Eggshell Thinning and Organochlorine Contaminants in Western Washington Waterbirds

Speich, Steven M.; Calambokidas, John; Shea, David W.; Peard, John; Witter, Michael; Fry, D. Michael

doi:10.2307/1521359

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Eggshell thinning was lower than that reported at other locations in earlier years [35,37–40,42,46–50] and does not seem threatening to GBHs nesting on the UMR. Eggshells averaged from +1.4% thicker to −5.3% thinner per colony (average −2.3%) than eggshells collected prior to 1947, considerably less than the 15 to 20% thinning suspected to be associated with population changes [35].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

“…Although DDE concentrations in GBH eggs on the UMR were generally equal to or lower than at other locations and times [5,8,37–40,42,43,47,50], some individual eggs had elevated concentrations of DDE that could have caused reproductive impairment. Eight percent of eggs in this study had DDE concentrations >10 μg/g, a level correlated with decreased reproductive success in other heron species [51–53].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contaminant concentrations and biomarker response in great blue heron eggs from 10 colonies on the upper Mississippi River, USA

Custer¹,

Hines²,

Melancon³

et al. 1997

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-In 1993, great blue heron (Ardea herodias; GBH) eggs were collected from 10 colonies on the upper Mississippi River (UMR). They were then artificially incubated until pipping and analyzed for mercury, selenium, and organochlorines. Livers of embryos were analyzed for hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity and four measures of oxidative stress. Brains were measured for asymmetry and blood was measured for the coefficient of variation of DNA (DNA CV). Organochlorine concentrations were generally low (geometric mean DDE ϭ 1.3 g/g wet weight; polychlorinated biphenyl [PCB] ϭ 3.0 g/g; 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin [TCDD] ϭ 11.5 pg/g). Eggshell thickness was negatively correlated with DDE concentrations. Mercury (geometric mean ϭ 0.8 g/g dry weight) and selenium (3.1 g/g dry weight) concentrations in GBH eggs were within background levels. EROD activity was not correlated with total PCBs, TCDD, or toxic equivalents (TEQs), based on the relative contribution of individual PCB congeners, dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) to total calculated TEQs. Three of the four measures of oxidative stress were correlated with mercury concentrations. Twenty of 43 (47%) embryo brains were asymmetrical and the embryos with asymmetrical brains had higher EROD concentrations in the liver and higher DNA CV in the blood than embryos with symmetrical brains.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contaminant concentrations and biomarker response in great blue heron eggs from 10 colonies on the upper Mississippi River, USA

Custer¹,

Hines²,

Melancon³

et al. 1997

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Eggshell thinning was lower than that reported at other locations in earlier years [35,[37][38][39][40]42,[46][47][48][49][50] and does not seem threatening to GBHs nesting on the UMR. Eggshells averaged from ϩ1.4% thicker to Ϫ5.3% thinner per colony (average Ϫ2.3%) than eggshells collected prior to 1947, considerably less than the 15 to 20% thinning suspected to be associated with population changes [35].…”

Section: Dde and Eggshell Thinningmentioning

confidence: 77%

Contaminant Concentrations and Biomarker Response in Great Blue Heron Eggs From 10 Colonies on the Upper Mississippi River, Usa

Custer¹,

Hines²,

Melancon³

et al. 1997

Environ Toxicol Chem

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In 1993, great blue heron (Ardea herodias; GBH) eggs were collected from 10 colonies on the upper Mississippi River (UMR). They were then artificially incubated until pipping and analyzed for mercury, selenium, and organochlorines. Livers of embryos were analyzed for hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity and four measures of oxidative stress. Brains were measured for asymmetry and blood was measured for the coefficient of variation of DNA (DNA CV). Organochlorine concentrations were generally low (geometric mean DDE ϭ 1.3 g/g wet weight; polychlorinated biphenyl [PCB] ϭ 3.0 g/g; 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin [TCDD] ϭ 11.5 pg/g). Eggshell thickness was negatively correlated with DDE concentrations. Mercury (geometric mean ϭ 0.8 g/g dry weight) and selenium (3.1 g/g dry weight) concentrations in GBH eggs were within background levels. EROD activity was not correlated with total PCBs, TCDD, or toxic equivalents (TEQs), based on the relative contribution of individual PCB congeners, dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) to total calculated TEQs. Three of the four measures of oxidative stress were correlated with mercury concentrations. Twenty of 43 (47%) embryo brains were asymmetrical and the embryos with asymmetrical brains had higher EROD concentrations in the liver and higher DNA CV in the blood than embryos with symmetrical brains.

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“…High dioxin levels apparently resulted in the presence of edema and a depression of growth. Other studies that have reported effects of organochlorine and metal contaminants on Great Blue Herons include Henny and Bethers (1971); Parnell et al (1988), Speich et al (1992) and Spalding et al (1994).…”

Section: Environmental Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1986, Elliott et al (1988) measured 73 eggs from four Strait of Georgia colonies and found shells to be 0.5 to 8.6% thinner than the 0.3861 mm value for heron eggs measured prior to the pesticide era (Anderson and Hickey 1972). Other authors reporting eggshell thinning in Great Blue Herons related to DDE/DDT concentrations include Speich et al (1992) in western Washington, Laporte (1982) in Quebec, Pratt (1972) in California, and Blus et al (1980) in Oregon and Washington. Faber et al (1972) found that heron eggs broken during incubation were 17% below normal thickness, apparently a result of elevated DDE levels.…”

Section: Environmental Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Proximity to Foraging Areas for the Pacific Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias fannini) Nesting in a Developed Landscape

2016

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Eggshell Thinning and Organochlorine Contaminants in Western Washington Waterbirds

Cited by 20 publications

References 29 publications

Contaminant concentrations and biomarker response in great blue heron eggs from 10 colonies on the upper Mississippi River, USA

Contaminant concentrations and biomarker response in great blue heron eggs from 10 colonies on the upper Mississippi River, USA

Contaminant Concentrations and Biomarker Response in Great Blue Heron Eggs From 10 Colonies on the Upper Mississippi River, Usa

Importance of Proximity to Foraging Areas for the Pacific Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias fannini) Nesting in a Developed Landscape

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