Reproduction in black-crowned night-herons fed selenium

Abstract

Agricultural and industrial practices can produce wastewater that contains high concentrations of selenium, a naturally-occurring trace element. Selenium entering aquatic systems through wastewater inflow can accumulate in aquatic food chains to levels that may be toxic to fish and wildlife species. Mallard reproduction is known to be adversely affected by 10 ppm selenium in the diet (containing 7–10 percent moisture, in the form of selenomethionine); however, hatching success of eggs laid by black-crowned night-herons fed a 10 ppm selenium diet, as selenomethionine, in this study was not different from eggs laid by herons fed an unsupplemented diet (0.1 ppm selenium). Organ weights, hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrits, eggshell thickness, and shell thickness did not differ between controls and herons receiving 10 ppm selenium. Developmental malformations commonly associated with selenium exposure in other birds were not observed in heron embryos or hatchlings in the 10 ppm group. However, three-day-old hatchlings from herons fed 10 ppm selenium had shorter radius-ulna and femur lengths and higher liver malondialdehyde concentrations than controls. Selenium residues in heron eggs were lower than those reported in mallards fed the same amount of selenium. Results of this study suggest that herons are less sensitive to the toxic effects of selenium than mallards. Other hypotheses are also considered to explain the different responses of the two species.