Skip to main content
Log in

Seasonal Differences in Contaminant Accumulation in Neotropical Migrant and Resident Songbirds

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For many years, it has been hypothesized that Neotropical migrants breeding in the United States and Canada accumulate organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) while on their wintering grounds in Latin America. We investigated the seasonal accumulation of persistent organic pollutant (POPs) in migrant and resident passerines in Texas, Yucatán, and Costa Rica collected during the fall, winter, and spring from 2011 to 2013. A total of 153 birds were collected, and all contained detectable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and OCPs with dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) being the most predominant pesticide. OCPs and PCBs were the predominant contaminants, accounting for ≥80 % of the total POPs burden, whereas PBDEs accounted for ≤16 %. Only spring migrants from Texas had significantly greater DDE concentrations (64.6 ng/g dry weight [dw]) than migrants collected in Costa Rica (23.2 ng/g dw). Resident birds in Texas had significantly greater levels of DDE (121 ng/g dw) and ΣPBDEs (34.8 ng/g dw) compared with residents in Yucatán and Costa Rica. For ΣPCBs, resident birds from Costa Rica had significantly lower concentrations (9.60 ng/g dw) compared with their migrant counterparts (43.7 ng/g dw) and residents from Texas (48.3 ng/g dw) and the Yucatán (32.1 ng/g dw). Migrant and resident passerines had similar congener profiles for PCBs and PBDEs suggesting similar exposure and retention of these contaminants. No significant accumulation of DDE was observed in migrants while on their wintering grounds. Relatively high concentrations of PBDEs in resident birds from Costa Rica warrant future studies of PBDE contamination in Latin America.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albert LA (1996) Persistent pesticides in Mexico. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 147:1–44

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Both C, Bouwhuis S, Lessells C, Visser ME (2006) Climate change and population declines in a long-distance migratory bird. Nature 441:81–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown CR, Brown MB, Poole A, Gill F (1995) Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). The Birds of North America Online. Accessed 29 Apr 2016

  • Capparella A, Klemens J, Harper G, Frick J (2003) Lack of widespread organochlorine pesticide contamination in South American resident passerines. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 70:769–774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho F, Fowler S, Readman J, Mee L (1994) Pesticide residues in tropical coastal lagoons use of 14C labeled compounds to study the cycling and fate of agrochemical. In: International symposium on applications of isotopes and radiation in conservation of the environment, 9–13 March 1992, Karlsruhe, Germany. International Atomic Energy, Vienna, Austria, pp 637–653

  • Chen D, Hale RC (2010) A global review of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardant contamination in birds. Environ Int 36:800–811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colabuono FI, Taniguchi S, Montone RC (2012) Organochlorine contaminants in albatrosses and petrels during migration in South Atlantic Ocean. Chemosphere 86:701–708

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daly GL, Lei YD, Teixeira C, Muir DC, Castillo LE, Jantunen LM et al (2007) Organochlorine pesticides in the soils and atmosphere of Costa Rica. Environ Sci Technol 41:1124–1130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dauwe T, Chu S, Covaci A, Schepens P, Eens M (2003) Great tit (Parus major) nestlings as biomonitors of organochlorine pollution. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 44:89–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf RM, Tilghman NG, Anderson SH (1985) Foraging guilds of North American birds. Environ Manag 9:493–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeGraaf RM, Rappole JH (1995) Neotropical migratory birds: natural history, distribution, and population change. Cornell University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • DeLeon S, Halitschke R, Hames RS, Kessler A, DeVoogd TJ, Dhondt AA (2013) The effect of polychlorinated biphenyls on the song of two passerine species. PLoS ONE 8:e73471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz-Barriga F, Borja-Aburto V, Waliszewski S, Yáñez L (2003) DDT in Mexico. In: Persistent Organic Pollutants. Springer, New York, pp 371–388

  • Eng ML, Williams TD, Letcher RJ, Elliott JE (2014) Assessment of concentrations and effects of organohalogen contaminants in a terrestrial passerine, the European starling. Sci Total Environ 473:589–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finch DM, Martin TE (1995) Ecology and management of neotropical migratory birds: a synthesis and review of critical issues. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Flahr LM, Michel NL, Zahara AR, Jones PD, Morrissey CA (2015) Developmental exposure to Aroclor 1254 alters migratory behavior in juvenile European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Environ Sci Technol 49:6274–6283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fry DM (1995) Reproductive effects in birds exposed to pesticides and industrial chemicals. Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl 7):165–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fyfe R, Banasch U, Benavides V, Hilgert de Benavides N, Luscombe A, Sánchez-Pérez JE (1990) Organochlorine residues in potential prey of peregrine falcons, Falco peregrinus, in Latin America. Residuos de organoclorados en presas potenciales de halcones peregrinos, Falco peregrinus, en Latinoamérica. Can Field Naturalist 104:285–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Gard NW, Hooper MJ, Bennett RS (1993) Effects of pesticides and contaminants on Neotropical migrants. RM-229:310–314

  • Harper R, Frick J, Capparella A, Borup B, Nowak M, Biesinger D et al (1996) Organochlorine pesticide contamination in neotropical migrant passerines. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 31:386–390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henny CJ, Blus LJ (1986) Radiotelemetry locates wintering grounds of DDE-contaminated black-crowned night-herons. Wildl Soc Bull (1973–2006) 14:236–241

  • Henny CJ, Ward FP, Riddle K, Prouty RM (1982) Migratory peregrine falcons, Falco peregrinus, accumulate pesticides in Latin America during winter. Can Field Naturalist 96:333–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Henny CJ, Kaiser JL, Grove RA, Johnson BL, Letcher RJ (2009a) Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in eggs may reduce reproductive success of ospreys in Oregon and Washington, USA. Ecotoxicology 18:802–813

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henny CJ, Yates MA, Seegar WS (2009b) Dramatic declines of DDE and other organochlorines in spring migrant peregrine falcons from Padre Island, Texas, 1978–2004. J Raptor Res 43:37–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera-Herrera JR, Russell DE, Oris JT, Rendon-Von Osten J, Tabarese-Alavez A (2013) Bioaccumulation of persistent organochlorine pesticides in riparian birds, spiders, mosquitos, oysters, and sediments of Southeastern Mexico. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Meeting for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Nashville, TN

  • Herrera-Herrera JR, Russell DE, Oris JT, Rendon-Von Osten J, Tabarese-Alavez A (2015) Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in riparian migratory and resident birds of southeastern Mexico. Poster presented at the 36th Annual Meeting for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Salt Lake City, UT

  • Johnston DW (1974) Decline of DDT residues in migratory songbirds. Science 186:841–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones KC, De Voogt P (1999) Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): state of the science. Environ Pollut 100:209–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King KA, Zaun BJ, Schotborgh HM, Hurt C, Jones CA (2003) DDE-induced eggshell thinning in white-faced ibis: a continuing problem in the western United States. Southwest Naturalist 48:356–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klemens JA, Wieland M, Flanagin V, Frick J, Harper R (2003) A cross-taxa survey of organochlorine pesticide contamination in a Costa Rican wildland. Environ Pollut 122:245–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunisue T, Watanabe M, Subramanian A, Sethuraman A, Titenko AM, Qui V et al (2003) Accumulation features of persistent organochlorines in resident and migratory birds from Asia. Environ Pollut 125:157–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • La Guardia MJ, Hale RC, Harvey E (2006) Detailed polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congener composition of the widely used penta-, octa-, and deca-PBDE technical flame-retardant mixtures. Environ Sci Technol 40:6247–6254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Law RJ, Covaci A, Harrad S, Herzke D, Abdallah MA, Fernie K et al (2014) Levels and trends of PBDEs and HBCDs in the global environment: status at the end of 2012. Environ Int 65:147–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarty JP, Secord AL (1999a) Nest-building behavior in PCB-contaminated tree swallows. Auk 116(1):55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarty JP, Secord AL (1999b) Reproductive ecology of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) with high levels of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination. Environ Toxicol Chem 18:1433–1439

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mochungong P, Zhu J (2015) DDTs, PCBs and PBDEs contamination in Africa, Latin America and south-southeast Asia—a review. AIMs Environ Sci 2:374–399

    Google Scholar 

  • Mora MA (1996) Congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyl patterns in eggs of aquatic birds from the lower laguna madre, Texas. Environ Toxicol Chemistry 15:1003–1010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mora MA (2008) Organochlorine pollutants and stable isotopes in resident and migrant passerine birds from northwest Michoacan, Mexico. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 55:488–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mora M, Sericano J, Baxter C (2012) Swallows as indicators of environmental pollution of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin: are persistent organic pollutants a concern? Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 62:512–518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mora MA, Durgin B, Hudson LB, Jones E (2016) Temporal and latitudinal trends of p, p’-DDE in eggs and carcass of North American birds from 1980 to2005. Environ Toxicol Chem 35:1340–1348

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neigh AM, Zwiernik MJ, Joldersma CA, Blankenship AL, Strause KD, Millsap SD et al (2007) Reproductive success of passerines exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls through the terrestrial food web of the Kalamazoo River. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 66:107–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newton I (1988) Determination of critical pollutant levels in wild populations, examples from organochlorine insecticides in birds of prey. Environ Pollut 55:29–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NewtonI, I (2010) Bird migration. Collins, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsson M, Bignert A, Eckhéll J, Jonsson P (2000) Comparison of temporal trends (1940s-1990s) of DDT and PCB in Baltic sediment and biota in relation to eutrophication. Ambio J 29:195–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peakall DB (1993) DDE-induced eggshell thinning: an environmental detective story. Env Rev 1:13–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds KD, Rainwater TR, Scollon EJ, Sathe SS, Adair BM, Dixon KR et al (2001) Accumulation of DDT and mercury in prothonotary warblers (Protonotaria citrea) foraging in a heterogeneously contaminated environment. Environ Toxicol Chemistry 20:2903–2909

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins CS, Sauer JR, Greenberg RS, Droege S (1989) Population declines in North American birds that migrate to the neotropics. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:7658–7662

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson SK, Wilcove DS (1994) Forest fragmentation in the temperate zone and its effects on migratory songbirds. Bird Conserv Int 4:233–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scollon EJ, Carr JA, Rintoul DA, McMurry ST, Cobb GP (2012) Metabolism and distribution of p, p′-DDT during flight of the white-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys. Environ Toxicol Chem 31:336–346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seegar WS, Yates MA, Doney GE, Jenny JP, Seegar TC, Perkins C et al (2015) Migrating tundra peregrine falcons accumulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons along Gulf of Mexico following Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Ecotoxicology 24:1102–1111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Senthilkumar K, Watanabe M, Kannan K, Subramanian A, Tanabe S (1999) Isomer-specific patterns and toxic assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls in resident, wintering migrant birds and bat collected from South India. Toxicol Environ Chem 71:221–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw SD, Kannan K (2009) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in marine ecosystems of the American continents: foresight from current knowledge. Rev Environ Health 24:157–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shen L, Wania F, Lei YD, Teixeira C, Muir DC, Xiao H (2006) Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the North American atmosphere. Environ Pollut 144:434–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith PN, Cobb GP, Godard-Codding C, Hoff D, McMurry ST, Rainwater TR et al (2007) Contaminant exposure in terrestrial vertebrates. Environ Pollut 150:41–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Luo X, Mo L, Zhang Q, Wu J, Chen S et al (2012) Brominated flame retardants in three terrestrial passerine birds from South China: geographical pattern and implication for potential sources. Environ Pollut 162:381–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanabe S, Senthilkumar K, Kannan K, Subramanian A (1998) Accumulation features of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in resident and migratory birds from South India. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 34:387–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang W, Huang K, Zhao J, Zhang Z, Liang S, Liu L et al (2015) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in resident Eurasian Tree Sparrow from Shanghai: geographical distribution and implication for potential sources. Chemosphere 126:25–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Velzen AC, Stiles WB, Stickel LF (1972) Lethal mobilization of DDT by cowbirds. J Wildl Manag 36:733–739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Duszeln J (1991) Pesticide contamination and pesticide control in developing countries: Costa Rica, Central America. In: Richardson ML (ed) Chemistry, agriculture and the environment. Royal Society of Chemistry Press, UK, pp 410–428

  • Wania F, Mackay D (1993) Global fractionation and cold condensation of low volatility organochlorine compounds in polar regions. Ambio 22:10–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter S, Streit B (1992) Organochlorine compounds in a three-step terrestrial food chain. Chemosphere 24:1765–1774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yogui G, Sericano J (2009) Levels and pattern of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in eggs of Antarctic seabirds: endemic versus migratory species. Environ Pollut 157:975–980

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu L, Luo X, Liu H, Zeng Y, Zheng X, Wu J et al (2014) Organohalogen contamination in passerine birds from three metropolises in China: geographical variation and its implication for anthropogenic effects on urban environments. Environ Pollut 188:118–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We appreciate the assistance from the personnel of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, La Selva Biological Research Station, University of Georgia Athens Costa Rica Station, Eugenio Gonzalez from the Texas A&dM University Soltis Center, and private-property owners for providing access to properties as well as logistical and field support. Texas A&M University and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolgia grant program and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation provided funding support for this work. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on our manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alejandra R. Maldonado.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 29 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Maldonado, A.R., Mora, M.A. & Sericano, J.L. Seasonal Differences in Contaminant Accumulation in Neotropical Migrant and Resident Songbirds. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 72, 39–49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-016-0323-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-016-0323-3

Keywords

Navigation