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Early postnatal lead exposure: behavioral effects in common tern chicks (Sterna hirundo)
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Lead exposure in young common terns (Sterna hirundo) impaired development and behavior, including locomotion and feeding. This study highlights the impact of early lead exposure on avian behavioral patterns.
Area of Science:
- Avian biology
- Developmental toxicology
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Early-life lead exposure is a known neurotoxin affecting development.
- The common tern (Sterna hirundo) offers a well-characterized avian model for developmental studies.
- Avian reliance on visual and acoustic cues makes them suitable for studying sensory-mediated behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish an avian model for studying the effects of early-life lead exposure.
- To investigate the impact of lead exposure on the behavioral development of common tern chicks.
Main Methods:
- Eight pairs of common tern chicks were matched for age and weight.
- One chick per pair received a single injection of lead nitrate (0.2 mg/g); the control received saline.
- Behavioral assessments included locomotion, balance, feeding, visual cliff response, and thermoregulation.
Main Results:
- Lead-injected chicks showed poorer performance in most behavioral tests compared to controls.
- Deficits were observed in locomotion, balance, and novel feeding tasks.
- Lead-exposed chicks required more time to consume food in a reversed feeding situation.
Conclusions:
- A single early-life lead exposure significantly impacts multiple behavioral domains in common terns.
- The common tern serves as a viable model for studying lead's neurodevelopmental effects.
- Behavioral alterations were detectable within five days of lead administration.