Food source as a factor determining birds' exposure to hazardous organic pollutants and egg contamination

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Andrzej R. Reindl ◽  
Lucyna Falkowska
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Area ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Common Tern ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Vistula River ◽  
Compound Pollution ◽  
Lipid Weight ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Sandwich Tern

Alimentary exposure is the main factor determining halogenated organic compound pollution of wildlife, with birds’ eggs recognised as bioindicators of these contaminants and often used as a non-invasive monitoring tool. Comparisons of bird species from two aquatic environments, namely a marine coastal area (Gdansk Bay) and an inland reservoir (Włocławek Dam on the Vistula River), indicated significant differences in egg contamination. Herring gull eggs from Włocławek Dam had high concentrations of highly chlorinated dioxin (i.e. octachlorodibenzodioxin, which accounted for 37% of all polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo furans, PCDD/Fs). In contrast, eggs from terns feeding along the coastal area of the Southern Baltic contained high concentrations of lowly chlorinated furans (i.e. pentachlorodibezofuran, which accounted for 46 and 45% of all PCDD/Fs in eggs from the sandwich tern and common tern respectively). The congener patterns in terns’ eggs were similar to those reported previously for Baltic fish. Polychlorinated biphenyl congener 180 had the highest concentrations among the mono-ortho chlorinated biphenyls, whereas concentrations of non-dioxin-like chlorinated biphenyls were 10-fold higher than those of the other congeners analysed, but the congener pattern in eggs from both species (sandwich and common tern) was similar to that reported in other studies. Among the hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) isomers, α-HBCD dominated in all eggs analysed (accounting for >97% of all HBCDs). The total HBCD concentration in gulls’ eggs from the inland reservoir was approximately half that in eggs from the common and sandwich terns (mean±s.d. 47.33±33.22v. 97.98±59.69 and 104.00±63.66ngg–1 lipid weight respectively).

Żelazna Nowa, stanowisko 2. Cmentarzysko kultury przeworskiej z Zapilcza na południowym Mazowszu

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Cieślak-Kopyt ◽  
Dorota Pogodzińska
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Archaeological Heritage ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Vistula River ◽  
Animal Bones ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Metal Detectors ◽  
Przeworsk Culture ◽  
Small Finds

The subject of the monograph, published as the 10th volume of the Saved Archaeological Heritage series, are the results of rescue excavations on a cemetery from the period of Roman influence on the Vistula River near Magnuszew in southern Mazovia (Poland), carried out several years ago at the initiative of the Museum in Radom. This necropolis, like many similar ones throughout the country, was systematically destroyed as a result of agricultural activities, and in recent years also through illegal prospection with the use of metal detectors. Archaeologists, with the cooperation of numerous volunteers, managed to protect against further destruction about 60 graves (urned and urnless) from the period between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century CE. These are an evidence of the settlement of the region by people whose material traces are referred to in the archaeological nomenclature as the Przeworsk culture (associated mainly with the Germanic tribes). The cinerary graves were equipped with ceramics, metal parts of clothing, tools, less often weapons, glass beads, imported vessels or dice. Among the forms of graves, the so-called groove object stands out: a kind of rectangular grave feature tied with survival to the beginnings of our era of Celtic traditions, arriving here from northern Małopolska. In addition to the standard catalogue with the description of graves, pottery and small finds, and very detailed illustration plates, the monograph includes an analysis of material culture and forms of burial, photographs of selected finds and very extensive specialist reports. The latter include both osteological materials (anatomo-anthropological analysis, analysis of animal bones placed in the graves), as well as other ecofacts and individual categories of furnishings (glass, faience, iron and bronze objects). The whole is complemented by clear plans with the location of graves and artifacts in the necropolises, as well as with the results of non-invasive research going far beyond the excavated area and of key importance for further in situ protection of this extremely valuable monument.

scholarly journals Awifauna wodno-błotna środkowej Wisły w okresie lęgowym: wpływ działalności człowieka na rozmieszczenie, liczebność i bogactwo gatunkowe

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Bukaciński ◽  
Monika Bukacińska ◽  
Arkadiusz Buczyński
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
River Channel ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Vistula River ◽  
Breeding Habitats ◽  
Natura 2000 Site ◽  
River Bottom

The inventory of birds was conducted in the years 2005-2010 on the Vistula River section between Dęblin (388 km of the river) and Podwierzbie (435 km of the river). The study area includes a southern section of the European Ecological Natura 2000 Site in Poland PLB140004 „Middle Vistula River Valley” (IBA, PL083). In most areas the Vistula flows here within unregulated or relatively little modified riverbed, having features of natural, lowland, braided river. Sandy islands and braid bars within the main channel, steep banks, and old riparian afforestation create the unique breeding habitats of the Vistula River Valley. Especially the river channel habitats provide suitable breeding sites for many rare bird species, constituting some of them the key-breeding sites. There are, however, fragments of several kilometers, where people transformed the Vistula River in a more visible way (Table 1). These are, among others: an urban section within Dęblin boundaries (km 388-393 of the river), a fragment adjacent to Kozienice Power Plant (km 421-426), and the area, where since 2007 gravel for the industry has been mining from the river bottom (km 426-431). The aim of this inventory was the comparison of richness and abundance of breeding bird species associated directly with the river channel on fragments mentioned above. It will allow us to estimate soberly how very the intensity of human utilization of the river affects the distribution of avifauna of the Vistula, determining the richness and abundance of valuable and/or endangered species breeding in a given area.

scholarly journals Does the vicinity of the Black-Headed Gull colony (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) increase the breeding success of the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) on the islands of the middle Vistula?

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
Dariusz Bukackiński ◽  
Monika Bukacińska ◽  
Milena Grabowska
Keyword(s):  
Hatching Success ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Common Tern ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Chick Survival ◽  
Effective Protection ◽  
Vistula River ◽  
Nesting Site ◽  
The Common ◽  
The City

We conducted our study in the Common Tern colony (STH) located on an island in the middle Vistula River course, at the height of the city of Dęblin (km 393–394 of the waterway), in 2017. Our goal was to investigate some aspects of the biology and reproductive ecology of this species. Due to the fact that STH breeds both in single-species as well as in two- or multi-species colonies, in associations with Little Terns (Sternula albifrons), Black-Headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) (LAR) and/or Mew Gulls (Larus canus), we wanted to investigate whether the neighborhood of other species (in this case LAR) affected hatching success and chick survival in STH. Our results clearly show that the presence of breeding terns in the neighborhood of the LAR colony was not accidental and/or caused by the lack of space on the island and/or the possibility of nesting elsewhere. The height of nesting site, type of nesting habitat, clutch size, mean egg volume and mean egg mass of these STH pairs did not differ significantly from those that formed a single species colony, on the same island but several hundred meters away. However, STH nests in the neighborhood of the LAR colony were established much earlier and both the hatching success and chick survival of STH during the early-chick stage were twice as high. Thus, we can conclude that the LAR colony could provide an effective protection against predation of crows, magpies and gulls, dangers which accounted for the vast majority of STH nest failures in the year of our study.

Exceptional preservation of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur nesting site from Mongolia reveals colonial nesting behavior in a non-avian theropod

Geology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 843-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Tanaka ◽  
Yoshitsugu Kobayashi ◽  
Darla K. Zelenitsky ◽  
François Therrien ◽  
Yuong-Nam Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Nesting Behavior ◽  
Gobi Desert ◽  
Exceptional Preservation ◽  
Colonial Nesting ◽  
Nesting Site ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Lithologic Unit ◽  
Nesting Season

Abstract Colonial nesting behavior has been inferred in a variety of non-avian dinosaurs based on high concentrations of nests preserved in an area, but sedimentologic and taphonomic evidence demonstrating the contemporaneity of the nests is often lacking. A new nesting site discovered in the Upper Cretaceous Javkhlant Formation of the eastern Gobi Desert, Mongolia, preserves at least 15 egg clutches laid by a probable non-avian theropod, and provides strong evidence for colonial nesting in a non-avian dinosaur. The occurrence of the clutches at the top of a common paleosurface, the distribution of eggshell fragments within clutches, the presence of a consistent two-layer sediment infill within eggs, and a thin marker lithologic unit blanketing all the clutches indicate the clutches were laid and hatched in a single nesting season. Despite the absence of sedimentologic evidence indicative of nest structure, statistical analyses of egg characteristics and facies association reveal the clutches were likely incubated in covered or buried nests. Based on the number of hatched clutches, the hatching success rate of the colony was high (60%), similar to that of extant crocodylian populations and bird species that attend and/or protect their nests during the incubation period, which indicates nest attendance behavior in the Javkhlant theropods. Thus, colonial nesting with parental attendance, widespread in extant birds, likely evolved initially among non-brooding, non-avian dinosaurs to increase nesting success.

scholarly journals The distribution of DMSP in green macroalgae from northern New Zealand, eastern Australia and southern Tasmania

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Van Alstyne
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Green Macroalgae ◽  
Geographical Patterns ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
The North ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Host Alga

The sulphonium compound dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) is commonly found in temperate green macroalgae. To examine taxonomic and regional and local geographical patterns of DMSP production in Australasian algae, I collected 30 species of green algae from 14 sites in three regions, eastern Australia, Tasmania, Australia, and the North Island of New Zealand. The distribution of DMSP content was similar to that seen from other areas of the world. DMSP was found in high concentrations in Ulva and Codium spp. It tended to be undetectable or in lower concentrations in other members of the orders Bryopsidales and Cladophorales. There was no evidence for differences in concentrations among the three regions in the genera Codium and Ulva; however, the invasive subspecies of Codium fragile, C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides, had significantly higher concentrations of DMSP than the non-invasive subspecies. The herbivorous sea slug Elysia maoria had whole body concentrations that were not significantly different from those of its host alga C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides. The distribution patterns of DMSP in Codium spp. do not support the hypothesis that DMSP is used as an antioxidant in this genus. Based on the data collected here and previous reports from the literature, I speculate that one function of DMSP in these algae may be to deter herbivores.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Food: A Review

1985 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 442-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIJ L. SAWHNEY ◽  
LESTER HANKIN
Keyword(s):  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Dairy Products ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Packaging Materials ◽  
Processed Food ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Electrical Transformers

Literature published from 1970 through mid-1984 on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of foods, including fish, dairy products, packaged and processed food and human milk, is reviewed. Sources of the contamination are discussed. The reports show that although PCBs are no longer manufactured in this country, large quantities have entered the environment. High concentrations in sediments of some streams and lakes are a continuing source of PCB entry into the food chain via the fish caught in these waters. Accidental leakage and spills from electrical transformers containing PCBs, which are in use, can also be a source of contamination. Other sources of PCB contamination such as silo sealants and packaging materials manufactured from carbonless paper containing PCBs have been essentially eliminated.

Study on the Characteristics of Microcystis aeruginosa Chlorophyll Fluorescence Responding on the Toxicity of HgCl2

2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 1538-1543
Author(s):  
Jian Sheng Cui ◽  
Xiao Hui Xu ◽  
Yu Xin Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Chlorophyll Fluorescence ◽  
Microcystis Aeruginosa ◽  
Fluorescence Intensity ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Invasive Technique ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
High Concentrations

Chlorophyll fluorescence is a quick, precise, non-invasive technique which has been widely used in studies of photosynthesis in micro algae, particularly for investigations of stress physiology of micro algae. The toxicity of heavy metal Hg2+on algaM. aeruginosawas studied by the change in fluorescence intensity ofM. aeruginosaat 435 nm/680 nm which treaded with different Hg2+concentrations for 25 min. The results showed that high concentrations of Hg2+inhibited the photosynthesis ofM. aeruginosa, while a low concentration (0.0005 mg/L) of Hg2+promoted photosynthesis. When Hg2+level range from 0.001 mg/L to 0.500 mg/L, it had significant inhibition effects on photosynthesis ofM. aeruginosa. The chlorophyll fluorescence intensity increased with the concentration of Hg2+(0.001~0.400 mg/L), even the concentration of Hg2+and algal photosynthetic signal had a significant positive correlation, r=0.983 3.

scholarly journals MAGNETIC AND GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS OF IRONSAND DEPOSITS FROM CIREBON COASTAL AREA, WEST JAVA

2021 ◽  
Vol 873 (1) ◽  
pp. 012076
Author(s):  
R Nathasa ◽  
S Bijaksana ◽  
S J Fajar ◽  
T G Pitaloka
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Area ◽  
Magnetic Measurements ◽  
Sediment Quality ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollutants ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Xrf Analyses

Abstract Cirebon is a densely populated port city which has ironsand deposits at its coastal area. Due to its vicinity to the port and the estuary, these deposits might contain anthropogenic pollutants including, heavy metals. Magnetic measurements, X-Ray diffraction (XRD) as well as X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were carried out on iron sand samples from three sites along the Cirebon coastal area to identify the anthropogenic pollutants. The samples were separated based on the grain size before the measurement and analyses. Preliminary results show that the ironsand is less magnetic and has smaller frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility values than ironsand found on Bayuran Beach in Central Java. Combined XRD result and the regional geological map shows that most of the minerals were originated from eroded volcanic rocks. The XRF results show that the samples have a relatively high content of Si. XRF analyses also show relatively high concentrations of Cr and Zn, the Geoaccumulation Index shows that the sediment is moderately to heavily polluted by Cr and Zn indicating the possibility of anthropogenic origin. The Cr and Zn content exceeds the stipulated value in the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGS).

scholarly journals Construction and Characterization of Two Recombinant Bacteria That Grow on ortho- and para-Substituted Chlorobiphenyls

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 2163-2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yarek Hrywna ◽  
Tamara V. Tsoi ◽  
Olga V. Maltseva ◽  
John F. Quensen ◽  
James M. Tiedje
Keyword(s):  
Sole Carbon Source ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Cloning And Expression ◽  
Cell Protein ◽  
Arthrobacter Globiformis ◽  
Comamonas Testosteroni ◽  
Recombinant Bacteria ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
High Concentrations

ABSTRACT Cloning and expression of the aromatic ring dehalogenation genes in biphenyl-growing, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-cometabolizingComamonas testosteroni VP44 resulted in recombinant pathways allowing growth on ortho- andpara-chlorobiphenyls (CBs) as a sole carbon source. The recombinant variants were constructed by transformation of strain VP44 with plasmids carrying specific genes for dehalogenation of chlorobenzoates (CBAs). Plasmid pE43 carries the Pseudomonas aeruginosa 142 ohb genes coding for the terminal oxygenase (ISPOHB) of the ortho-halobenzoate 1,2-dioxygenase, whereas plasmid pPC3 contains the Arthrobacter globiformis KZT1 fcb genes, which catalyze the hydrolytic para-dechlorination of 4-CBA. The parental strain, VP44, grew only on low concentrations of 2- and 4-CB by using the products from the fission of the nonchlorinated ring of the CBs (pentadiene) and accumulated stoichiometric amounts of the corresponding CBAs. The recombinant strains VP44(pPC3) and VP44(pE43) grew on, and completely dechlorinated high concentrations (up to 10 mM), of 4-CBA and 4-CB and 2-CBA and 2-CB, respectively. Cell protein yield corresponded to complete oxidation of both biphenyl rings, thus confirming mineralization of the CBs. Hence, the use of CBA dehalogenase genes appears to be an effective strategy for construction of organisms that will grow on at least some congeners important for remediation of PCBs.

Avian dispersal of Frankia

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 1128-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W. Paschke ◽  
Jeffrey O. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Elaeagnus Umbellata ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Central Illinois ◽  
Serial Dilutions

Nests of six common bird species in central Illinois, U.S.A. were collected and examined for the presence of Frankia capable of infecting Alnus glutinosa and Elaeagnus umbellata. Serial dilutions of nest extracts were used in a bioassay to estimate the number of Frankia nodulation units for these two host species in each nest. Nests of two bird species contained soil as a nest component and had high concentrations of Frankia nodulation units. Nests of two bird species that did not use soil in nest building also had relatively high levels of Frankia. Results indicate that some bird species can transport Frankia, possibly by moving soil for nest building and also by other unknown mechanisms. Key words: actinorhizae, bioassay, bird nests, Frankia dispersal, Alnus glutinosa, Elaeagnus umbellata.

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