title: Lead exposure reduces carotenoid-based coloration and constitutive immunity in wild mallards.
abstract: The ingestion of spent lead (Pb) from ammunition is a known cause of mortality in waterfowl, but little is known about sublethal effects produced by Pb poisoning on birds, especially in wild populations. The authors studied potential sublethal effects associated with Pb exposure in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) from the Ebro delta (northeastern Spain) after a ban on Pb ammunition. They analyzed the relationships between blood Pb levels and oxidative stress, immune response, and carotenoid-based coloration, which are known to be influenced by oxidative stress. Levels of Pb were reduced by half from 6 yr to 9 yr after the ban. Lipid peroxidation was positively related to Pb levels in females. The δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was suppressed by Pb exposure and negatively associated with the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Carotenoid levels were positively associated with blood Pb concentration in both sexes, and males with higher Pb levels presented a less intense coloration in legs and beak. Levels of Pb were positively related to hemolytic activity of circulating immune system components and negatively related to lysozyme levels. In summary, Pb exposure was associated in a gender-specific way with increased oxidative stress, consequences on color expression, and impaired constitutive immunity. In females, antioxidants seemed to be allocated mostly in reproduction rather than in self-maintenance, whereas males seemed to better maintain oxidative balance to the detriment of coloration. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1516-1525. © 2015 SETAC.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research in Game Resources, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vallverdú-Coll
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research in Game Resources, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mougeot
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research in Game Resources, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.|Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Santaliestra
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research in Game Resources, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Estival
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research in Game Resources, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Antia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research in Game Resources, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mateo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004372:Ducks / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D002338:Carotenoids; D013739:Testosterone; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D009113:Muramidase; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Carotenoid-based coloration; Immune response; Lead poisoning; Shot; Waterfowl