| Patuxent Science Meeting 2006 Poster Abstract |
| | The evaluation of risk to songbirds from heavy metals in soil |
| | Hansen JH (FWS), Audet DJ (FWS), Beyer WN, Healy K, Gaston G (FWS) |
| | The evaluation of risk to songbirds from heavy metals in soil has largely been based on |
| | assumptions about the contaminant pathway, soil ingestion rates, and toxic effects. We |
| | conducted a field study to determine lead (Pb) exposure, pathway, and potential effects on |
| | songbirds in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho. The goal of the study was to provide data to |
| | evaluate the risk to songbirds in the Pb-contaminated riparian zones. In this study, we |
| | collected blood samples from American robin, song sparrow, and Swainson's thrush to measure |
| | blood lead concentrations, blood ALAD concentrations, and percent hematocrit in blood. In a |
| | subset of birds collected, we determined liver Pb and stomach content (ingesta) Pb |
| | concentrations. We also measured Pb concentrations in soil and invertebrate samples. |
| | Aluminum was measured in soil, invertebrates, and stomach contents to provide an estimate of |
| | soil ingestion rate. We observed strong correlations between Pb concentrations in soil and |
| | blood lead concentrations, liver Pb concentrations, stomach content concentrations and blood |
| | ALAD levels in songbirds. The three species were different in how they accumulated Pb from |
| | soil, even though they had similar feeding strategies during the breeding season. |
| | Friday, September 22, 2006 |