Journal of Biodiversity & Endangered Species

Anthropogenic Influence on Blood Biomarkers of Stress and Genotoxicity of the Burrowing Owl (Athene Cunicularia)

Abstract

Martínez-Haro M, Balderas-Plata MA, Pereda-Solís ME, Arellano-Aguilar O, Hernández-Millán CL, Mundo-Hernández V and Torres-Bugarín O

Anthropogenic activities are putting increasing pressure on ecosystems and raising the need to assess environmental health quickly and accurately. Heterophile/lymphocyte index is accepted as a response to stress factors and the micronucleus test is used as a biomarker to estimate genotoxic damage. To evaluate a model of environmental quality, healthy Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) were sampled, and the heterophile/lymphocyte ratio was determined, as well as the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes and nuclear abnormalities, determined with the Wright-Giemsa and acridine orange technique. The sites with the greatest antropic disturbance recorded the highest frequencies of micronuclei and heterophile/lymphocyte index. The combination of both tests allows the detection of possible acute or chronic exposure to stressors and genotoxic contaminants, both in healthy or altered ecosystems.