Difference between revisions of "The relation between pollutants and disease in guillemots"

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== Ecotoxicological and pathological studies of common guillemots Uria aalge beached on the Belgian coasts during six successive wintering periods (1989-90 to 1994-95)==
 
 
 
[[Image:Besmeurde zeekoet.jpg|thumb|left|200px| <div style="text-align: center;">
 
[[Image:Besmeurde zeekoet.jpg|thumb|left|200px| <div style="text-align: center;">
Guillemot covered with oil <ref>http://www.vliz.be/vogelslachtoffers/</ref>
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Guillemot covered with oil © Diederik D'Hert
 
</div>]]
 
</div>]]
  
 
'''<u>Context of the study</u>'''
 
'''<u>Context of the study</u>'''
  
Within the frame of the third European [[North Sea Conference]] a program was found to monitor the health and causes of death of seabirds and [[Sea_Mammals|marine mammals]].
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Within the frame of the third European [http://www.seas-at-risk.org/n2.php?page=9 North Sea Conference] a program was found to monitor the health and causes of death of [[Pollution and sea birds|sea birds]] and [[Pollution and marine mammals|marine mammals]].
 
In Belgium the common guillemot is by far the most abundant of all overwintering species (for both marine birds and marine mammals). For this reason it became the focus of this study.
 
In Belgium the common guillemot is by far the most abundant of all overwintering species (for both marine birds and marine mammals). For this reason it became the focus of this study.
Although there is a lot of information available on contamination of sea birds by heavy metals and [[organochlorine|organochlorines]], little is known about how this contamination relates to diseases or deaths.
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Although there is a lot of information available on contamination of sea birds by heavy metals and [[organochlorine compounds|organochlorines]], little is known about how this contamination relates to diseases or deaths.
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<ref name=pub>[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=32964 Debacker, V.; Holsbeek, L.; Tapia, G.; Gobert, S.; Joiris, C.R.; Jauniaux, T.; Coignoul, F.; Bouquegneau, J.-M. (1997). Ecotoxicological and pathological studies of common guillemots Uria aalge beached on the Belgian coast during six successive wintering periods (1989-90 to 1994-95). Dis. Aquat. Org. 29(3): 159-168]</ref>
  
 
'''<u>Content of the study</u>'''
 
'''<u>Content of the study</u>'''
  
 
[[Image:zeekoet.jpg|thumb|right|150px| <div style="text-align: center;">
 
[[Image:zeekoet.jpg|thumb|right|150px| <div style="text-align: center;">
Healthy guillemots C Per Harald Olsen <ref>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lomvi_ringvi_pho.jpg</ref>
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Healthy guillemots © Per Harald Olsen </div>]]
</div>]]
 
  
 
During six successive winters 727 common guillemots were collected from Belgian beaches. Some were found death on the shoreline, others where still alive but died during rehabilitation. Besides being monitored for general condition (weight, fat content,...) and traces of oil on their feathers, half of these birds were sampled for [[heavy metals]] and [[PCB]] content.
 
During six successive winters 727 common guillemots were collected from Belgian beaches. Some were found death on the shoreline, others where still alive but died during rehabilitation. Besides being monitored for general condition (weight, fat content,...) and traces of oil on their feathers, half of these birds were sampled for [[heavy metals]] and [[PCB]] content.
  
<u>'''Main results'''</u>
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<u>'''Main results of the study'''</u>
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Half of the collected birds showed external traces of oil. Even small traces of external oil can seriously impair the overwintering birds' isolation, and therefore their changes for survival.
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75% of the studied birds were exhausted: they showed a strongly reduced pectoral muscle and a low fat content. These birds contained higher concentrations of PCBs in their livers. This may be the result of remobilization of these toxines after depletion of the fat reserves where they were previously stored. The exhausted birds were also more heavily contaminated with [[copper]], [[zinc]] and [[mercury]].
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The study concluded that non of the examined [[pollutants]] were the direct cause of death. They might however cause additional stress leading towards weakness and death of the part of the overwintering population. More research is necessary to determine the actual effects of these pollutants on the health status of the guillemots.<ref name=pub>[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=32964 Debacker, V.; Holsbeek, L.; Tapia, G.; Gobert, S.; Joiris, C.R.; Jauniaux, T.; Coignoul, F.; Bouquegneau, J.-M. (1997). Ecotoxicological and pathological studies of common guillemots Uria aalge beached on the Belgian coast during six successive wintering periods (1989-90 to 1994-95). Dis. Aquat. Org. 29(3): 159-168]</ref>
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==References==
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<references/>
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Half of the collected birds showed external traces of oil. Even small traces of external oil can seriously impair the overwintering birds isolation, and therefore their changes for survival.
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{{author
75% of the studied birds were exhausted: they showed a strongly reduced pectoral muscle and a low fat content. These birds contained higher concentrations of [[PCB|PCB's]] in their livers. This may be the result of remobilization of these toxines after depletion of the fat reserves where they were previously stored. The exhausted birds were also more heavily contaminated with copper zinc and mercury.
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|AuthorID=19826
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|AuthorFullName=Daphnis De Pooter
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|AuthorName=Daphnisd}}
  
The study concludes that non of the examinated [[pollutants]] were considered as an unique and direct cause of death. They might however cause additional stress leading towards weakness and death of the part of the overwintering population. More research is necessary to determine the actual effects of these pollutants on the health status of the guillemots.
 
  
You can find more information of this study through this [http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=32964 link]
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[[Category:Ecotoxicology]]
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[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]

Latest revision as of 17:54, 5 November 2019

Guillemot covered with oil © Diederik D'Hert

Context of the study

Within the frame of the third European North Sea Conference a program was found to monitor the health and causes of death of sea birds and marine mammals. In Belgium the common guillemot is by far the most abundant of all overwintering species (for both marine birds and marine mammals). For this reason it became the focus of this study. Although there is a lot of information available on contamination of sea birds by heavy metals and organochlorines, little is known about how this contamination relates to diseases or deaths. [1]

Content of the study

Healthy guillemots © Per Harald Olsen

During six successive winters 727 common guillemots were collected from Belgian beaches. Some were found death on the shoreline, others where still alive but died during rehabilitation. Besides being monitored for general condition (weight, fat content,...) and traces of oil on their feathers, half of these birds were sampled for heavy metals and PCB content.

Main results of the study

Half of the collected birds showed external traces of oil. Even small traces of external oil can seriously impair the overwintering birds' isolation, and therefore their changes for survival. 75% of the studied birds were exhausted: they showed a strongly reduced pectoral muscle and a low fat content. These birds contained higher concentrations of PCBs in their livers. This may be the result of remobilization of these toxines after depletion of the fat reserves where they were previously stored. The exhausted birds were also more heavily contaminated with copper, zinc and mercury.

The study concluded that non of the examined pollutants were the direct cause of death. They might however cause additional stress leading towards weakness and death of the part of the overwintering population. More research is necessary to determine the actual effects of these pollutants on the health status of the guillemots.[1]


References


The main author of this article is Daphnis De Pooter
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.

Citation: Daphnis De Pooter (2019): The relation between pollutants and disease in guillemots. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/The_relation_between_pollutants_and_disease_in_guillemots [accessed on 28-03-2024]