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Productivity of American robins exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls, Housatonic River, Massachusetts, USA
Author(s) -
Henning Miranda H.,
Robinson Scott K.,
Mckay Kelly J.,
Sullivan Joseph P.,
Bruckert Heather
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1897/02-536
Subject(s) - productivity , foraging , floodplain , ecology , biology , environmental science , range (aeronautics) , materials science , macroeconomics , economics , composite material
American robins (Turdus migratorius) breeding in the Housatonic River (MA, USA) watershed were studied in the field in 2001 to determine whether productivity was adversely affected by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as would be suggested by extrapolation from laboratory studies on other avian species. The study involved identifying nests within the Housatonic River floodplain (target area) and in reference areas beyond foraging distance of the floodplain, monitoring clutch size and number hatched and fledged, collecting eggs and nestlings for analysis for PCBs, and testing for differences in productivity between populations. One hundred and six active robin nests were monitored. Although concentrations of PCBs in target specimens were more than two orders of magnitude greater than in reference specimens, the only statistically significant differences in productivity were inconsistent with an exposure‐related effect. First‐generation productivity of exposed robins was within the range of natural background variation. Bioequivalence tests confirmed that first‐generation productivity was statistically and biologically equivalent in target and reference robins. These findings contrast with extrapolations from laboratory studies of other avian species.