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Contamination and Biomarkers in the Great Blue Heron, an Indicator of the State of the St. Lawrence River

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Abstract

In 1996–1997, nine breeding colonies of the great blue heron on the St. Lawrence River and its estuary (Québec, Canada) were investigated in the framework of a biomonitoring program. Fledglings from colonies in freshwater were more contaminated with mercury, PCBs and many organic contaminants than those from estuarine colonies. The level of contamination in the St. Lawrence River is generally below the levels of toxicological effects for the great blue heron. The molar ratio of retinol: retinyl palmitate in heron eggs was correlated with total PCBs (r=0.79) and Mirex (r=0.90). In plasma, all biochemical parameters were significantly different between freshwater and marine colonies. Plasma retinol concentrations at the Dickerson and Hérons colonies were significantly lower compared with those at Grande Ile (p<0.05) and Steamboat (p<0.001). Based on retinoid and β-carotene concentrations in eggs, low plasma retinol was not associated with possible dietary deficiency. Plasma retinol was negatively correlated with many PCB congeners, total PCBs (r=−0.78), p,p′-DDE, trans-nonachlor and α-HCH. Similarly, the hormone T3 was correlated with many PCB congeners, total PCBs (r=−0.69) and the same organochlorine chemicals. Plasma LDH concentrations were different among freshwater colonies, Grande Ile and Hérons colonies having LDH values significantly greater than those of Steamboat (respectively, p<0.05 and p<0.01). Globally, the health status of the St. Lawrence great blue heron population was judged to be acceptable, however, several biomarkers indicated positive responses to contaminants.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the contributions of S. Guay, P. Labonté, B. Jobin, P. Sylvain, A. Émery, J. Comtois, J. Rosa and G. Paquin for assistance in field work. We thank P. Pike and H. Lickers, from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, for their assistance in sampling at Dickerson Island. Chemical analyses were performed at the Canadian Wildlife Service National Wildlife Research Centre. The study was supported by the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada and the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 Action Plan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, C.P. 10100, G1V 4H5, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada

    Louise Champoux & Jean Rodrigue

  2. Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University Campus, Raven Road, K1A 0H3, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Suzanne Trudeau

  3. Département des sciences biologiques et Centre TOXEN, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, succursale Centre-ville, H3C 3P8, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Monique H. Boily & Philip A. Spear

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Water Institute for Semi-arid Ecosystems (WISE), University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr., Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada

    Alice Hontela

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  1. Louise Champoux
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  2. Jean Rodrigue
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  3. Suzanne Trudeau
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Correspondence to Louise Champoux.

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Champoux, L., Rodrigue, J., Trudeau, S. et al. Contamination and Biomarkers in the Great Blue Heron, an Indicator of the State of the St. Lawrence River. Ecotoxicology 15, 83–96 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-005-0043-3

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