Are we dulling bird calls?
Silent Spring, spurring the interest of conservationists, industrialists and the general public, was one of the most influential books in recent history. Here, Rachel Carson, signaled the devastating impacts of chemical pesticides on birds, apparent through drastic population declines. Ill-effects of pollution continue to take a heavy toll on integral biotic components in the most unexpected ways. Scientists from the EcoServ Research Laboratory – Professor Mayuri Wijesinghe (Department of Zoology & Environment Sciences), Dr. Saminda Fernando (Department of Zoology, Open University of Colombo) and Thilini Ranasinghe, Researcher (Department of Zoology & Environment Sciences) have divulged novel information on heavy metal driven effects on bird calls.
They have shown, experimentally, that exposure to environmentally-relevant levels of lead (Pb) caused changes in the calls of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) hatchlings. Pb-exposed hatchings emitted calls with shorter syllables and fewer notes than those of hatchlings that were not exposed – obviously leading to much duller calls. What is particularly intriguing is that these changes occurred within a relatively short period of time (21 days). The research is significant, given that this is the first experimental study providing evidence of changes in vocal characteristics of metal-exposed birds.
