Pollutants increase song complexity and the volume of the brain area HVC in a songbird.
Environmental pollutants which alter endocrine function are now known to decrease vertebrate reproductive success. There is considerable evidence for endocrine disruption from aquatic ecosystems, but knowledge is lacking with regard to the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Here, we show for the first time that birds foraging on invertebrates contaminated with environmental pollutants, show marked changes in both brain and behaviour. We found that male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) exposed to environmentally relevant levels of synthetic and natural estrogen mimics developed longer and more complex songs compared to control males, a sexually selected trait important in attracting females for reproduction. Moreover, females preferred the song of males which had higher pollutant exposure, despite the fact that experimentally dosed males showed reduced immune function. We also show that the key brain area controlling male song complexity (HVC) is significantly enlarged in the contaminated birds. This is the first evidence that environmental pollutants not only affect, but paradoxically enhance a signal of male quality such as song. Our data suggest that female starlings would bias their choice towards exposed males, with possible consequences at the population level. As the starling is a migratory species, our results suggest that transglobal effects of pollutants on terrestrial vertebrate physiology and reproduction could occur in birds.
Markman
Shai
S
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Leitner
Stefan
S
Catchpole
Clive
C
Barnsley
Sara
S
Müller
Carsten T
CT
Pascoe
David
D
Buchanan
Katherine L
KL
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D020308:Songbirds / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens