Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Kelly Ronald, Biology; Dr. Natalia Gonzalez-Pech, Chemistry
Document Type
Poster
Event Date
4-12-2024
Abstract
In response to a rapidly growing world population, there has been a dramatic increase in global urbanization and industrialization. With these increases comes increased air pollution, which includes metallic nanoparticles that are small enough to pass through an animal’s blood-gas and blood-brain barriers and cause damage. Some animals show behavioral changes in response to metallic nanoparticle exposure; for example, zinc oxide nanoparticle-exposed chicks displayed less antipredator behavior compared to controls. Additionally, mice injected with silver traveled less and more slowly than controls. Observationally, urban birds, compared to their rural conspecifics, tend to take more risks and explore more, which are both facets of foraging behavior. Furthermore, it is unknown if these behavioral differences are caused by metallic nanoparticle exposure or environmental demand. Therefore, this project focuses on how exposure to iron oxide nanoparticles, the most abundant nanoparticulate in cities, impacts the foraging and antipredator behaviors of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). The house sparrow shows innovative foraging capability and occupies environments across the urbanization gradient, making it an ideal species for this project and a possible sentinel species as urbanization and air pollution increase. In IONP-exposed birds compared to control, we predict less antipredator behavior (e.g. scanning and fleeing), less exploration (i.e. movement), and less foraging efficiency (e.g. proportion of correct to incorrect foraging decisions). Preliminary results display an increased reaction time, measured by any action of antipredator behavior following a stimulus, of IONP-exposed birds when compared to control birds. Furthermore, the IONP-exposed birds spent less time foraging than the control birds. These preliminary results show the difference in avian personality between the IONP-exposed group and the control group, and could be a contributing factor in avian population decline.
Recommended Citation
Repository citation: Wenderski, John; Fox, Brooke; Bergstrom, Jacob; Sprys-Tellner, Olivia; Hallemann, Peyton; and Grimes, Sarah, "The Behavioral Impacts of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Exposure on the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)" (2024). 23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024). Paper 89.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/curca_23/89
April 12, 2024. Copyright © 2024 Hope College, Holland, Michigan.
Comments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant No. 2217870.
Additional author appears on poster that is not listed in the abstract booklet: Sarah Grimes.
Two authors in abstract booklet, Olivia Sprys-Tellner and Peyton Hallemann, do not appear on poster.