Plumage color and reproductive output of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) nesting near a mercury-contaminated river.

摘要: Despite the growing evidence of mercury's impact on ecosystems, few studies have looked at environmental mercury pollution terrestrial songbirds and complex ways through which might influence their fitness. In 2007-2008 eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) were monitored contaminated reference sites for blood feather mercury, reproductive success plumage coloration. Higher tissue accumulation was associated with that overall brighter shifted towards UV portion spectrum. females, long-term exposure, as indicated by smaller clutches eggs. males, recent a reduction in proportion hatchlings fledged, potentially reduced male provisioning offspring. Reproductive color are closely linked mate choice, our findings indicate contamination is directly possibly indirectly, coloration bluebirds.