Effects of acid precipitation on reproduction in birds

Summary Acidification in aquatic habitats reduces the reproductive success of both piscivorous and non piscivorous birds, mainly by reducing the food supply. Piscivorous birds find some compensation in an increased transparency of the water, non piscivorous birds in less competition for invertebrate prey by fish. Acidification in forests often has large impacts on insect populations but how this affects forest birds is unknown. Some woodpeckers and nuthatches temporarily benefit from an increase in standing dead timber. In advanced stages of forest dieback the breeding density of forest birds is very much reduced, but species of open woodland increase. Calcium deficiency reduces the reproductive output of some passerine species, but the extent of this phenomenon is unknown. Increased exposure to toxic metals has reduced the reproductive success of some lake dwelling species. It is difficult to assess the effect of acid precipitation on birds since acidification affects ecosystems in many ways, the evidence is largely correlative and reliable estimates of the population size are often lacking. Future studies should concentrate on carefully selected indicator species suitable for detailed data collection.Interested readers may also wish to refer to EXPERIENTIA's April and May 1986 issues featuring the 2-part Multi-author Review The Ecological Effects of Acid Deposition coordinated by O. Ravera.