title: Micronucleus as biomarker of genotoxicity in birds from Brazilian Cerrado.
abstract: Birds are considered efficient bioindicators, by their behavioral characteristics, diversified diet, and use of several vegetation layers, including in contaminated environments. The accumulation of contaminants can harm the reproductive process and survival of species, in addition to causing severe metabolic disorders. Air pollution can also affect the birds' health. Micronucleus analysis, a technique able to evaluate the organisms' sensitivity to contaminant agents, has been regarded as a practical tool for evaluating and monitoring the clastogenic and aneugenic effects caused by pollutants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of micronuclei in bird species that use forest environments and their surroundings; and to verify if the frequency and amount of micronuclei varies between species, areas and populations. Birds transiting between the Brazilian Cerrado forest and open formations were analyzed, coming from four forest fragments of Triângulo Mineiro, two close to urban areas and two more distant. Birds were captured with mist-nets for collecting blood extensions, which were used for counting micronuclei. In total, 103 individuals of 21 species were captured, and the micronucleus rate for every 5000 erythrocytes analyzed was 1.30. Only six populations had sampling sufficiency. There was no difference between the number of individuals with and without micronuclei (χ²=3.18, df=1, p=0.08). In areas closer to the urban perimeter, the micronuclei averages in birds were greater compared to the most isolated areas (H=27.534, df=3, p<0,001). In São José, the individuals of Myiothlypis flaveola presented a number of micronuclei significantly greater than the Galheiro and Água Fria (H=9.601, df=2, p=0.008). M. flaveola clearly reflected the area quality. The micronuclei analysis in birds was effective for evaluating the area quality as well as the intensity with which the birds respond to impacts caused by the surrounding matrix.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Brazil. Electronic address: camillabaesse@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Camilla Queiroz
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Baesse
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vitor Carneiro de Magalhães
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Tolentino
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano Marcos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arthur de Andrade
authors.initials: Ade A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giancarlo Ângelo
authors.initials: GÂ
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luís Pedro Mendes
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Paniago
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nepomuceno
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustic, Umuarama Campus, Rua Ceará, s/n, Bairro Umuarama, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: celinemelo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Melo
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D001938:Brazil; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D065928:Forests; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens
keywords: Anthropogenic actions; Biomonitoring; Erythrocytes; Farming activities; Surrounding matrix