Heavy metal pollution affects dawn singing behaviour in a small passerine bird

摘要: Although several studies have suggested that behavioural measures may be more comprehensive than other biomarkers for indicating an organism's health or welfare, this has rarely been investigated in free-living terrestrial vertebrates. Here we examine the expression of dawn singing behaviour a small songbird relation to environmental pollution. We compared male great tits Parus major inhabiting area extremely polluted with heavy metals males areas low(er) pollution (at 4 and 20 km distance from source). Males at most site had significantly smaller repertoire size two sites. They also produced lower total amount song during chorus source. Our results, although non-experimental obtained field conditions, strongly suggest metal might affect behaviour. Taking into account previous were not able detect clear, straightforward differences between source, our results useful indicator stress population level.