Historical mutation rates predict susceptibility to radiation in Chernobyl birds

Title: Historical mutation rates predict susceptibility to radiation in Chernobyl birds

Author: MØLLER, A. P. / ERRITZøE, J. / KARADAS, F. / MOUSSEAU, T. A.

Reference: Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 23 (10), p.2132-2142, Aug 2010

doi:　 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02074.x

Keywords: antioxidants; birds; extreme environmental perturbation; mitochondrial DNA; substitution rates

Abstract: Extreme environmental perturbations are rare, but may have important evolutionary consequences. Responses to current perturbations may provide important information about the ability of living organisms to cope with similar conditions in the evolutionary past. Radioactive contamination from Chernobyl constitutes one such extreme perturbation, with significant but highly variable impact on local population density and mutation rates of different species of animals and plants. We explicitly tested the hypothesis that species with strong impacts of radiation on abundance were those with high rates of historical mutation accumulation as reflected by cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA base-pair substitution rates during past environmental perturbations. Using a dataset of 32 species of birds, we show higher historical mitochondrial substitution rates in species with the strongest negative impact of local levels of radiation on local population density. These effects were robust to different estimates of impact of radiation on abundance, weighting of estimates of abundance by sample size, statistical control for similarity in the response among species because of common phylogenetic descent, and effects of population size and longevity. Therefore, species that respond strongly to the impact of radiation from Chernobyl are also the species that in the past have been most susceptible to factors that have caused high substitution rates in mitochondrial DNA.

URL:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02074.x/abstract

Chernobyl Birds Have Smaller Brains.

• Title: Chernobyl Birds Have Smaller Brains.

Author: Møller AP, Bonisoli-Alquati A, Rudolfsen G, Mousseau TA

Reference: PLoS ONE 6(2), February 4, 2011

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016862

Keywords:

Abstract: Animals living in areas contaminated by radioactive material from Chernobyl suffer from increased oxidative stress and low levels of antioxidants. Therefore, normal development of the nervous system is jeopardized as reflected by high frequencies of developmental errors, reduced brain size and impaired cognitive abilities in humans. Alternatively, associations between psychological effects and radiation have been attributed to post-traumatic stress in humans.

URL: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0016862

Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl

• Title: Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl

Author: Møller, Anders Pape / Hagiwara, Atsushi / Matsui, Shin / Kasahara, Satoe / Kawatsu, Kencho / Nishiumi, Isao / Suzuki, Hiroyuki / (…) / Mousseau, Timothy A.

Reference: Environmental Pollution, 164, p.36-39, May 2012

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.01.008

Keywords: Birds, Chronic radiation, Population trends, Radiation

Abstract: The effects of radiation on abundance of common birds in Fukushima can be assessed from the effects of radiation in Chernobyl. Abundance of birds was negatively related to radiation, with a significant difference between Fukushima and Chernobyl. Analysis of 14 species common to the two areas revealed a negative effect of radiation on abundance, differing between areas and species.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749112000255#

Determinants of interspecific variation in population declines of birds after exposure to radiation at Chernobyl

• Title: Determinants of interspecific variation in population declines of birds after exposure to radiation at Chernobyl

Author: A. P. Møller and T. A. Mousseau

Reference: Journal of Applied Ecology 2007

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01353.x

Keywords: carotenoids, dispersal, maternal effects, migration, sexual coloration.

Abstract: Radiation can reduce antioxidant levels dramatically because of the use of antioxidants to eliminate free radicals produced in the presence of radiation. Antioxidants are crucial biochemicals for elimination of free radicals, which can cause permanent damage to DNA and other molecules.

URL: http://cricket.biol.sc.edu/chernobyl/papers/moller-mousseau-JAE-2007.pdf