Whitlock, Sophia E, Pereira, M Glória, Shore, Richard F et al. (2 more authors) (2018) Environmentally relevant exposure to an antidepressant alters courtship behaviours in a songbird. CHEMOSPHERE. pp. 17-24. ISSN 0045-6535
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a recently identified global threat to wildlife, including birds. Like other human pharmaceuticals, the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) enters the environment via sewage and has been detected at wastewater treatment plants. Birds foraging on invertebrates at these sites can be exposed to pharmaceuticals, although the implications of exposure are poorly understood. We conducted experiments to test whether chronic exposure to a maximally environmentally relevant concentration of fluoxetine (2.7 μg day-1) altered courtship behaviour and female reproductive physiology in wild-caught starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), a species commonly found foraging on invertebrates at wastewater treatment plants. When paired with a female over two days, males sang less and were more aggressive towards fluoxetine-treated females than controls. Fluoxetine-treated females were initially aggressive towards males, becoming significantly less aggressive by the second day. In contrast, control females expressed intermediate levels of aggression throughout. We found no effect of female treatment on female courtship behaviour. Female body condition, circulating testosterone and circulating oestradiol were unaffected by treatment and did not account for male preference. Our findings suggest that exposure to an antidepressant reduced female attractiveness, adding to growing evidence that environmental concentrations of pharmaceuticals can alter important traits related to individual fitness and population dynamics.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2018 The Authors |
Keywords: | Journal Article |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 15 Aug 2018 16:20 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2024 14:59 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.074 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.074 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:134640 |
Download
Filename: 1_s2.0_S0045653518313328_main.pdf
Description: 1-s2.0-S0045653518313328-main
Licence: CC-BY 2.5