Results
ADULT AND NESTLING BAND RETURNS AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL MONITORING OF THREE PASSERINE SPECIES
INHABITING THE TITTABAWASSEE RIVER BASINTimothy B. Fredricks1, Mike W. Nadeau2, Frouke Vermeulen2, Dustin L. Tazelaar2, Matthew J. Zwiernik1,2
1Department of Zoology, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
2Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824.
Funding for this project was provided through an un-restricted grant
from The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI.
o The sediments and floodplain soils of the Tittabawassee River downstream
of Midland MI contain significantly elevated concentrations of two
dibenzofurans.
o As part of a large, site-specific, multi-species, multi-year, multi-line of
evidence study more than 4000 cavity nesting passerine birds were banded
as residents of more than 300 placed bird boxes.
o Information including sex, age, location (nest box) and dates of capture and
recapture were noted for each individual. Clutch size, hatching success,
fledging success, and available tissue contaminant data can also be
associated with nest boxes and specific females.
Total concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in Tittabawassee River
floodplain soils and sediments collected at study areas (SAs) downstream
of Midland, Michigan, USA, were previously determined to be 10- to 20-fold
greater than those collected at upstream reference areas (RAs). A nest box
trail was established in 2004 to monitor house wren (Troglodytes aedon;
HW), tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor; TS), and eastern bluebird (Sialia
sialis; EB) reproduction in both the RAs and SAs along the Chippewa,
Tittabawassee, and Saginaw rivers. Nestling survival is commonly
monitored up to “fledge” for passerines but survival after departing the nest
box is rarely monitored. This period naturally has a low survival rate for
fledglings due primarily to starvation or predation. From 2005 through 2009,
adult and nestling passerines were banded while conducting population
health measurements to monitor long-term survival and return rates at the
study sites. Through 2009 over 4,000 individual birds were banded. Not
including recaptures 461, 428, and 170 adult house wrens, tree swallows,
and eastern bluebirds were banded, respectively, while 1655, 1072, and 359
nestlings were banded, respectively. For all species a greater proportion of
adult females were banded compared to males. Forty-three nestlings
returned to breed on site, while 7, 24, and 7 house wren, tree swallow, and
eastern bluebird adults bred on site at least three of the four years. Adult
return rates ranged 15-22%, 32-47%, and 29-30% for house wrens, tree
swallows, and eastern bluebirds, respectively, for the 2006–2009 breeding
seasons. Incorporating long-term survival monitoring data into the
assessment of ecological risk on the Tittabawassee River will likely lead to
more informed decisions about the potential impact(s) of on-site exposure
and will aid in both the planning and evaluation of effective remedial
actions.
o 2 reference area (R-1, R-2) and 4 exposure area (T-3 to T-6) bird box trails of
30-60 boxes each were placed in 2004
o Boxes were placed proximal to the river and within the 100 year floodplain
o Tissue and dietary contaminant exposure was assessed
o Boxes were monitored daily between 2005-2009 and breeding adults and
nestlings were banded
o Compare adult band return rates and survival for passerines with differing
exposures to PCDFs.
Methods
Abstract
Conclusions
Objective
Introduction
Table 1. TEQWHO-Avian in eggs and nestlings of house wrens, tree swallows, and eastern
bluebirds collected during 2005-2007 from reference and study areas. Values are
geometric means (ng/kg ww)
Reference areas Study areas
R-1 R-2 T-3 T-4 T-5 T-6
House wren
Egg residue conc 10 25 860 360 430 910
Nestling whole body
residue conc3.4 6.5 290 140 210 300
Tree swallow
Egg residue conc 180 280 220 240 2 smpls 220
Nestling whole body
residue conc25 47 340 320 240 860
Eastern bluebird
Egg residue conc 10 30 150 210 390 510
Nestling whole body
residue conc2.8 7.6 190 100
No
smpls690
Table 2. Number of breeding adults banded by species and by area for the years of 2005-
2008 followed by mean return rates (2006-2009) and yearly survival rate(2006-2009)
Number of
adults banded
%
Return/year
Predicted yearly survival3
(95% confidence interval)
House wrenReference areas1 142 22% 77% (59-89)
Study areas2 319 15% 67% (54-77)
Tree swallowReference areas 174 32% 72% (62-80)
Study areas 254 47% 85% (79-90)
Eastern
bluebird
Reference areas 79 29% 13% (8-19)
Study areas 91 30% 30% (20-43)
1 Reference areas R-1 and R-22 Study areas T-3, T-4, T-5, T-63 Predicted using Program MARK, G.C. White (all years combined separately parameterized for
returns and survival)
o Study areas had significantly greater exposures of PCDFs
o Adult band return rates were on the greater end of literature reported values for all three species.
o Survival was not different between areas of greater and lesser exposure for House wrens and Tree swallow adults
o Predicted survival of Eastern bluebirds was greater in the exposure area.
o PCDF exposure on the Tittabawassee river does not seem to be adversely effecting adult passerine survival.
o Considering the low background probability of nestlings surviving and returning to their natal site to breed; contaminants exposure does not appear to be affecting post-fledging survival
o Passerines residing downstream of Midland MI (T3-T6) have significantly greater
exposures to dioxin-like compounds than their upstream cohorts (R1-R2)
o Band return rates ranged between 15% and 47% percent depending on species and area.
o Survival of breeding adults residing in the study area (greater exposure) was
either not different or greater than reference area birds.
Number of
nestlings
banded
Number of
nestlings
returned
House
wren
Reference
areas1 527 4
Study
areas2 1126 5
Tree
swallow
Reference
areas364 5
Study areas 708 19
Eastern
bluebird
Reference
areas108 3
Study areas 251 7
Table 3. Number of nestlings banded and
number of nestlings returned to area
1 Reference areas R-1 and R-22 Study areas T-3, T-4, T-5, T-6
Results
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