Meeting Abstract

67.6  Wednesday, Jan. 6  Effects of early exposure to a brominated flame retardant (PBDE-99) on physiology and behaviour in zebra finches ENG, M.L.*; LETCHER, R.J.; MACDOUGALL-SHACKLETON, S.A.; ELLIOTT, J.E.; WILLIAMS, T.D.; Simon Fraser Univ.; National Wildlife Research Centre, CWS; Univ. Western Ontario; Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, CWS; Simon Fraser Univ. margaret_eng@sfu.ca

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of brominated flame retardants that have become ubiquitous in the environment. PBDE-99 is one of the most abundant congeners found in environmental samples, yet its long-term effects on avian wildlife are unknown. In birds, early life stages are the most sensitive to environmental conditions, and exposure to contaminants during the nestling period may have critical long-term effects. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of early exposure to PBDE-99 on birds, using the Zebra Finch as a model songbird species. We exposed young for the duration of the nesting cycle to environmentally relevant, sublethal levels of PBDE-99. A preliminary study dosing chicks with PBDE-99 (0-250 ng/g bw/day) for 21-days during the nestling phase showed that there was a strong dose-dependent relationship for plasma PBDE levels at 30 days of age. Furthermore there was a strong correlation between plasma and lipid PBDE levels. Following dosing, we assessed the physiology and condition, including growth, oxidative stress, immune function, and hematocrit for each treatment group. The young were raised to sexual maturity to examine long term effects on physiology, male mating behaviour (including song), female reproductive success, and brain development. Behavioural endpoints were found to be the most sensitive to contaminant exposure, and few effects on growth and physiology were observed.