DOCSLIB.ORG

Water Salinization and Shorebirds: Emerging Issues

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Water Salinization and Shorebirds: Emerging Issues Rubega& Robinson:Salinization and shorebirds Water salinization and shorebirds:emerging issues MargaretA. Rubegaand Julie A. Robinson Rubega,M. A., & Robinson,J. A. 1996.Water salinization and shorebirds:Emerging issues. International Wader Studies 9: 45-54. Salinityfrom agricultural drainwater, surface flow and subsurfaceflow is a problemin at leastsome inlandwetlands in everywestern state in the UnitedStates. Water salinization is a particularly insidiousthreat to waterbirdpopulations because wetland quality ma, y not visiblydecline until the problemis advanced.In thispaper we review1) evidencethat salinizationis an important managementproblem in inlandwetlands, 2) meansavailable to shorebirdsto copewith salinity,3) mechanismsby whichthe costsof salinizationare likely to reduceshorebird reproductive success, and 4) how salinizationmodifies structure and diversityof ecosystems.Finally, 5) we discuss emergingmanagement concerns with respectto reducingor eliminatingsalinization effects on shorebirdpopulations. MargaretA. Rubega,Department of Environmental and Resource Science/186, University of Nevada, Reno, 1000Valley Rd., Reno, NV 89512,USA JulieA. Robinson,Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology Program/186, University of Nevada, Reno, 1000Valley Rd., Reno, NV 89512,USA •Currentaddress: Department of Biology,University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5513,USA Introduction seleniumand other heavy metals,concentrated throughsoil leachingand water recycling(Ohlendorf et al. 1986, 1989). Bioaccumulation of these toxicants The art and scienceof habitatmanagement revolves resultedin low hatchabilityof eggs,and dramatic around the control and enhancement of habitat malformations(Hoffman et al. 1988)and subsequent quality (cf.Reed 1995). A managementplan for death of thosechicks that did hatch (Ohlendorf et al. shorebirdsadvocates manipulating controllable 1989). In otherwords, although Kesterson received a habitatfactors in orderto providethe best habitat greatdeal of use,it was habitatof very low quality. quality possiblefor shorebirds(Helmers 1992). The Kesterson has since been filled with uncontaminated working definitionof habitatquality currently seems soilin orderto displacebreeding birds to wetlandsof to be "that which resultsin the greatestnumber of betterhabitat quality, and habitatmanagers are birds" (e.g.,Merendino et al. 1992),or, more rare135 monitoringpotential bioaccumulation through the "that which resultsin the greatestdiversity of new terrestrialfood chain (Wu et al. 1995). species"(e.g.,Boshoff & Piper1992). Although these There is an equally dangerous,potentially much may be meaningfulmanagement goals on shorttime morewidespread, mechanism of wetland water scales,for conservationpurposes only thoseaspects qualityreduction: water salinization.Water of habitatquality thathelp maintaindiverse salinizationis a particularlyinsidious threat to populationsover largetime scalesare of significance waterbirdpopulations because wetland quality may (Karr 1993;Suter 1993;Noss & Murphy 1995). not visiblydecline until the problemis advanced. Numbersof birdspresent, or evenbreeding, in a Salinizationmay resultin reducedreproduction wetland on shorttime scalesare notnecessarily throughchick mortality, while reducedvigor indicesof the contributionof habitatquality to the ci•k...... ;•,•.•lCittru ...;,t.vv lUt dehydrationmay increasemortality maintenanceof populations.For instance, because at all life stages.In this paper we review 1) evidence so muchwetland habitathas been destroyed (Frayer that salinizationis an important management et al. 1989;Dahl 1990),shorebirds may breedin large problemin inland wetlands,2) meansavailable to numbersin wetlandsof very poor quality. One very shorebirdsto copewith salinity,3) mechanismsby dramaticexample of thisphenomenon was which the costsof salinizationare likely to reduce KestersonNational Wildlife Refuge,in the San shorebirdreproductive success, and 4) how JoaquinValley of California.Kesterson was a salinizationmodifies structure and diversityof wetland suppliedwith irrigationdrainwater from ecosystems.Finally, 5) we discusspossible the WestlandsWater District. Largenumbers of managementtechniques for reducingor eliminating wading birdsbred at Kesterson,and the projectwas salinizationeffects on shorebirdpopulations. This viewed initially as a habitat-replacementsuccess. paperis notpresented as a definitivediscussion of Nonetheless,these birds failed to reproduce the cure for wetland water salinization. Our goals, successfully(Williams et al. 1989)because drainwater rather,are to identifythe problem,and generate supplyingthe wetlandwas contaminatedwith interestin the processof definingsolutions. 45 International Wader Studies 9:45-54 Why is salinization a problem in and virtually all of the Middle East(Waisel 1972; inland wetlands? Figure1). In North America,salinity from agriculturaldrainwater, surface flow and subsurface flow is a problemin at leastsome inland wetlandsin Normally, the term salinityis taken to mean the every westernstate in the U.S. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife concentration of sodium chloride. However, the ion Service1992) (Figure 2). Salinizationis particularly compositionof salty water varieswidely, and in acutein the GreatBasin, and in partsof California, inland wetlands(the focusof thispaper) salinity is Arizona,New Mexicoand Texas,where growing actuallya measureof the total concentrationof a humanpopulations and agriculturecompete for number of different ions. The exact combination of limited water, and where most wetlands are ionsand mineralsin water dependslargely on local downstreamfrom urban and agriculturalusers (E1- soilcomposition and hydrologyof surfaceand Ashry& Gibbons1988). Increasingly,solutions to groundwater. theseconflicts involve multiple use and reuseof In arid lands, where salinization is most common, water,resulting in increasedsalinity of water at soilsnaturally containvariable amountsof sodium, agriculturalsites, and subsequently, at terminal potassium,and other mineral salts,but also wetlands.Salinization is alreadya problemat many magnesium,carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, boron, of the world'smost important shorebird sites. Sites fluoride, arsenic, and selenium. Hence, in arid lands, declaredof hemisphericor internationalimportance wetlandsand otherbodies of water arefrequently to shorebirdsby the WesternHemisphere Shorebird naturallysalty (and significantlyalkaline) as a Reserve Network in the Great Basin include Mono functionof the processesof runoffand evaporation Lake, Great Salt Lake and Stillwater/Carson Lake over geologictime. For instance,Mono Lake in (WHSRN 1992) and all havesuffered significant California and the Great Salt Lake in Utah (two degreesof salinization(Patten et al. 1987;Woolf 1993; significantsites for shorebirds;Oring & Reed,this Lico 1992). (Unfortunately,although reserve volume) are both natural saline lakes. For the designationby theWestern Hemisphere Shorebird purposesof this discussion,we will usethe term ReserveNetwork (WHSRN) draws much-needed salinizationto meananthropogenically-caused increases in attentionto sitesof importanceto shorebirds,it watersalinity (defined very broadly as increases in providesno concretemeans of protection, conductivityofa particularwetland or bodyof water, particularlyagainst the gradual degradationof water withoutrestriction to any particular ion composition) on quality.) relativelyshort time scales, even in caseswhere some In the arid Americanwest, many factorstend to degreeof salinity was present naturally. In considering increasethe salinityof inlandwetlands. Increased largerspatial scales, we alsowill usethe term to urban use of riverine waters decreases the amount imply the decreasein relativeavailability of fresh and qualityof water availablefor terminalwetlands. water in a landscape. Effectsof suchdecreases are twofold: 1) some Globally,salinization is commoneverywhere wetlandsdry up, reducingfreshwater and the total agricultureis conductedon arid lands,e.g. north numberof wetlandsavailable in the landscape,and Africa, southern and western Asia, central Australia, 2) remainingwetlands become more shallow and Figure1. Globaldistribution of salt-affectedsoils (and hence water), and areas with thepotential for waterand soilsalinity problems(adapted from American Society of Civil Engineers1990). 46 Rubega& Robinson:Sahnlzation and shorebirds Potentialfor salinizationproblems • High • Medium • Low Figure2. Areasin the conterminousUnited States with the potentialfor waterand soilsalinity problems (adapted from AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers1990; note that coverage for NorthAmerica differs from Figure 1 becauseof differingdefinitions of risk). moresaline through evaporative concentration. For Ettinger1964). City sewagereuse can lead to example,water diversionsof easternSierra Nevada groundwatersalinization (Bagley 1967). snowmelt by the city of LosAngeles have, over the Agriculturalmultiple-use, and enforcementof last century,caused Owens Lake to disappear irrigationconservation programs, also decreases the completely,and Mono Laketo dropmore than 40 qualityof water in inlandwetlands. Federal verticalfeet while triplingin salinity(Patten et al. 1987). Bothof thesenaturally-occurring saline lakes legislationdesigned to end water disputesover the NewlandsIrrigation Project of westernNevada and wereformerly ringed with freshwaterwetlands, northeasternCalifornia (Public Law 101-618,1990), which no longerexist at Owens,and are reduced enoughat Mono to havevirtually eliminatedthe
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Methylmercury Fate in the Hypersaline Environment of the Great Salt Lake: a Critical Review of Current Knowledge
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Plan B and other Reports Graduate Studies 12-2013 Methylmercury Fate in the Hypersaline Environment of the Great Salt Lake: A Critical Review of Current Knowledge Danielle Barandiaran Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports Part of the Soil Science Commons Recommended Citation Barandiaran, Danielle, "Methylmercury Fate in the Hypersaline Environment of the Great Salt Lake: A Critical Review of Current Knowledge" (2013). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports. 332. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/332 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Plan B and other Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. METHYLMERCURY FATE IN THE HYPERSALINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE By Danielle Barandiaran A paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Soil Science Approved: Astrid Jacobson Jeanette Norton Major Professor Committee Member - Paul Grossl Teryl Roper Committee Member Department Head UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2013 Copyright © Danielle Barandiaran 2013 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Methylmercury Fate in the Hypersaline Environment of the Great Salt Lake: A Critical Review of Current Knowledge by Danielle Barandiaran, Master of Science Utah State University, 2013 Major Professor: Dr. Astrid R. Jacobson Department: Plants, Soils & Climate Methylmercury (MeHg) is a highly potent neurotoxic form of the environmental pollutant Mercury (Hg).
    [Show full text]
  • The Ecology of Dunaliella in High-Salt Environments Aharon Oren
    Oren Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki (2014) 21:23 DOI 10.1186/s40709-014-0023-y REVIEW Open Access The ecology of Dunaliella in high-salt environments Aharon Oren Abstract Halophilic representatives of the genus Dunaliella, notably D. salina and D. viridis, are found worldwide in salt lakes and saltern evaporation and crystallizer ponds at salt concentrations up to NaCl saturation. Thanks to the biotechnological exploitation of D. salina for β-carotene production we have a profound knowledge of the physiology and biochemistry of the alga. However, relatively little is known about the ecology of the members of the genus Dunaliella in hypersaline environments, in spite of the fact that Dunaliella is often the main or even the sole primary producer present, so that the entire ecosystem depends on carbon fixed by this alga. This review paper summarizes our knowledge about the occurrence and the activities of different Dunaliella species in natural salt lakes (Great Salt Lake, the Dead Sea and others), in saltern ponds and in other salty habitats where members of the genus have been found. Keywords: Dunaliella, Hypersaline, Halophilic, Great Salt Lake, Dead Sea, Salterns Introduction salt adaptation. A number of books and review papers When the Romanian botanist Emanoil C. Teodoresco have therefore been devoted to the genus [5-7]. How- (Teodorescu) (1866–1949) described the habitat of the ever, the ecological aspects of the biology of Dunaliella new genus of halophilic unicellular algae Dunaliella,it are generally neglected. A recent monograph did not was known from salterns and salt lakes around the devote a single chapter to ecological aspects, and con- Mediterranean and the Black Sea [1-3].
    [Show full text]
  • Draft ASMA Plan for Dry Valleys
    Measure 18 (2015) Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 2 MCMURDO DRY VALLEYS, SOUTHERN VICTORIA LAND Introduction The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest relatively ice-free region in Antarctica with approximately thirty percent of the ground surface largely free of snow and ice. The region encompasses a cold desert ecosystem, whose climate is not only cold and extremely arid (in the Wright Valley the mean annual temperature is –19.8°C and annual precipitation is less than 100 mm water equivalent), but also windy. The landscape of the Area contains mountain ranges, nunataks, glaciers, ice-free valleys, coastline, ice-covered lakes, ponds, meltwater streams, arid patterned soils and permafrost, sand dunes, and interconnected watershed systems. These watersheds have a regional influence on the McMurdo Sound marine ecosystem. The Area’s location, where large-scale seasonal shifts in the water phase occur, is of great importance to the study of climate change. Through shifts in the ice-water balance over time, resulting in contraction and expansion of hydrological features and the accumulations of trace gases in ancient snow, the McMurdo Dry Valley terrain also contains records of past climate change. The extreme climate of the region serves as an important analogue for the conditions of ancient Earth and contemporary Mars, where such climate may have dominated the evolution of landscape and biota. The Area was jointly proposed by the United States and New Zealand and adopted through Measure 1 (2004). This Management Plan aims to ensure the long-term protection of this unique environment, and to safeguard its values for the conduct of scientific research, education, and more general forms of appreciation.
    [Show full text]
  • Preserving the World Second Largest Hypersaline Lake Under Future Irrigation and Climate Change
    Preserving the World Second Largest Hypersaline Lake under Future Irrigation and Climate Change Somayeh Shadkam1, Fulco Ludwig1, Michelle T.H. van Vliet1,2, Amandine Pastor1,2, Pavel Kabat1,2 [1] Earth System Science, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands [2] International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A‐2361 Laxenburg, Austria E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Urmia Lake, the world second largest hypersaline lake, has been largely desiccated over the last two decades resulting in socio-environmental consequences similar or even larger than the Aral Sea disaster. To rescue the lake a new water management plan has been proposed, a rapid 40% decline in irrigation water use replacing a former plan which intended to develop reservoirs and irrigation. However, none of these water management plans, which have large socio-economic impacts, have been assessed under future changes in climate and water availability. By adapting a method of environmental flow requirements (EFRs) for hypersaline lakes, we estimated annually 3.7∙109 m3 water is needed to preserve Urmia Lake. Then, the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrological model was forced with bias-corrected climate model outputs for both the lowest (RCP2.6) and highest (RCP8.5) greenhouse-gas concentration scenarios to estimate future water availability and impacts of water management strategies. Results showed a 10% decline in future water availability in the basin under RCP2.6 and 27% under RCP8.5. Our results showed that if future climate change is highly limited (RCP2.6) inflow can be just enough to meet the EFRs by implementing the reduction irrigation plan.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sources and Evolution of Sulfur in the Hypersaline Lake Lisan (Paleo-Dead Sea)
    Earth and Planetary Science Letters 236 (2005) 61–77 www.elsevier.com/locate/epsl The sources and evolution of sulfur in the hypersaline Lake Lisan (paleo-Dead Sea) Adi Torfsteina,b,*, Ittai Gavrielia,1, Mordechai Steina,2 aGeological Survey of Israel, 30 Malkhe Yisrael St., Jerusalem 95501, Israel bInstitute of Earth Sciences, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Giv’at-Ram Campus, Jerusalem 91904, Israel Received 18 October 2004; received in revised form 19 April 2005; accepted 25 April 2005 Available online 17 June 2005 Editor: E. Bard Abstract d34S values in gypsum are used to evaluate the fate of sulfur in the hypersaline Lake Lisan, the late Pleistocene precursor of the Dead Sea (70–14 ka BP), and applied as a paleo-limnological tracer. The Ca-chloride Lake Lisan evolved through meromictic periods characterized by precipitation of authigenic aragonite and holomictic episodes characterized by enhanced gypsum precipitation. The lake deposited two major gypsum units: the bLower Gypsum unitQ (deposited at ~56 ka) showing d34S values of 18–20x, and the bUpper Gypsum unitQ (deposited at 17 ka) displaying significantly higher d34S values of 26– 28x. Laminated and disseminated gypsum, residing within the aragonite, exhibit d34S values in the range of À26x to 1x. The isotopic composition of the gypsum was dictated by freshwater sulfate input that replenished the upper layer of the lake (the mixolimnion), bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) that occurred under the anoxic conditions of the lower brine (the monimolimnion), and mixing between these two layers. During meromictic periods, the sulfate reservoir in the lower brine was replenished by precipitation of gypsum from the upper layer, and its subsequent dissolution due to sulfate deficiency induced by BSR activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Nasal Salt Secretion in Falconiform Birds
    NASAL SALT SECRETION IN FALCONIFORM BIRDS TOM J. CADE and LEWIS GREENWALD Falconers have long known that various raptors, especially accipiters and eagles, exude a clear fluid from their nares while eating. We were reminded of this fact while handling a melanistic Gabar Goshawk (1Micronisus g&r), which we trapped in the Kalahari Desert in August 1964. As the hawk ate his prey, the small droplets of fluid that collected on our gloves had a strong salty taste. This discovery led us to look for nasal secretions in 16 species and 10 genera of Accipitridae and in eight species and three genera of Falconidae. We have studied behavioral and physiolog- ical aspects of nasal secretion in these raptors with reference to Schmidt-Nielsen’s (1964) hypothesis regarding the general necessity for birds to utilize an extrarenal mechanism of salt excretion, as an adjunct to efficient water reabsorption from the cloaca in concentrating uric acid, and also in connection with the overall water economy of carnivorous birds. MATERIALS AND METHODS We obtained birds and information from various sources. Our initial observa- tions were made on an adult male Gabar Goshawk, an adult female Red-necked Falcon (F&o chiqueru), and a pair of adult Pigmy Falcons (Polihierax semitor- quatus), which we trapped in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in the Republic of South Africa and subsequently transported to our laboratory at Syracuse Uni- versity. In addition, we obtained the following hawks from a bird dealer in New York: an immature Savannah Hawk (Heterospizias meridionalis) and a juvenile Yellow-headed Caracara (M&ago chimuchima), both from South America, and an immature Saker (F&o chewug) and an adult Laggar (Fake jugger) from India.
    [Show full text]
  • Origin of Arsenolipids in Sediments from Great Salt Lake
    CSIRO PUBLISHING Environ. Chem. 2019, 16, 303–311 Rapid Communication https://doi.org/10.1071/EN19135 Origin of arsenolipids in sediments from Great Salt Lake Ronald A. Glabonjat, A,D Georg Raber,A Kenneth B. Jensen,A Florence Schubotz,B Eric S. Boyd C and Kevin A. FrancesconiA AInstitute of Chemistry, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria. BMARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany. CDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. DCorresponding author. Email: [email protected] Environmental context. Arsenic is a globally distributed element, occurring in various chemical forms with toxicities ranging from harmless to highly toxic. We examined sediment samples from Great Salt Lake, an extreme salt environment, and found a variety of organoarsenic species not previously recorded in nature. These new compounds are valuable pieces in the puzzle of how organisms detoxify arsenic, and in our understanding of the global arsenic cycle. Abstract. Arsenic-containing lipids are natural products found predominantly in marine organisms. Here, we report the detection of known and new arsenolipids in sediment samples from Great Salt Lake, a hypersaline lake in Utah, USA, using high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with both elemental and molecular mass spectrometry. Sediments from four investigated sites contained appreciable quantities of arsenolipids (22–312 ng As gÀ1 sediment) comprising several arsenic-containing hydrocarbons and 20 new compounds shown to be analogues of phytyl 2-O-methyl dimethylarsinoyl riboside. We discuss potential sources of the detected arsenolipids and find a phytoplanktonic origin most plausible in these algal detritus-rich salt lake sediments.
    [Show full text]
  • The Functional Alterations of the Avian Salt Gland Subsequent to Osmotic Stress Zeinab M
    The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine (April 2013) Vol. 51, Page 346– 360 The Functional Alterations of The Avian Salt Gland Subsequent to Osmotic Stress Zeinab M. El–Gohary, Fawkeia I. El-Sayad, Hanaa Ali Hassan and Aya Mohammed Magdy Hamoda Zoology Dept., Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt Abstract: Background: Many terrestrial non-marine birds have functional salt glands. Their salt glands are usually quiescent. However, such glands show remarkable levels of phenotypic plasticity both morphological and physiological as a consequence of drinking saline water. Objective: The current investigation was conducted to reveal in more detail the different functional alterations of the duck`s salt glands subsequent to high salt osmotic stress. Material and methods: The selected avian species were the domestic female (Anas platyrhyncha) and the wild migratory (Anas clypeata ) ducks. Two groups of domestic and one group of wild ducks were considered in the present study , each of which included nine adult ducks. The high salt osmotic stress was induced by replacing drinking tap water of the domestic ducks with 1% sodium chloride solution for two consecutive weeks. The measured parameters were included some electrolytes in both serum and glandular tissue. Also, Na-K- ATPase activity and aldosterone concentrations were considered. Results: The present study elucidated that serum sodium, potassium, chloride and uric acid of the wild migratory ducks were markedly higher than those of both salt-stressed and control ducks. In addition, serum aldosterone concentration of the wild migratory ducks was distinctly higher in comparison with those of the control and the salt-stressed ones. Moreover, salt gland tissue homogenate electrolyte contents followed the same pattern as those of serum electrolyte concentrations.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds in Marine and Saline Environments: Living in Dry Habitats
    Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 73: 401-410, 2000 Birds in marine and saline environments: living in dry habitats Aves en ambientes marinos y salinos: viviendo en habitats secos PABLOSABAT Departamento de Ciencias Ecologicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, e-mail: psabat@ abello.dic. uchile.cl ABSTRACT For birds, saline environments such as maritime and salt marsh habitats are essentially dry habitats. When birds drink saline water or consume salt-loaded preys, the osmolarity of their body fluids increases. In order to maintain the osmotic equilibrium, they have to eliminate the excess of electrolytes ingested with preys or water. Marine birds use salt glands, which produce excretion solutions more concentrated than seawater to eliminate excess salt. The physiology and phenotypic plasticity of nasal glands appears to be correlated with the ecological features of species. Birds can also minimize osmotic stress by choosing hypo-osmotic preys, preys with reduced water content, and/or by decreasing salt intake. Although the kidney of birds is clearly less efficiently in its capacity to concentrate the urine than that of mammals, there are interspecific differences in renal structure and physiology that may be correlated with the birds ecological habits, and hence to represent adaptive mechanism to prevent water loss. The kidney may be especially important in taxa that lack active salt gland, such as passerines. Passerines, which are supposed to have limited ability to use saline habitats, include several marine and salt-marsh species. In this review I show that the interaction of the kidney and rectum in osmoregulatory physiology, coupled with selective feeding behavior play a major role in the maintenance of water and salt balance of passerines living in salty environments.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating and Treating the Kidneys
    16_Nephrology.qxd 8/23/2005 10:41 AM Page 451 CHAPTER 16 Evaluating and Treating the Kidneys M. SCOTT ECHOLS, DVM, D ipl ABVP-A vian Renal diseases and their various classifications are well documented in the avian literature. The precise patho- genesis of avian renal disease, however, is not nearly as well described as it is in mammals. Renal disease has been shown to be fairly common in avian species. In studied poultry, as much as 29.6% of all disease condi- tions had abnormal pathology associated with or attrib- utable to renal disorders.20,214,251 Amyloidosis, urate nephrosis and gout were the most common diseases associated with mortality in a 4-year retrospective study conducted at a waterfowl park in Ontario, Canada.210 Thirty-seven percent of all avian cases presenting with renal tissue for histopathological examination, included over a 15-month period at the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, had one or more histologically identified kidney lesions.187 Nine of 75 pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) died with nephritis, one or both ureters impacted, and visceral gout in another comprehensive study on avian mortality.186 These case reports and retro- spective studies support the conclusion that renal dis- eases are relatively common and are clinically significant in multiple avian species. When compared to mammalian counterparts, the avian urogenital system has many structural and functional differences, which have been described previously.77,90,118,181,187,227 Differences including gross anatomy, renal portal blood flow and protein waste elimination should be considered when reviewing this chapter, as findings obtained from mammalian studies may not necessarily be applicable to birds.
    [Show full text]
  • SYN Seabird Curricul
    Seabirds 2017 Pribilof School District Auk Ecological Oregon State Seabird Youth Network Pribilof School District Ram Papish Consulting University National Park Service Thalassa US Fish and Wildlife Service Oikonos NORTAC PB i www.seabirdyouth.org Elementary/Middle School Curriculum Table of Contents INTRODUCTION . 1 CURRICULUM OVERVIEW . 3 LESSON ONE Seabird Basics . 6 Activity 1.1 Seabird Characteristics . 12 Activity 1.2 Seabird Groups . 20 Activity 1.3 Seabirds of the Pribilofs . 24 Activity 1.4 Seabird Fact Sheet . 26 LESSON TWO Seabird Feeding . 31 Worksheet 2.1 Seabird Feeding . 40 Worksheet 2.2 Catching Food . 42 Worksheet 2.3 Chick Feeding . 44 Worksheet 2.4 Puffin Chick Feeding . 46 LESSON THREE Seabird Breeding . 50 Worksheet 3.1 Seabird Nesting Habitats . .5 . 9 LESSON FOUR Seabird Conservation . 63 Worksheet 4.1 Rat Maze . 72 Worksheet 4.2 Northern Fulmar Threats . 74 Worksheet 4.3 Northern Fulmars and Bycatch . 76 Worksheet 4.4 Northern Fulmars Habitat and Fishing . 78 LESSON FIVE Seabird Cultural Importance . 80 Activity 5.1 Seabird Cultural Importance . 87 LESSON SIX Seabird Research Tools and Methods . 88 Activity 6.1 Seabird Measuring . 102 Activity 6.2 Seabird Monitoring . 108 LESSON SEVEN Seabirds as Marine Indicators . 113 APPENDIX I Glossary . 119 APPENDIX II Educational Standards . 121 APPENDIX III Resources . 123 APPENDIX IV Science Fair Project Ideas . 130 ii www.seabirdyouth.org 1 INTRODUCTION 2017 Seabirds SEABIRDS A seabird is a bird that spends most of its life at sea. Despite a diversity of species, seabirds share similar characteristics. They are all adapted for a life at sea and they all must come to land to lay their eggs and raise their chicks.
    [Show full text]
  • Malaclemys Terrapin (Latreille)
    26 SHORT NOTES SHORT NOTES and possibly the inhibition of epiphytic growths on the shell, outweigh these disadvantages. For lizards and snakes a heightened body temperature will facilitate HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Vol. 6, pp. 26-29 (1996) food capture and processing, but in aquatic turtles, THERMOREGULATION OR basking can also be associated with quicker digestion OSMOTIC CONTROL? SOME of meals acquired in water at lower temperature PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON (Hutchison, 1979). THE FUNCTION OF EMERSION IN Because Davenport & Ward had observed that ani­ mals deprived of fresh water spent increasing periods THE DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN out of water, even though held at constant temperature, MA LACLEMYS TERRAPIN it seemed possible that 'basking' in Ma laclemys might (LATREILLE) be in part a behavioural response to dehydration, rather than being solely a thermoregulatory response. This JOHN DAVENPORT AND SHONA H. MAGILL preliminary study tests this hypothesis. Ten male diamondbacks (211 - 300 g) were used in University Marine Biological Station, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland KA28 OEG, UK these experiments. They were fedtwice weekly, ad lib., on flesh of scallops (Chlamys opercularis). They were The diamondback terrapin Ma laclemys terrapin held in a tank of circulating sea water (34°/00 ) held at Latreille is a medium-sized emydid turtle that inhabits 25°C. The tank had a wooden platform onto which the salt marshes and other brackish-water habitats on the animals could readily climb; it was fitted with a fixed east coast of the USA. (Pritchard, 1979). The osmotic drinking vessel that normally contained fresh water, physiology of the species has attracted much study, es­ but was filledwith sea water during periods of experi­ pecially by Dunson and his co-workers (Dunson, 1970, mental water deprivation.
    [Show full text]