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Ecological risk assessment of great horned owls ( Bubo virginianus ) exposed to PCDD/DF in the Tittabawassee River floodplain in Midland, Michigan, USA
Author(s) -
Coefield Sarah J.,
Fredricks Timothy B.,
Seston Rita M.,
Nadeau Michael W.,
Tazelaar Dustin L.,
Kay Denise P.,
Newsted John,
Giesy John P.,
Zwiernik Matthew J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.292
Subject(s) - bioaccumulation , predation , population , zoology , polychlorinated dibenzodioxins , floodplain , bubo , polychlorinated dibenzofurans , dibenzofuran , biology , reproduction , ecology , environmental chemistry , chemistry , medicine , environmental health , organic chemistry
Soils and sediments downstream of Midland, Michigan, USA have elevated polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) and polychlorinated dibenzo‐ p ‐dioxin (PCDD) concentrations. To determine if the PCDD/DF concentrations have the potential to adversely affect terrestrial avian predators, a site‐specific, multiple lines of evidence risk assessment was conducted for the great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus ; GHO). As long‐lived resident top predators, the GHO has the potential to be exposed to relatively great concentrations of bioaccumulative compounds such as PCDD/DF. From 2005 to 2008, concentrations of PCDD/DF were measured in blood plasma of adult and nestling GHOs and addled eggs. Indicators of the condition of the population, including abundance and reproductive success, were collected along 115 km of river corridor. Fifty‐five active 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐ p ‐dioxin (2,3,7,8‐TCDD) equivalents (TEQ WHO‐Avian ) nests were monitored in 21 breeding territories from 2005 to 2008. The geometric mean concentration in blood plasma of GHOs was greater in the study area (SA) than in the reference area (RA) for both adults (RA: 3.1; SA: 9.4 ng TEQ WHO‐Avian /kg) and nestlings (RA: 0.82 ng TEQ WHO‐Avian /kg, SA: 2.1 ng TEQ WHO‐Avian /kg) GHOs, but less than concentrations expected to cause adverse effects based on laboratory studies. Concentrations of TEQ WHO‐Avian in addled GHO eggs were also greater in the SA than the RA (50 and 7.3 ng/kg, wet weight, respectively), but were less than concentrations expected to cause adverse effects. The GHO population condition and productivity were both greater in the study area than in the reference area and were similar to other GHO populations. This result suggests the GHO population in the Tittabawassee River floodplain is consistent with what would be expected for this area. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:2341–2349. © 2010 SETAC