PARENT SESSION
MA8 - Ecological Aspects of PCB Interactions
Chair: Gendusa, Tony1, 1 20200 Wambli Lane, Huson, Huson, USA
Co-chair: Zwiernik, Mathew2, 2 224 National Food Safety and Toxicology Blvd., East Lansing, MI, USA
8:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Monday, 18 November 2002
Room Ballroom C
(236) Passerine Productivity and PCB Exposure at the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site, Michigan.
Neigh, Arianne*,1, MacCarroll, Monica1, Zwiernik, Matthew1, Park, Cyrus1, Moss, Torrey2, Adams, Ray2, Holem, Ryan3, Newstead, John3, Giesy, John1, 1 Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, U.S.A.2 Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI, U.S.A.3 Entrix Inc., E. Lansing, MI, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT- PCBs were released to the Kalamazoo River, MI during the recycling of carbonless-copy paper. As part of an ecological risk assessment, tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis), and house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) were chosen as receptors and sentinels for other passerine species in the ecosystem. Productivity and tissue concentrations of the selected species were measured at an upstream control area and in an area where floodplain soils contain PCBs. Variables examined include the number of eggs/nest, hatching success, number of nestlings/nest, number of fledglings/nest fledgling success, nest attentiveness, productivity, and nestling, egg and adult PCB content. There were no significant differences in clutch size, hatching success, brood size or productivity of tree swallows (21 and 45 nests for the study and reference areas, respectively). Similarly, no significant differences were identified for any of the variables examined for the house wren (12 and 19 nests for the study and reference areas, respectively). However, egg production and hatching success were slightly less within the PCB exposed area (p=0.068) and (p=0.334) respectively. Eastern bluebirds exhibited significantly poorer hatching success (p=0.010), fledging success (p=0.008), and productivity (p=0.021) at the PCB impacted site. However, sample size for eastern bluebirds is small (i.e., 2 productive nests, 2 predated nests, and 1 failed nest) so it is difficult to draw conclusions. These results will be compared to productivity data from the second year of the study for the bluebird and house wren and the third year productivity data for the tree swallow presently underway. In addition concentrations of PCBs in eggs, nestlings, and diet of each species will be presented in order to provide more insight into the potential for effects of PCBs.
Key words: PCBs, tree swallow , eastern bluebird, productivity