LOS ANGELES – During the wildfires that spread across Los Angeles in early January, Allison Shultz, an ornithology curator at the Natural History Museum, took the opportunity to study the effects of chronic smoke exposure on birds. She placed feathers in various locations to collect data on how much pollution the birds were exposed to during the firestorms. Shultz and her team will use a Raman spectrometer to analyze the pollutants on the feathers, including carbon from burning organic matter and contaminants like microplastics and heavy metals.
Shultz and UCLA professor Morgan Tingley are leading a research effort to understand how wildfires in urban areas impact ecosystems and wildlife. Despite expecting to study smoke exposure during the typical wildfire season, they were surprised by the proximity of the fires this time. Tingley observed migratory bird species behaving unexpected patterns, while resident bird species’ reactions to the fires remain unknown.
The museum’s archives of well-preserved bird specimens will allow for comparisons between birds exposed to past pollutants and those affected by the recent fires. Shultz pointed out the long-lasting effects of pollution on birds, raising questions about how cumulative pollution affects these animals. The lack of significant reports of bird mortality during the recent fires raises questions about how most species were able to avoid the smoke or minimize their exposure.
As the research continues, Shultz and her team hope to uncover more about the impacts of wildfires on wildlife and ecosystems in urban areas like Los Angeles. The findings will provide valuable insights for future conservation efforts and disaster response strategies.
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