Gamma radiation effects on nestling Tree Swallows

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Ecology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1939142· OSTI ID:5996709

Zach, R; Mayoh, K R

The sensitivity of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to the stress of ionizing radiation was investigated with growth analysis. Freshly hatched nestlings were temporarily removed from nests, taken to the laboratory and acutely exposed to 0.9, 2.7, or 4.5 Gy gamma radiation. Some of the unirradiated control nestlings were also taken to the laboratory whereas others were left in the nests. Growth of all the nestlings was measured daily and analyzed by fitting growth models. There was no detectable radiation-induced mortality up to fledgling, approx. = 20 d after irradiation. Radiation exposure did not affect the basic growth pattern; the logistic growth model was most suitable for body mass and foot length, and the von Bertalanffy model for primary-feather length, irrespective of treatment. Parameter values from these models indicated pronounced growth depression in the 2.7-Gy and 4.5-Gy groups, particularly for body mass. Radiation also affected the timing of development. The growth depression of the 2.7-Gy group was similar to that caused by hatching asynchrony in unirradiated nestlings. The 4.5-Cy nestlings grew as well as unexposed nestlings that died from natural causes. Chronic irradiation at approx. = 1.0 Cy/d caused more severe growth effects than acute exposure to 4.5 Gy and may have caused permanent stunting. Growth analysis is a potent tool for assessing man-made environmental stresses. Observed body-mass statistics and model parameters seem to be most sensitive to environmental stresses, but coefficients of variation are not necessarily correlated with sensitivity. 34 references, 2 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, Manitoba
• OSTI ID: 5996709
• Journal Information: Ecology; (United States), Journal Name: Ecology; (United States) Vol. 65:5; ISSN ECOLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIRDS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DATA
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAMMA RADIATION
GROWTH
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MORTALITY
NUMERICAL DATA
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
VERTEBRATES