CHANGES IN BODY-WEIGHT AND WATER-CONSUMPTION IN BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS AND ROCK DOVES FOLLOWING RED PHOSPHORUS SMOKE EXPOSURES

Effects of red phosphorus/butyl rubber (RP/BR) smoke on two wildlife s pecies, black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) and rock dove s (Columbia livia), were evaluated in laboratory range-finding experim ents. Prairie dog groups were exposed to 2.0, 4.0, or 6.0 mg/L target concentrations of smoke generated for 1 h over 1-4 daily exposure sess ions. Rock dove groups were exposed to either 0.0, 3.0, or 6.0 mg/L ta rget concentrations for comparable time periods. Animals were monitore d for body weight and water consumption changes for 28 days after thei r last smoke-exposure day. Body weight losses were revere and protract ed in male rock doves, and these were correlated with significant mort ality rates. Male doves exposed to 6.0 mg/L smoke concentration level never recovered their lost body weights to preexposure levels during t he 28-day observation period. Prairie dogs, in contrast, only showed a 1-day body weight loss postexposure and a rapid recovery to their pre exposure weight levels. Both species showed depressed water intakes fo r 1-2 days, followed by significantly elevated, sustained water consum ption levels on days 10-28 postexposure, with the higher consumption l evels directly related to the total number of daily smoke exposure ses sions in rock doves. These protracted periods of elevated water consum ption late in postexposure could have been due to lung irritation, inf lammation, and edema effects previously indicated in albino rat studie s. In rock doves, physical obstruction of the respiratory passages by mucus and exudate associated with pulmonary irritation could have also led to increased exertion due to breathing difficulties, increased en ergy expenditure, and a subsequent need for high water intake levels d uring late postexposure.