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13 June 2019 HEMATOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND METAL CONTAMINANT LEVELS IN WILD-CAUGHT CLAPPER RAIL (RALLUS CREPITANS) IN NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA
Elizabeth Kurimo-Beechuk, Robert J. Cooper, Jeffrey Hepinstall-Cymerman, Susan B. Wilde, Clark D. Jones, Sophie Emmanuelle Knafo
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Abstract

The clapper rail (Rallus crepitans) is native to salt marshes along the eastern United States. Populations are likely stable, but may be at risk due to the degradation of wetland habitat by contaminants. Contaminants can cause adverse effects in birds such as alteration of immune and reproductive function, and previous studies have used this species as a sentinel for estuarine health. Blood samples were collected from clapper rails in Florida and hematology counts, plasma biochemistry panels, and metal assessments using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry were performed. Biochemical and hematology data were too limited to determine if contaminants were adversely affecting clapper rails in this study, but cadmium, lead, and zinc were increased for several birds. Although contaminant levels were not consistently elevated for all birds, additional research is needed to assess if clapper rails in this region are at risk of contaminant exposure due to increasing urbanization and development pressures.

Copyright 2019 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Elizabeth Kurimo-Beechuk, Robert J. Cooper, Jeffrey Hepinstall-Cymerman, Susan B. Wilde, Clark D. Jones, and Sophie Emmanuelle Knafo "HEMATOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND METAL CONTAMINANT LEVELS IN WILD-CAUGHT CLAPPER RAIL (RALLUS CREPITANS) IN NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 50(2), 503-507, (13 June 2019). https://doi.org/10.1638/2018-0159
Accepted: 17 January 2019; Published: 13 June 2019
KEYWORDS
biochemistry
clapper rail
Florida
hematology
metals
Rallus crepitans
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