title: An assessment of exposure and effects of persistent organic pollutants in an urban Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) population.
abstract: Among the stressors confronting urban wildlife, chemical contaminants pose a particular problem for high trophic feeding species. Previous data from fortuitous carcass collections revealed surprisingly high levels of persistent organic pollutants in raptor species, including the Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii), from urbanized areas of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Thus, in 2012 and 2013, we followed up on that finding by measuring POPs in blood samples from 21 adult and 15 nestling Cooper's hawks in Vancouver, a large urban area in southwestern Canada. Reproductive success and circulating thyroid hormones were measured to assess possible toxicological effects. Model comparisons showed concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCBs) were positively influenced by the level of urbanization. Total thyroxin (TT4) was negatively associated with increases in ΣPCBs. Total triiodothyronine (TT3) was negatively associated with ΣPCBs and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (ΣPBDEs). The legacy insecticide, dieldrin, appeared to have some negative influence on reproductive success. There is some evidence of biochemical perturbation by PBDEs and lingering impact of legacy POPs which have not been used for at least 40 years, but overall Cooper's hawks have successfully populated this urban environment.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1 S7, Canada. jason.m.brogan@gmail.com.
authors: Jason M
authors: JM
authors: Brogan
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1 S7, Canada.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Green
authors: Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada.
authors: France
authors: F
authors: Maisonneuve
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1 S7, Canada. john.elliott@canada.ca.|Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada. john.elliott@canada.ca.
authors: John E
authors: JE
authors: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001955:British Columbia; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D046428:Hawks / Q000502:physiology*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Contaminants; Cooper’s hawk; Dieldrin; PBDEs; PCBs; Thyroid hormone