Effects of perchlorate on growth and behavior of a granivorous passerine, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata).

Perchlorate (ClO (4)(-) ) is a thyroid hormone inhibitor and persistent environmental contaminant that has been shown to impair thyroid function and growth in ground-dwelling birds. In this study, we used the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) as a model to examine the effects of environmentally relevant perchlorate concentrations on growth and behavior of a granivorous passerine. On post-hatch days (PHDs) 3-14, finch chicks were orally dosed once per day with either 0, 10, 100, or 1000 microg sodium perchlorate/g body mass, and multiple endpoints of growth and behavior were examined in birds up to 72 days of age.