Environmental Pollution
Volume 164, May 2012, Pages 36?39
Cover image
Rapid communication
Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl
Anders Pape M?llera, Corresponding author contact information, E-mail the corresponding author,
Atsushi Hagiwarab,
Shin Matsuic,
Satoe Kasaharac,
Kencho Kawatsud,
Isao Nishiumie,
Hiroyuki Suzukif,
Keisuke Uedac,
Timothy A. Mousseaug
a Laboratoire d'Ecologie, Syst?matique et Evolution, CNRS UMR 8079, Universit? Paris-Sud, B?timent 362, F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France
b Laboratory of Aquaculture Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
c Department of Life Sciences, Rikkyo University, 3-34-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan
d Graduate School of Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City 960-1296, Japan
e Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 3-23-1 Haykunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
f Value Frontier Co., Ltd., 4-13-7, Minamiazabu, Minato, Tokyo 106-0047, Japan
g Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Received 6 November 2011. Revised 11 January 2012. Accepted 12 January 2012. Available online 8 February 2012.
Abstract
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 March?July, when individuals work close to their maximum sustainable level.
Highlights
Abundance of birds was negatively related to radiation in Chernobyl and Fukushima. Effects of radiation on abundance differed between Chernobyl and Fukushima and among species. For 14 species common to the two areas the effects of radiation on abundance were stronger in Fukushima than in Chernobyl.
Keywords
Birds;
Chronic radiation;
Population trends;
Radiation
