Contagious worms help the starling birds sing better

By HENRY FOUNTAIN

In the list of unintended consequences of environmental pollutants can add one thing - eating infected worms affects the singing of male starlings. However, children seem to like this.

Henry Fountain discussed the topic with David Corcoran, a science editor, in Science Times.

Researchers from Cardiff University of Wales have a PLoS One report on male starlings eating estrogens or similar compounds, chemicals commonly found in sewers, which show changes in the brain. and singing-related habits.

Pollutants increase the complexity and volume of the HVC brain region in birds' song.(Photo: PLoS One)

Shai Markman, of Haifa University of Israel; Katherine L. Buchanan of Deakin University of Australia; and colleagues studied the forest starlings seeking food at waste disposal areas in southwestern England. They eat small worms in large numbers along the filter tank.

The worm accumulates natural estrogen secreted from human waste and estrogen-like compounds from the production of plastics. These chemicals have the ability to disrupt endocrine function, along with the effects on the organization and habits of the body.

Dr. Buchanan said she was not sure about the chemical impact on bird songs. With some toxic pollutants to neurodevelopment, the result may be less complicated song.'But for estrogenic chemicals, affecting the complexity of the song may be the other way around , ' she said.

The researchers fed the starling birds in nature and found that the brain region responsible for the complexity of the overgrown song and the more complex songs were the bird does not eat that compound. Contaminants also affect the immune system and weaken the ability to mate.

The song of male birds is a point to attract a mate. Scientists have found that females choose males with more complicated song even though pollutants make them weaker.'The female birds are choosing partners with weaker physical condition,' explained Dr. Buchanan. This has a significant impact on the number and survival of the chicks. Only one action is simply to eat the infected worm, it has a comprehensive impact on the starling.

Starling (Photo: Tiritirimatangi.org.nz)