The stress of being contaminated? Adrenocortical function and reproduction in relation to persistent organic pollutants in female black legged kittiwakes.
High levels of environmental pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including PCB and DDT have been found in the Arctic and many of those pollutants may impair reproduction through endocrine disruption. Nevertheless, their effects on stress hormones remain poorly understood, especially in free-ranging birds. Corticosterone, the principal glucocorticoid in birds, can indirectly impair reproduction. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between POPs and reproduction through their potential consequences on different reproductive traits (breeding decision, egg-laying date, breeding success) and corticosterone secretion (baseline and stress-induced levels). We addressed those questions in an Arctic population of female black-legged kittiwakes during the pre-breeding stage and measured several legacy POPs (PCBs and pesticides: HCB, p,p'-DDE, CHL) in whole blood. POP levels were not related to breeding decision neither to breeding success, whereas females with high levels of pesticides laid their eggs earlier in the season. We found a negative relationship between POP levels and body condition index in non-breeding females. Black-legged kittiwakes with higher levels of PCB showed stronger adrenocortical response when subjected to a capture-handling stress protocol. We suggest that PCBs may disrupt corticosterone secretion whereas the positive relationship between pesticides and egg-laying date could either originate from a direct effect of pesticides or may be related to other confounding factors such as age or individual's quality. Although no direct negative reproduction output of POPs was found in this study, it is possible that the most contaminated individuals would be more sensitive to environmental stress and would be less able to maintain parental investment than less polluted individuals.
Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UPR 1934-CNRS, F-79360, France. Electronic address: tartu@cebc.cnrs.fr.
Sabrina
S
Tartu
Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UPR 1934-CNRS, F-79360, France.
Frédéric
F
Angelier
Norwegian Institute for Air Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre on Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
Dorte
D
Herzke
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre on Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
Børge
B
Moe
Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Claus
C
Bech
Norwegian Polar Research Institute, FRAM Centre High North Research on Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
Geir W
GW
Gabrielsen
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre on Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
Jan Ove
JO
Bustnes
Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UPR 1934-CNRS, F-79360, France.
Olivier
O
Chastel
D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D003345:Corticosterone
Arctic seabirds; Corticosterone; Persistent organic pollutants; Reproduction; Stress response