title: Metal accumulation and performance of nestlings of passerine bird species at an urban brownfield site.
abstract: The use of passerine species as bioindicators of metal bioaccumulation is often underutilized when examining the wildlife habitat value of polluted sites. In this study we tested feathers of nestlings of two common bird species (house wren and American robin) for accumulation of Pb, Zn, As, Cr, Cu, Fe in comparison of a polluted, urban brownfield with a rural, unpolluted site. House wren nestlings at the study site accumulated significantly greater concentrations of all target metals except Zn. At the polluted site we found significant species differences of metal concentrations in feathers, with house wrens accumulating greater concentrations of Pb, Fe, and Zn but slightly lesser accumulations of Cr and Cu than American robins. Although house wren nestlings demonstrated significant accumulation of metals, these concentrations showed little effect on size metrics or fledge rates during the breeding season compared to nestlings from the control site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 14 College Farm Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8551, USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holzapfel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals