mammal species (Fritsch et al, 2010).…”