Study Tests For Contaminants in Endangered Albatross

By: Heidi Jeter
Submitted: 2009-07-16 15:04:26
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Though black-footed albatross are a symbol of renewal and growth in Hawaiian culture, they are one of the most endangered bird families, with more than 90 percent considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Sadly, toxic chemicals such as PCBs and DDT pollute waterways and threaten the lives of the seabirds when they ingest the pesticides while feeding on fish and squid.

Unfortunately, contamination isn't isolated to small areas. The fact that these birds—who forage for food throughout the North Pacific—have such high levels of contaminants indicates that widespread global pollution may be affecting the entire marine ecosystem.

PCBs and DDT are xenoestrogens, compounds that mimic estrogen and disrupt the reproductive health of wild birds. In the past, tracking the effects of xenoestrogens in avian species was difficult, requiring invasive surgical techniques or expensive long-term studies. But researchers at the University of California—Santa Cruz developed a noninvasive way to determine whether the contaminants affect the reproductive systems of black-footed and Laysan albatross.

"It's difficult to track hormone disruption in a long-lived seabird," says Dr. Myra Finkelstein, who along with Dr. Donald R. Smith leads this Morris Animal Foundation (MAF)–funded study. "Currently, most studies require the sacrifice of the animal so they can examine their reproductive organs to measure lifetime reproductive success. But for an albatross, which starts breeding at age 8, breeds only two out of every three years and lives for 50 years, it would take decades to measure their reproductive success."

With MAF funding, Finkelstein and her team developed a biomarker from a blood sample to look for proteins that would signal hormone disruption in the birds. After determining that other avian antibodies would not provide reliable results, Finkelstein manufactured an antibody to recognize the protein in albatross.

"This is a very exciting tool because it's incredibly noninvasive," Finkelstein says. "It only requires one little blood sample, and you get a window into the hormone functions of this bird."

The researchers screened 25 males from the midwestern Hawaiian Islands to see if they had the egg-producing protein. Although the birds showed high levels of PCB and DDT contamination, none of them showed abnormal hormone function—a good sign but not an indication that they aren't at risk in the future.

"The birds can accumulate these compounds because the chemicals like to hang out in fat," Finkelstein explains.

Finkelstein says she's hopeful the technique she developed can be applied to three species of North Pacific albatross—the black-footed, Laysan and short-tailed.

The method the team developed can provide information to determine how contaminant exposure impacts the long-term survival of the species. Finkelstein plans to continue her research on the population-level effects of contaminant exposure in seabirds.

Morris Animal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1948, is dedicated to funding animal health research that protects, treats and cures companion animals, horses and wildlife. MAF has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting animals on all seven continents. MAF has its headquarters in Denver. Charity Navigator ranks MAF as a four-star charity, the highest rating. MAF is a BBB Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal Holder. For more information, call 800.243.2345 or visit MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

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