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Journal article
The Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Song of Two Passerine Species
PloS one, v 8(9), 73471
18 Sep 2013
PMID: 24058475
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chemical pollutants with demonstrated detrimental toxic and developmental effects on humans and wildlife. Laboratory studies suggest that PCBs influence behavior due to their effects on endocrine and neurological systems, yet little is known about the behavioral consequences of sublethal PCB exposure in the field. Additionally, specific PCB congener data (in contrast to total PCB load) is necessary to understand the possible effects of PCBs in living organisms since number and position of chlorine substitution in a PCB molecule dictates the toxicity and chemical fate of individual PCB congeners. We non-lethally investigated total PCB loads, congener specific PCB profiles, and songs of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) along a historical PCB gradient at the Hudson River in New York State. Our results indicate that black-capped chickadees and song sparrows have higher total blood PCBs in regions with higher historic PCB contamination. The two bird species varied substantially in their congener-specific PCB profiles; within sites, song sparrows showed a significantly higher proportion of lower chlorinated PCBs, while black-capped chickadees had higher proportions of highly chlorinated PCBs. In areas of PCB pollution, the species-specific identity signal in black-capped chickadee song varied significantly, while variation in song sparrow trill performance was best predicted by the mono-ortho PCB load. Thus, PCBs may affect song production, an important component of communication in birds. In conclusion, we suggest that the ramifications of changes in song quality for bird populations may extend the toxic effects of environmental PCB pollution.
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Details
- Title
- The Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Song of Two Passerine Species
- Creators
- Sara DeLeon - Drexel UniversityRayko Halitschke - Cornell UniversityRalph S. Hames - Cornell UniversityAndre Kessler - Cornell UniversityTimothy J. DeVoogd - Cornell UniversityAndre A. Dhondt - Cornell University
- Publication Details
- PloS one, v 8(9), 73471
- Publisher
- Public Library Science
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- Kieckhefer-Adirondack Grants Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship SLOAN Fellowship; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation NA10OAR4170064 / National Sea Grant College Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Oceanic Atmospheric Admin (NOAA) - USA State University of New York Fellowship Mellon Grant Cornell Travel Grant Cornell University Biogeochemistry and Environmental Biocomplexity Small Grant
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000324695900014
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84884223533
- Other Identifier
- 991021880114604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences