Contaminant-induced impacts on avian migration: evaluating cue perception, fuelling and orientation

污染物对鸟类迁徙的影响：评估线索感知、燃料供给和方向

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05436
• 负责人: Morrissey, Christy
• 金额: $ 2.7万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=632021
• 关键词: Contaminant; induced; impacts; avian; migration

Although migration is a phenomenon that spans the animal kingdom, many long-distance migrant species are currently in steeper decline relative to non-migrant species. Environmental contamination by various pollutants has been identified as a potentially important factor contributing to these declines. However, the mechanistic links between pollutant exposure and reduced migratory success have yet to be established. Using shorebirds and passerine model species, I will take a holistic approach to link the small scale mechanistic effects of industrial contaminants on cells to organisms. This will improve our knowledge of the implications for migratory bird populations using contaminated sites during key life stages of early development, as first time juveniles or experienced adults on migration. Through in vitro lab studies using avian hepatocytes and fibroblasts, captive dosing and behavioural studies, and field studies at migratory stopover sites, my goal is to determine if industrial contaminants commonly found in the environment are capable of affecting migrant bird populations. Here I will test hypotheses that sublethal effects of industrial pollutants alter natural circadian and circannual rhythms, migratory orientation and navigation, as well as fuelling and fat storage. Given more than 40% of migratory bird species are declining worldwide, a lack of understanding of chemical effects on migratory physiology and behaviour limits our potential to employ conservation measures to protect migratory species. Migratory birds are extremely important for providing ecosystem services such as pest control, seed dispersion, pollination, decomposition, and nutrient additions and their declines may ultimately threaten the integrity of ecosystems across large geographic areas. This research will aid in the discovery of sensitive life stages for exposure and add new insight into the consequences of industrial pollutant exposure on migration success.

尽管迁徙是一种跨越动物界的现象，但与非迁徙物种相比，许多长途迁徙物种目前的数量正在急剧减少。各种污染物造成的环境污染已被确定为导致这些下降的潜在重要因素。然而，污染物暴露与迁徙成功率降低之间的机制联系尚未确定。我将利用滨鸟和雀形目模型物种，采取整体方法将工业污染物对细胞和生物体的小规模机械效应联系起来。 这将提高我们对在早期发育的关键生命阶段（作为首次迁徙的幼鸟或有经验的成年鸟）使用受污染地点的候鸟种群的影响的了解。通过使用禽类肝细胞和成纤维细胞的体外实验室研究、圈养剂量和行为研究以及迁徙中途停留地的实地研究，我的目标是确定环境中常见的工业污染物是否能够影响候鸟种群。在这里，我将测试以下假设：工业污染物的亚致死效应会改变自然昼夜节律和年节律、迁徙方向和导航，以及燃料和脂肪储存。鉴于全球超过 40% 的候鸟物种数量正在减少，缺乏对化学对候鸟生理和行为影响的了解限制了我们采取保护措施来保护候鸟物种的潜力。候鸟对于提供害虫防治、种子传播、授粉、分解和营养添加等生态系统服务极其重要，它们的减少可能最终威胁到大片地理区域生态系统的完整性。这项研究将有助于发现暴露的敏感生命阶段，并为工业污染物暴露对移民成功的影响提供新的见解。