Back to Search
Start Over
Lead exposure reduces carotenoid-based coloration and constitutive immunity in wild mallards.
- Source :
-
Environmental toxicology and chemistry [Environ Toxicol Chem] 2016 Jun; Vol. 35 (6), pp. 1516-25. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Mar 18. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- The ingestion of spent lead (Pb) from ammunition is a known cause of mortality in waterfowl, but little is known about sublethal effects produced by Pb poisoning on birds, especially in wild populations. The authors studied potential sublethal effects associated with Pb exposure in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) from the Ebro delta (northeastern Spain) after a ban on Pb ammunition. They analyzed the relationships between blood Pb levels and oxidative stress, immune response, and carotenoid-based coloration, which are known to be influenced by oxidative stress. Levels of Pb were reduced by half from 6 yr to 9 yr after the ban. Lipid peroxidation was positively related to Pb levels in females. The δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was suppressed by Pb exposure and negatively associated with the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Carotenoid levels were positively associated with blood Pb concentration in both sexes, and males with higher Pb levels presented a less intense coloration in legs and beak. Levels of Pb were positively related to hemolytic activity of circulating immune system components and negatively related to lysozyme levels. In summary, Pb exposure was associated in a gender-specific way with increased oxidative stress, consequences on color expression, and impaired constitutive immunity. In females, antioxidants seemed to be allocated mostly in reproduction rather than in self-maintenance, whereas males seemed to better maintain oxidative balance to the detriment of coloration. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1516-1525. © 2015 SETAC.<br /> (© 2015 SETAC.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Female
Glutathione analysis
Glutathione Peroxidase metabolism
Hemolysis drug effects
Lead blood
Lipid Peroxidation drug effects
Male
Muramidase metabolism
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxidative Stress drug effects
Porphobilinogen Synthase metabolism
Spain
Spectrophotometry, Atomic
Superoxide Dismutase metabolism
Testosterone blood
Carotenoids metabolism
Ducks metabolism
Immune System drug effects
Lead toxicity
Pigmentation drug effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1552-8618
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Environmental toxicology and chemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26551027
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3301