Investigating Health Effects Of Contaminants On Bald Eagles

To determine contamination of this sentinel species, which utilizes different diet sources as a scavenger, the team conducts surveys and analyzes the eagles’ blood for heavy metals (e.g., mercury, lead), per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), organochlorines (e.g., DDT), and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) They also identify the presence and intensity of target emerging pathogens (e.g., avian influenza) and blood parasites (e.g., avian malaria), and employ novel techniques to explore how a gradient of contaminants influence baseline and induced measures, and ex vivo gene expression, of innate immune function. Even after the first field season it was clear that eagles exposed to high levels of contaminants appear to have lower white blood cell counts and natural antibody levels compared to birds with less exposure. Emily and colleagues are also observing a reduced expression of genes related to inflammation in birds from more contaminated regions. This has huge implications for how birds might respond to an actual infection, and might indicate that birds in more contaminated areas are less likely to survive if something like Wisconsin river hepacivirus or avian influenza enter the region.
June 21. 2024