Effects of Heavy Metal Exposure on Aggressive Behavior in a Small Territorial Songbird

摘要: Several studies have shown that elevated levels of certain heavy metals may affect the behavior birds and mammals. However, most these were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; results from free-living populations are scarce. In this study we examined possible effects exposure to high metal concentrations on aggressive resident great tit (Parus major) males by means simulated territorial intrusion experiments during egg-laying incubation period at a highly polluted reference site. We also breeding performance tested couples, plasma testosterone in both sites. found no significant differences between tits site period. During period, responding male performed significantly more flights around decoy than did there was tendency sight observer for some time experiment longer time. Other behavioral parameters not differ two Although higher site, they The couples interrupted their laying sequence hatching success reduced compared difference clutch size, length interruptions, fledging success, fledgling age our showed only minor alterations exposed pollution, small changes an important influence survival birds.