Effects of Northern Bobwhite ('Colinus virginianus') Age and Weight on Results ofthe Avian Dietary Toxicity Test

摘要

The question of test animal age is not new in wildlife toxicology. Researchers atthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory in Corvallis, OR have noted that LC50 values also increased with test animal weight. Previous studies reported that food consumption in proportion to body weight decreased with increased age and that the natural reduction in food consumption could reduce potential exposure by 60%. They did not attribute the phenomenon to differences in body weight among different aged birds. Rather, they attributed it to maturation of biochemical and physiological processes associated with increased age. The study investigated how age and body weight and the interaction of these two factors of northern bobwhite affected results of the avian dietary toxicity test.