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Anders Pape Møller - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Genetic and Ecological Studies of Animals in Chernobyl and Fukushima
The Journal of heredity, 2014Co-Authors: Timothy A. Mousseau, Anders Pape MøllerAbstract:Recent advances in genetic and ecological studies of wild animal populations in Chernobyl and Fukushima have demonstrated significant genetic, physiological, developmental, and fitness effects stemming from exposure to radioactive contaminants. The few genetic studies that have been conducted in Chernobyl generally show elevated rates of genetic damage and mutation rates. All major taxonomic groups investigated (i.e., birds, bees, butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, spiders, mammals) displayed reduced population sizes in highly radioactive parts of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. In Fukushima, population censuses of birds, butterflies, and cicadas suggested that abundances were negatively impacted by exposure to radioactive contaminants, while other groups (e.g., dragonflies, grasshoppers, bees, spiders) showed no significant declines, at least during the first summer following the disaster. Insufficient information exists for groups other than insects and birds to assess effects on life history at this time. The differences observed between Fukushima and Chernobyl may reflect the different times of exposure and the significance of multigenerational mutation accumulation in Chernobyl compared to Fukushima. There was considerable variation among taxa in their apparent sensitivity to radiation and this reflects in part life history, physiology, behavior, and evolutionary history. Interestingly, for birds, population declines in Chernobyl can be predicted by historical mitochondrial DNA base-pair substitution rates that may reflect intrinsic DNA repair ability.
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abundance of birds in fukushima as judged from Chernobyl
Environmental Pollution, 2012Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Atsushi Hagiwara, Shin Matsui, Satoe Kasahara, Kencho Kawatsu, Isao Nishiumi, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Keisuke Ueda, Timothy A. MousseauAbstract: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. The relationship between abundance and radiation was more strongly negative in Fukushima than in Chernobyl for the same 14 species, demonstrating a negative consequence of radiation for birds immediately after the accident on 11 March 2011 during the main breeding season in MarcheJuly, when individuals work close to their maximum sustainable level.
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species richness and abundance of forest birds in relation to radiation at Chernobyl
Biology Letters, 2007Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Timothy A. MousseauAbstract:The effects of low-level radiation on the abundance of animals are poorly known, as are the effects on ecosystems and their functioning. Recent conclusions from the UN Chernobyl forum and reports in the popular media concerning the effects of radiation from Chernobyl on animals have left the impression that the Chernobyl exclusion zone is a thriving ecosystem, filled with an increasing number of rare species. Surprisingly, there are no standardized censuses of common animals in relation to radiation, leaving the question about the ecological effects of radiation unresolved. We conducted standardized point counts of breeding birds at forest sites around Chernobyl differing in level of background radiation by over three orders of magnitude. Species richness, abundance and population density of breeding birds decreased with increasing level of radiation, even after controlling statistically for the effects of potentially confounding factors such as soil type, habitat and height of the vegetation. This effect was differential for birds eating soil invertebrates living in the most contaminated top soil layer. These results imply that the ecological effects of Chernobyl on animals are considerably greater than previously assumed.
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Chernobyl AS A POPULATION SINK FOR BARN SWALLOWS: TRACKING DISPERSAL USING STABLE‐ISOTOPE PROFILES
Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America, 2006Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Timothy A. Mousseau, Keith A. Hobson, A. M. PekloAbstract:Stable-isotope profiles of feathers can reveal the location or habitat used by individual birds during the molting period. Heterogeneity in isotope profiles will reflect heterogeneity in molt locations, but also heterogeneity in breeding locations, because spatial heterogeneity in molt locations will be congruent with spatial heterogeneity in breeding locations in species with high connectivity between breeding and molting sites. We used information on the congruence of spatial heterogeneity in molt and breeding location to study population processes in Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) from a region near Chernobyl, Ukraine, that has been radioactively contaminated since 1986; from an uncontaminated control region near Kanev, Ukraine; and from a sample of pre-1986 museum specimens used to investigate patterns prior to the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, from both regions. Previous studies have revealed severe reductions in Barn Swallow reproductive performance and adult survival in the Chernobyl region, implying that the population is a sink and unable to sustain itself. Female Barn Swallows are known to disperse farther from their natal site than males, implying that female stable-isotope profiles should tend to be more variable than profiles of males. However, if the Barn Swallows breeding at Chernobyl are not self-sustaining, we would expect males there also to originate from a larger area than males from the control region. We found evidence that the sample of adult Barn Swallows from the Chernobyl region was more isotopically heterogeneous than the control sample, as evidenced from a significant correlation between feather d 13 C and d 15 N values in the control region, but not in the Chernobyl region. Furthermore, we found a significant difference in feather d 15 N values between regions and periods (before and after 1986). When we compared the variances in d 13 C values of feathers, we found that variances in both sexes from post-1986 samples from Chernobyl were significantly larger than variances for feather samples from the control region, and than variances for historical samples from both regions. These findings suggest that stable-isotope measurements can provide information about population processes following environmental perturbations.
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Condition, reproduction and survival of barn swallows from Chernobyl
Journal of Animal Ecology, 2005Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Timothy A. Mousseau, Gennadi Milinevsky, A. Peklo, E. Pysanets, Tibor SzépAbstract:Summary 1. We investigated the relationship between radiation arising from the fall-out due to the explosion of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl, Ukraine, and body condition, rate of reproduction and survival in a migratory passerine bird, the barn swallow Hirundo rustica L., by comparing a contaminated region and a control region (Kanev) during 6 years between 1991 and 2004. 2. The fraction of nonreproducing adults was on average 23% in Chernobyl compared with close to zero in Kanev and other European populations. 3. Body condition as estimated from body mass was similar in Chernobyl and Kanev. Although laying date did not differ significantly between the two regions, clutch was reduced by 7%, brood size by 14% and hatching success by 5% in the Chernobyl region relative to the control area. 4. Annual adult survival, estimated from mark‐recapture analyses, was on average 28% in the Chernobyl region, but 40% in Kanev. 5. The relationships were generally confirmed in rank correlation analyses between response variables and ambient radiation levels in different colonies. 6. The overall findings are consistent with the hypothesis that radioactive contamination in the Chernobyl region has significant negative impact on rates of reproduction and survival of the barn swallow. We hypothesize that these effects are mediated by antioxidants and/or mutations.
Timothy A. Mousseau - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Genetic and Ecological Studies of Animals in Chernobyl and Fukushima
The Journal of heredity, 2014Co-Authors: Timothy A. Mousseau, Anders Pape MøllerAbstract:Recent advances in genetic and ecological studies of wild animal populations in Chernobyl and Fukushima have demonstrated significant genetic, physiological, developmental, and fitness effects stemming from exposure to radioactive contaminants. The few genetic studies that have been conducted in Chernobyl generally show elevated rates of genetic damage and mutation rates. All major taxonomic groups investigated (i.e., birds, bees, butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, spiders, mammals) displayed reduced population sizes in highly radioactive parts of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. In Fukushima, population censuses of birds, butterflies, and cicadas suggested that abundances were negatively impacted by exposure to radioactive contaminants, while other groups (e.g., dragonflies, grasshoppers, bees, spiders) showed no significant declines, at least during the first summer following the disaster. Insufficient information exists for groups other than insects and birds to assess effects on life history at this time. The differences observed between Fukushima and Chernobyl may reflect the different times of exposure and the significance of multigenerational mutation accumulation in Chernobyl compared to Fukushima. There was considerable variation among taxa in their apparent sensitivity to radiation and this reflects in part life history, physiology, behavior, and evolutionary history. Interestingly, for birds, population declines in Chernobyl can be predicted by historical mitochondrial DNA base-pair substitution rates that may reflect intrinsic DNA repair ability.
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abundance of birds in fukushima as judged from Chernobyl
Environmental Pollution, 2012Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Atsushi Hagiwara, Shin Matsui, Satoe Kasahara, Kencho Kawatsu, Isao Nishiumi, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Keisuke Ueda, Timothy A. MousseauAbstract: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. The relationship between abundance and radiation was more strongly negative in Fukushima than in Chernobyl for the same 14 species, demonstrating a negative consequence of radiation for birds immediately after the accident on 11 March 2011 during the main breeding season in MarcheJuly, when individuals work close to their maximum sustainable level.
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species richness and abundance of forest birds in relation to radiation at Chernobyl
Biology Letters, 2007Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Timothy A. MousseauAbstract:The effects of low-level radiation on the abundance of animals are poorly known, as are the effects on ecosystems and their functioning. Recent conclusions from the UN Chernobyl forum and reports in the popular media concerning the effects of radiation from Chernobyl on animals have left the impression that the Chernobyl exclusion zone is a thriving ecosystem, filled with an increasing number of rare species. Surprisingly, there are no standardized censuses of common animals in relation to radiation, leaving the question about the ecological effects of radiation unresolved. We conducted standardized point counts of breeding birds at forest sites around Chernobyl differing in level of background radiation by over three orders of magnitude. Species richness, abundance and population density of breeding birds decreased with increasing level of radiation, even after controlling statistically for the effects of potentially confounding factors such as soil type, habitat and height of the vegetation. This effect was differential for birds eating soil invertebrates living in the most contaminated top soil layer. These results imply that the ecological effects of Chernobyl on animals are considerably greater than previously assumed.
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Chernobyl AS A POPULATION SINK FOR BARN SWALLOWS: TRACKING DISPERSAL USING STABLE‐ISOTOPE PROFILES
Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America, 2006Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Timothy A. Mousseau, Keith A. Hobson, A. M. PekloAbstract:Stable-isotope profiles of feathers can reveal the location or habitat used by individual birds during the molting period. Heterogeneity in isotope profiles will reflect heterogeneity in molt locations, but also heterogeneity in breeding locations, because spatial heterogeneity in molt locations will be congruent with spatial heterogeneity in breeding locations in species with high connectivity between breeding and molting sites. We used information on the congruence of spatial heterogeneity in molt and breeding location to study population processes in Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) from a region near Chernobyl, Ukraine, that has been radioactively contaminated since 1986; from an uncontaminated control region near Kanev, Ukraine; and from a sample of pre-1986 museum specimens used to investigate patterns prior to the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, from both regions. Previous studies have revealed severe reductions in Barn Swallow reproductive performance and adult survival in the Chernobyl region, implying that the population is a sink and unable to sustain itself. Female Barn Swallows are known to disperse farther from their natal site than males, implying that female stable-isotope profiles should tend to be more variable than profiles of males. However, if the Barn Swallows breeding at Chernobyl are not self-sustaining, we would expect males there also to originate from a larger area than males from the control region. We found evidence that the sample of adult Barn Swallows from the Chernobyl region was more isotopically heterogeneous than the control sample, as evidenced from a significant correlation between feather d 13 C and d 15 N values in the control region, but not in the Chernobyl region. Furthermore, we found a significant difference in feather d 15 N values between regions and periods (before and after 1986). When we compared the variances in d 13 C values of feathers, we found that variances in both sexes from post-1986 samples from Chernobyl were significantly larger than variances for feather samples from the control region, and than variances for historical samples from both regions. These findings suggest that stable-isotope measurements can provide information about population processes following environmental perturbations.
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Condition, reproduction and survival of barn swallows from Chernobyl
Journal of Animal Ecology, 2005Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Timothy A. Mousseau, Gennadi Milinevsky, A. Peklo, E. Pysanets, Tibor SzépAbstract:Summary 1. We investigated the relationship between radiation arising from the fall-out due to the explosion of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl, Ukraine, and body condition, rate of reproduction and survival in a migratory passerine bird, the barn swallow Hirundo rustica L., by comparing a contaminated region and a control region (Kanev) during 6 years between 1991 and 2004. 2. The fraction of nonreproducing adults was on average 23% in Chernobyl compared with close to zero in Kanev and other European populations. 3. Body condition as estimated from body mass was similar in Chernobyl and Kanev. Although laying date did not differ significantly between the two regions, clutch was reduced by 7%, brood size by 14% and hatching success by 5% in the Chernobyl region relative to the control area. 4. Annual adult survival, estimated from mark‐recapture analyses, was on average 28% in the Chernobyl region, but 40% in Kanev. 5. The relationships were generally confirmed in rank correlation analyses between response variables and ambient radiation levels in different colonies. 6. The overall findings are consistent with the hypothesis that radioactive contamination in the Chernobyl region has significant negative impact on rates of reproduction and survival of the barn swallow. We hypothesize that these effects are mediated by antioxidants and/or mutations.
T Bogdanova - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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RET rearrangements in post-Chernobyl papillary thyroid carcinomas with a short latency analysed by interphase FISH
British Journal of Cancer, 2006Co-Authors: K Unger, L Zurnadzhy, A Walch, M Mall, T Bogdanova, H Braselmann, L Hieber, N Tronko, P Hutzler, S JeremiahAbstract:Tissue samples from 13 post-Chernobyl childhood thyroid tumours that occurred within a short period of time (4–8 years) after the Chernobyl accident have been investigated by interphase FISH analysis for rearrangements of RET. In all, 77% of cases showed RET/PTC rearrangements and a distinct intratumoural genetic heterogeneity. The data were compared to findings on 32 post-Chernobyl PTCs that occurred after a longer period of time (9–12 years) after the accident. In none of the cases from either group were 100% of cells positive for RET rearrangement. In addition, the pattern of RET-positive cells was different in the two groups (short vs longer latency). A significant clustering of aberrant cells could be detected in the long-latency subgroup, whereas the aberrant cells were more homogeneously distributed among the short-latency tumours. The findings suggest that oligoclonal tumour development occurs in post-Chernobyl PTCs. This pattern of different clones within the tumour appears to become more discrete in cases with longer latencies, suggesting either outgrowth of individual clones or development of later subclones with time.
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high prevalence of ret ptc rearrangements in ukrainian and belarussian post Chernobyl thyroid papillary carcinomas a strong correlation between ret ptc3 and the solid follicular variant
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1999Co-Authors: G A Thomas, N D Tronko, T Bogdanova, H Bunnell, H Cook, E D Williams, A Nerovnya, E D Cherstvoy, Gennaro Chiappetta, G VigliettoAbstract:A sharp increase in the incidence of pediatric thyroid papillary cancer was documented after the Chernobyl power plant explosion. An increased prevalence of rearrangements of the RET protooncogene (RET/PTC rearrangements) has been reported in Belarussian post-Chernobyl papillary carcinomas arising between 1990 and 1995. We analyzed 67 post-Chernobyl pediatric papillary carcinomas arising in 1995-1997 for RET/PTC activation: 28 were from Ukraine and 39 were from Belarus. The study, conducted by a combined immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR approach, demonstrated a high frequency (60.7% of the Ukrainian and 51.3% of the Belarussian cases) of RET/PTC activation. A strong correlation was observed between the solid-follicular subtype of papillary carcinoma and the RET/PTC3 isoform: 19 of the 24 RET/PTC-positive solid-follicular carcinomas harbored a RET/PTC3 rearrangement, whereas only 5 had a RET/PTC1 rearrangement. Taken together these results support the concept that RET/PTC activation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of thyroid papillary carcinomas in both Ukraine and Belarus after the Chernobyl accident.
G Viglietto - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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high prevalence of ret ptc rearrangements in ukrainian and belarussian post Chernobyl thyroid papillary carcinomas a strong correlation between ret ptc3 and the solid follicular variant
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1999Co-Authors: G A Thomas, N D Tronko, T Bogdanova, H Bunnell, H Cook, E D Williams, A Nerovnya, E D Cherstvoy, Gennaro Chiappetta, G VigliettoAbstract:A sharp increase in the incidence of pediatric thyroid papillary cancer was documented after the Chernobyl power plant explosion. An increased prevalence of rearrangements of the RET protooncogene (RET/PTC rearrangements) has been reported in Belarussian post-Chernobyl papillary carcinomas arising between 1990 and 1995. We analyzed 67 post-Chernobyl pediatric papillary carcinomas arising in 1995-1997 for RET/PTC activation: 28 were from Ukraine and 39 were from Belarus. The study, conducted by a combined immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR approach, demonstrated a high frequency (60.7% of the Ukrainian and 51.3% of the Belarussian cases) of RET/PTC activation. A strong correlation was observed between the solid-follicular subtype of papillary carcinoma and the RET/PTC3 isoform: 19 of the 24 RET/PTC-positive solid-follicular carcinomas harbored a RET/PTC3 rearrangement, whereas only 5 had a RET/PTC1 rearrangement. Taken together these results support the concept that RET/PTC activation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of thyroid papillary carcinomas in both Ukraine and Belarus after the Chernobyl accident.
Neil M.j. Crout - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The uptake by vegetation of Chernobyl and aged radiocaesium in upland West Cumbria
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 1992Co-Authors: Nicholas A. Beresford, Brenda J. Howard, Catherine L. Barnett, Neil M.j. CroutAbstract:The uptake into vegetation of radiocaesium originating from the Chernobyl accident and from previous sources was compared at two upland sites in west Cumbria during November/December 1989. Both sites were in an area where restrictions are in place on the movement and slaughter of sheep due to high radiocaesium activities, and were known to have received comparatively high levels of deposition from both the 1957 Windscale accident and weapons fallout. The proportion of Chernobyl derived radiocaesium in the total radiocaesium inventory at each site was estimated using a 134Cs:137Cs ratio of 0–53 in Chernobyl fallout. Aged radiocaesium, mostly present for over 20 years, accounted for 59 ± 2·3 and 44 ± 2·8% (mean ± SE) of the 137Cs deposit at the two sites. Initially, after the Chernobyl accident, the transfer of the recently deposited radiocaesium was reported to be greater than that of aged deposits. However, four years after the accident, the extent of transfer of Chernobyl radiocaesium from the top 4 cm of soil to vegetation is now similar to that of the aged radiocaesium. The similarity in behaviour of Chernobyl derived and aged radiocaesium suggests that future reductions in radiocaesium levels in vegetation, and therefore in sheep, will be slow. The total deposit, measured per square metre down to bedrock or 40 cm. of aged radiocaesium was less available for plant uptake than that from Chernobyl. This is because a greater proportion of the earlier deposit has migrated further down the soil profile. The movement of Chernobyl radiocaesium down the soil profile and its radioactive decay will be the two major factors which contribute to its decline in vegetation and hence sheep.