The reproductive success of tree swallows nesting near experimentally acidified lakes in northwestern Ontario

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Abstract
We examined a number of reproductive parameters of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breeding near experimentally acidified lakes in northwestern Ontario. We found that near acidified lakes, eggs were smaller in certain dimensions, hatching success was lower (and by definition fewer nestlings fledged per nest box), certain nestling body characters were smaller 4 days posthatch, nestling wing length was shorter near time of fledging, and growth functions were different from those near unmanipulated reference lakes. These results are consistent with earlier findings that calcium-rich food items needed for egg production by laying females and growth of nestlings are more scarce at acidified lakes than at nonacidic reference lakes, and that potentially toxic metals accumulate to higher concentrations both in the chironomids that swallows consume and in nestling swallows at acidified lakes. Our results clearly show that even nonaquatic organisms are affected by acidification of freshwater ecosystems.

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