Genotoxic damage in birds could explain local extinctions

In ecosystems such as the tropical dry forest, the combination of human activities and global changes would increase these genotoxic damages in various species. These are unforeseen changes that affect the health or behavior of birds. They can be caused by various factors, such as abiotic stress extreme temperature conditionsDroughts, high salinity, pollution and even ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Pressure from human activities increases the likelihood that birds will cause damage at the cellular level

A recent study published in the journal GeoHealthreveals that the pressure of human activities increases the likelihood that birds will cause damage at the cellular level that could lead to the local extinction of many species.

In this work, blood samples from 50 bird species were analyzed Tumbesina region in Ecuador, along a degradation gradient. In these forests, the effects of livestock farming and selective logging lead to changes in the number of trees, which in turn leads to increased sunlight and desiccation.

Degraded forests, stressed birds

The so-called “natural” forests They have about half the density and species richness of natural trees. It was found that 2.6 times more cells in these forest masses were affected by so-called micronuclei, i.e. formations that indicate genetic damage.

On the other hand, with calls shrub-dominated areas, the genotoxic damage increases to 4.11 times the presence of micronuclei. These areas have a tree density four to five times lower than the natural forest with isolated or missing trees.

In so-called bush-dominated zones, the genotoxic damage increases 4.11-fold

The study concludes that the degradation process of these tropical forests increases stress on the bird community and causes genetic damage. “The responses of these creatures appear to depend on the species, which could explain the differences in changes in bird composition reported in other studies for these ecosystems,” he points out. Gabriela CevallosResearcher at the Department of Health Sciences of the Private Technical University of Loja (UTPL) who leads the study.

Although further research is needed, these results highlight the importance of conserving natural ecosystems to protect biodiversity and using biomonitoring as a key tool to understand, manage and protect these fragile ecosystems.

Reference:

Cevallos-Solorzano, G et al. “Chronic degradation of seasonally dry tropical forests increases the incidence of genotoxicity in birds”. GeoHealth.

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