The effect of heavy metal exposure on egg size, eggshell thickness and the number of spermatozoa in blue tit Parus caeruleus eggs.
Environ Pollut
; 129(1): 125-9, 2004 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-14749076
ABSTRACT
In this study we compared the egg size, the eggshell thickness and the number of spermatozoa trapped on the perivitelline layer of the eggs in three blue tit (Parus caeruleus) populations across a heavy metal pollution gradient. No significant differences were observed in egg characteristics among study sites. Eggs from the two most polluted sites however, had significantly less spermatozoa on the perivitelline layer than eggs from the least polluted site. Our results suggest a significant effect of pollution on blue tit sperm concentrations in the infundibulum. Determining the number of spermatozoa on the egg membranes is relatively cheap and straightforward, which renders this technique a new and useful tool in biomonitoring.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Contagem de Espermatozoides
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Metais Pesados
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Aves Canoras
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Ovos
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Exposição Ambiental
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Poluentes Ambientais
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Pollut
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Bélgica