Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland conducted a study on the effects of radiation levels at Chernobyl on gut bacteria in birds. The team studied two songbird species, the great tit and white-browed black flycatcher, in the contaminated area. Their hypothesis was that ecological diversity in polluted areas may lead to changes in reproductive activity, diet, and gut microbiota of birds.
The researchers found no major changes in reproductive ecology or nest health in either species despite higher radiation levels in the contaminated area. Additionally, the birds had access to a wider variety of insects which could have contributed to their overall health. However, radiation levels did impact the relative composition of the microbiome. Further research is needed to understand the potential effects of these changes on the birds’ health.
This recent study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology in Prague sheds light on how wildlife, including birds, are coping with the long-term effects of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Nearly 40 years ago,