Study Description

Title:
Effects of Dioxins, Furans, PCBs, and PBDEs on Nesting Success of Osprey along the Columbia River System, Puget Sound, Yakima River, and Willamette River - also BEST task noted in each narrative

Status: Active

Statement of Problem:
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) were first studied throughout Oregon in 1976 and have become a common nesting species along the lower Columbia River (River Mile 31-286) and Willamette River (River Mile 0-187). The Columbia River has received increased attention in recent years due, in part, to declining salmon stocks and concern about Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), River Otter (Lutra canadensis), Mink (Mustela vison) and other wildlife species associated with the river. A wide range of toxic chemicals is found in the water and sediments and aquatic biota along these rivers. Residues of some organochlorine insecticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans are potentially toxic to fish, wildlife and humans. These toxic chemicals are lipophilic and become more concentrated in the bodies of organisms at higher trophic levels of the food web, by a process known as biomagnification. The species of most concern are either fish or fish-eating wildlife species at the top of the food web. Ospreys primarily eat fish (99% diet) and capture fish within a relatively short distance from their nest sites. Additional life history traits which make it a useful species for environmental contaminant monitoring and research include: (1) long-lived (10-20 years) with high nest site fidelity, (2) builds large nests in exposed habitat areas which are easily detected during aerial or ground surveys, (3) often nests on man-made structures that facilitates nest access, (4) tolerates short-term nest site disturbance, (5) removal of sample egg from a small subset of nests has minimal effect on local population, and (6) species reproduction adversely impacted by DDE-induced eggshell thinning and effects of chlorinated hydrocarbon and mercury pollutants.

Osprey are sensitive to many contaminants with "effects-level" concentrations known. An Osprey egg provides a snapshot of the toxic contaminants present in the adult female’s body at the time the egg was formed. Therefore, we initiated studies along the Willamette River in 1993 and the Columbia River in 1995 to evaluate contaminants in Osprey eggs and fish (prey species) and to determine if Osprey could be used as an indicator or sentinel species for long-term monitoring of contaminant loading and the general health of the rivers. Ospreys nesting along the Columbia River were again studied in 1997-98 and in 2004 to determine population changes and contaminant residue changes from earlier time periods. Similar data were collected for the Willamette River nesting population in 2001. New emerging contaminants (e.g., PBDEs) were investigated in 2004 eggs from the Puget Sound region and the Columbia River. In 2006, contaminant exposure and effects on Osprey nesting along the Lower Duwamish Waterway in Seattle, WA are being assessed as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

PBDEs -
Several formulations of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) have been used as fire-retarding additives to industrial and household materials for nearly three decades. There is increasing experimental evidence that PBDE exposure may be detrimental to wildlife health including effects on sex and thyroid hormones as well as effects on the modulation of liver enzyme activity, immunotoxicity and neurological development. PBDEs are distributed globally, environmentally persistent, and bioaccumulative, and in contrast to the organochlorines (including DDE and other pesticides, and PCBs) their levels have been increasing in biota since the 1970s.

All 109 Osprey eggs analyzed from Oregon and Washington between 2002 and 2007 contained PBDEs. Several patterns have become apparent: (1) PBDE concentrations increased downstream along the Columbia River (highest concentrations below St. Helens, River Mile [RM] 29-84, and lowest concentrations above Bonneville Dam, RM 146-286), and (2) the highest concentrations in the Pacific Northwest were from the Upper Willamette River (above RM 55). In fact, the PBDE concentrations along the Upper Willamette River in 2006 (geo. mean 898 ng/g ww) were significantly higher (P= 0.02) than recorded along the Lower Columbia River in 2007 (geo. mean 570 ng/g). In addition, PBDEs in Osprey eggs from the lower segment of the Columbia River increased 41% from 2004 (geo. mean 403 ng/g) to 2007 (geo. mean 570 ng/g). Evidence of reduced reproductive success was also documented at Osprey nests along the Upper Willamette in 2006. We ordered the nests with a sample egg collected from highest to lowest PBDEs, and tested productivity with a Jonckhere Terpstra Test—a one-sided test for negative trend in productivity related to PBDEs in sample egg from nest (P= 0.008). Thus, the Upper Willamette River Osprey eggs have the highest PBDE concentrations in the Pacific Northwest with evidence of possible reproductive effects in 2006 with expectations of higher concentrations in 2008.

The study will determine the size of the nesting Osprey population in 2008 as well as the annual rate of change during the last seven years. We anticipate that the study will provide information to better understand the source of PBDEs, as well as, information to possibly determine effect levels in eggs. Also, possible effects of PBDEs in blood plasma on blood parameters of nestlings will be explored.

BEST:
The BEST Program of USGS has promoted the concept of using a top avian predator species for monitoring the health of large rivers, bays and estuaries for many years. Numerous studies of ospreys at various locations in the Pacific Northwest have been completed during the last decade including those on both large rivers and estuaries. This subtask was developed to prepare an overall evaluation of the Osprey as a sentinel species. The evaluation uses Osprey information from the literature and from studies completed at various locations in the Pacific Northwest to make an overall assessment of the utility of the species for contaminant monitoring and research purposes.

Objectives:
Evaluate the ecological risk posed by contaminants. Detailed studies are being conducted throughout the Columbia River system (including the Willamette River) to evaluate Osprey reproduction with respect to contaminant residue patterns. Collection and chemical analysis of sample Osprey eggs and fish (prey species) along different river segments are used to evaluate organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans and mercury which are potentially toxic to fish, wildlife and humans. The reproductive success of nesting Osprey is also being monitored at each river segment. The chemical residue data from the collected Osprey eggs (possible long-term monitoring procedure) and fish (prey species) will be compared with results of concurrent water sampling (semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) conducted by USGS-Water Resources Division) and fish sampling (Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends [BEST] Program, USGS Biological Resources Division) studies. A portion of this study was funded by the BEST Program, which has an interest in evaluating the utility of using both fish and fish-eating birds in its long-term monitoring efforts. A key factor is understanding biomagnification factors (BMFs) from fish to osprey eggs. To evaluate the reliability of BMF calculation for a series of contaminants, empirical estimates are being compared from the Willamette River based upon data from fish and osprey eggs collected in 1993 and 2001. If BMF data are consistent, projections of fish-eating bird egg concentrations can be made if contaminants in the fish are understood.

PBDEs -
1. Determine the distribution and abundance of nesting pairs of Ospreys along the Willamette River in 2008. (Note: 234 occupied nests were present in 2001, the last year when the population was studied in detail.)
2. Determine the number of young fledged from each nest.
3. Strategically, select 30 nests, with 15 above and 15 below the major cities along the river. An egg will be collected from each of these nests and chemically analyzed for PBDEs. (This approach will answer two questions (a) are the cities and perhaps associated wastewater treatment plants the major PBDE source, i.e., are concentrations higher in eggs collected below the cities?, and (b) what is the effect level of PBDEs in Osprey eggs--a greater range of PBDE concentrations will be present if the first hypothesis is true, which should enhance the ability to evaluate reproductive effects at the nests with a sample egg collected.
4. Collect blood plasma from advanced-age nestlings at a portion of the nests where an egg was collected to determine T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones) and a series of other blood parameters.


BEST:
The objectives of this study are to (1) Evaluate the species life history traits, including those that are favorable and unfavorable for a sentinel species, (2) Understand basic relationship between concentrations of various contaminants in the diet (fish) and resulting contaminants in the bird eggs, (3) Evaluate the relative importance of wintering ground contaminant exposure in this migratory species, to overall contaminant load in the birds eggs, and (4) determine the usefulness of the Osprey for evaluating selected emerging contaminants. Finally, a peer-reviewed synthesis paper will be developed with appropriate literature citations for publication.

Methodology:
In this study, we collected 1 of the 3 eggs typically laid by an Osprey at selected nests along different river segments at increasing distances downstream from municipal and industrial wastewater discharge sites. Reproductive success and population numbers of nesting Osprey were also monitored. We collected eggs from Osprey nests along the Columbia River in 1995-1998 and 2004, along the Willamette River in 1993, and 1998-2001, Yakima River 2002, and Puget Sound 2002-2003. Also, several species of fish were collected at selected locations along both rivers. and the relative importance of each species of fish in the osprey diet was evaluated by foraging observations When the data from chemistry becomes available, the fish residue data will be compared, on a river segment basis, with Osprey egg residues. Then, an evaluation will be made concerning the use of Osprey as a regional monitoring species for describing contaminant patterns and impacts in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Several adult Ospreys were also trapped at nest sites along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and fitted with satellite transmitters as part of a cooperative program with the University of Minnesota.

PBDEs -
Nest sites will be located and nest site activity (unoccupied, occupied or active) will be determined by a helicopter survey when most birds are incubating. A relatively small percentage of the nests will need to be visited from the ground to verify if the pair is in incubation position (active nest) or if the pair did not lay eggs (occupied nest, usually about 5-10% of the nests with birds present). Nest sites are distributed at regular intervals along the river. Nests several miles above the cities (so no Osprey foraging within the city limits or below) and downstream of the cities will be chosen from those nests available for the collection of a sample egg for PBDE analyses. Eggs and blood plasma, as in the past, will be analyzed by Environment Canada in Ottawa. The Jonckhere-Terpstra Test, as mentioned above, will be used to evaluate reproductive success at the nests with an egg collected in relation to PBDE concentrations in the sample egg from that nest. The number of young produced at each nest will be determined by a second aerial survey or by ground survey when nestlings are about 40-45 days old (age of first flight usually 48-59 days).

BEST:
We will use literature, data collected during Study 159 and data collected with other cooperators to make the overall evaluation.

Related Publications:

Contact:
Henny, Charles J. - Research Zoologist
Phone: 541-757-4840
Email: charles_j_henny@usgs.gov

U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
URL: http://fresc.usgs.gov/
Contact: fresc_webmaster@usgs.gov
Last Update: June 30, 2003
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