Ecological Effects of Contaminants
Whereas the other themes of the Contaminant Ecology Research Program focus on where, why, and how contaminants cycle and bioaccumulate in ecological systems, this theme is focused on determining what happens at environmentally relevant concentrations.
It is specifically designed to measure the effects of contaminants on biological functioning across a gradient of ecological scales. Individual metrics vary depending on the specific taxa, ecosystems, and contaminants associated with each project, but the primary responses of interest can be categorized as: (1) Biochemical-level (e.g., stress biomarkers, cellular damage, endocrine response); (2) Individual-level (e.g., behavior, growth, mortality); and (3) Population-level. Perhaps the most important component of this theme is the overarching goal of integrating the effects at all levels of organization to form a more cohesive understanding of the emergent responses to contaminant exposure. Specifically, the goal is to not only understand how various exposure regimes induce responses at discrete scales, but also how effects at one scale contribute those at other scales. Additionally, this theme seeks to understand how contaminant-induced effects interact with other ecological stressors (e.g., disease, climate, predation, nutrition, and other disturbances) to quantify the cumulative role that contaminants play on natural resources.
Active Projects
- Mercury Effects on Avian Reproduction in San Francisco Bay
- Assessing the Risk of Non-lead Environmental Contaminant Exposure on the Health and Potential to California Condors
- Monitoring Contaminant Exposure and Physiological Stress in Scavengers on the Pacific Coast: Implications for the California Condor Reintroduction Program
- Incorporating Wildlife Mercury Exposure and Risk Estimates Using Biomagnification Factors into BOG California Lake Monitoring
- Mercury Contamination in Waterbird Eggs and Risk to Avian Reproduction at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Great Salt Lake
- Mercury Bioaccumulation in Terrestrial Songbirds and the Influence of Aquatic Energy Subsidies
- Mercury Exposure and Risk to Purple Martins Breeding in the Willamette Valley, Oregon
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Contaminant Ecology Research Team (FRESC)
Below are publications associated with this project.
Collateral damage: Anticoagulant rodenticides pose threats to California condors
Contaminant concentrations in sediments, aquatic invertebrates, and fish in proximity to rail tracks used for coal transport in the Pacific Northwest: A baseline assessment
Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish
Managing the trifecta of disease, climate, and contaminants: Searching for robust choices under multiple sources of uncertainty
Characterizing Golden Eagle risk to lead and anticoagulant rodenticide exposure: A review
Correlates of immune defenses in golden eagle nestlings
Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: A synthesis
It’s what’s inside that counts: Egg contaminant concentrations are influenced by estimates of egg density, egg volume, and fresh egg mass
Egg laying sequence influences egg mercury concentrations and egg size in three bird species: Implications for contaminant monitoring programs
Mercury and selenium contamination in waterbird eggs and risk to avian reproduction at Great Salt Lake, Utah
The persistent problem of lead poisoning in birds from ammunition and fishing tackle
Mercury exposure associated with altered plasma thyroid hormones in the declining western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) from California mountain streams
Whereas the other themes of the Contaminant Ecology Research Program focus on where, why, and how contaminants cycle and bioaccumulate in ecological systems, this theme is focused on determining what happens at environmentally relevant concentrations.
It is specifically designed to measure the effects of contaminants on biological functioning across a gradient of ecological scales. Individual metrics vary depending on the specific taxa, ecosystems, and contaminants associated with each project, but the primary responses of interest can be categorized as: (1) Biochemical-level (e.g., stress biomarkers, cellular damage, endocrine response); (2) Individual-level (e.g., behavior, growth, mortality); and (3) Population-level. Perhaps the most important component of this theme is the overarching goal of integrating the effects at all levels of organization to form a more cohesive understanding of the emergent responses to contaminant exposure. Specifically, the goal is to not only understand how various exposure regimes induce responses at discrete scales, but also how effects at one scale contribute those at other scales. Additionally, this theme seeks to understand how contaminant-induced effects interact with other ecological stressors (e.g., disease, climate, predation, nutrition, and other disturbances) to quantify the cumulative role that contaminants play on natural resources.
Active Projects
- Mercury Effects on Avian Reproduction in San Francisco Bay
- Assessing the Risk of Non-lead Environmental Contaminant Exposure on the Health and Potential to California Condors
- Monitoring Contaminant Exposure and Physiological Stress in Scavengers on the Pacific Coast: Implications for the California Condor Reintroduction Program
- Incorporating Wildlife Mercury Exposure and Risk Estimates Using Biomagnification Factors into BOG California Lake Monitoring
- Mercury Contamination in Waterbird Eggs and Risk to Avian Reproduction at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Great Salt Lake
- Mercury Bioaccumulation in Terrestrial Songbirds and the Influence of Aquatic Energy Subsidies
- Mercury Exposure and Risk to Purple Martins Breeding in the Willamette Valley, Oregon
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Contaminant Ecology Research Team (FRESC)
Below are publications associated with this project.