Presentation Details
| Foul Air, Foul Alarm: Air Pollution and Acoustic Antipredator Responses in Passer domesticus Kelly Ronald1, Natalia Gonzalez-Pech2, Eden Comer1, John Wenderski1, Jacob Bergstrom1, Liam Hanlon1. 1Hope College, Holland, MI, USA.2Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA |
Abstract
Urbanization has been linked to biodiversity declines, with air pollution emerging as a potential but underexplored contributor. Particulate matter poses unique risks to avian species due to their highly efficient but vulnerable respiratory systems. While evidence of air pollution's effects on human health, including auditory brainstem dysmorphology, continues to mount, its impacts on wildlife remain poorly understood. Using house sparrows (Passer domesticus) as a model, we investigate the physiological and behavioral consequences of iron-oxide nanoparticle (IONP) exposure. We hypothesize that IONP exposure disrupts auditory processing and behavior through sensory impairments and bioaccumulation. We (1) assessed auditory sensitivity using brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), (2) evaluated antipredator behavior, and (3) quantified IONP bioaccumulation in critical organs. Our findings reveal sex-specific declines in auditory sensitivity, which we predict may subsequently impair predator detection. This research pioneers the study of airborne nanoparticle exposure in wildlife, positioning songbirds as valuable bioindicators of environmental contamination.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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