Abundance and genetic damage of barn swallows from Fukushima

摘要: A number of studies have assessed or modeled the distribution radionuclides released by accident at Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). Few however investigated its consequences for local biota. We tested whether exposure barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) nestlings to low dose ionizing radiation increased genetic damage their peripheral erythrocytes. estimated external using thermoluminescent dosimeters and measuring radioactivity nest material. then DNA means neutral comet assay. In addition, we conducted standard point-count censuses swallows across environmental levels abundance age ratio. Radioactivity samples was in range 479–143,349 Bq kg−1, while varied between 0.15 4.9 mGy. Exposure radioactive contamination did not correlate with higher nestlings. However, declined fraction juveniles decreased, indicating lower survival reproduction and/or fledging rate. Thus, does explain decline contaminated areas a proximate mechanism demographic effects documented here remains be clarified.