title: Long-term recovery of clutch size and egg shell quality of the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a metal polluted area.
abstract: We explored if breeding parameters and egg shell quality of an insectivorous passerine, pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, have fully recovered after c.a. 99% decrease in dust emissions from a non-ferrous smelter in the course of the 23 year study period. Some potentially important population characteristics (density, phenology, age) and environmental variables (habitat, inter-specific competition) were taken into account in the analysis. We found marked increase in reproductive parameters (egg shell quality, clutch size, hatchability, and fledgling number) in the metal polluted area especially in 1990's when metal-rich dust emissions from the smelter were markedly reduced. Still clutch sizes and fledgling numbers remain below the levels of the reference area. There is currently very little evidence of direct toxic effects of metals in our study population but full recovery of breeding parameters may not be reached until the full recovery of food chains, which is likely to be a slow process.
authors.affiliation: Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: tapio.eeva@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Tapio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eeva
authors.affiliation: Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lehikoinen
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D052284:Clutch Size; D017753:Ecosystem; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000737:chemistry*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D046109:Passeriformes; D011156:Population Density; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D020308:Songbirds
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Egg shell quality; Life-history parameter; Metal pollution; Population density; Reproduction