Long-term investigation of the degree of exposure of German peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) to damaging chemicals from the environment

Abstract

The contamination of German peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) with organochlorine (CHC) biocides and mercury (Hg) was investigated over the years 1955-2002.

Determinants of eggshell strength in endangered raptors

“…We cannot compare our values of egg hardness to those for other falcon populations owing the lack of data in the literature. However, data on eggshell thickness (which is highly correlated with egg hardness in our taxa) are available for other populations and subspecies of the peregrine falcon in Europe, Greenland and USA (range: 0.24-0.35 mm) (Falk and Møller, '90;Wegner et al, 2005, Falk et al, 2006. Our values of eggshell thickness in F. peregrinus peregrinus of 0.29 mm (Table 2) from 17 females are within the range reported in the literature.…”

“…A decrease in egg dimension with increase in female age has been already shown in different populations of F. peregrinus (Ratcliffe, '80;Burnham et al, '84;Wegner, 2005). Our results also show that individual females contribute significantly to the observed variation in egg strength.…”

“…Eggshell thickness has been examined in various populations of F. peregrinus subjected to different levels of environmental contamination (Falk et al, 2006, and references cited; Wegner et al, 2005). In our study, we examined the effect of different factors on egg hardness of nondeveloped eggs within a group of falcon species maintained under constant food quantity and quality, and not subjected to environmental contamination.…”

The effect of developmental stage on eggshell thickness variation in endangered falcons

“…Population collapse and reproductive failure in raptors have occurred in many parts of the northern hemisphere from about 1950 onwards, and 2 have often been attributed to the use of biocides in agriculture and forestry management (Wegner et al, 2005;Falk et al, 2006;Fernie et al, 2009). Accumulation of toxic persistent compounds causes eggshell thinning and reduction in eggshell strength in eggs laid by falcons and other bird species exposed to toxins (Bunck et al, 1985;Peakall and Lincer, 1996;Falk et al, 2006;Kamata et al, 2006;Jagannath et al, 2008).…”

An Analytical Task: a Miniaturized and Portable µConductometer as a Tool for Detection of Pesticides

“…Nevertheless, in developing countries there is no restriction on the use of these substances. Therefore monitoring of environment pollution by pesticides is still concern in both developed and developing countries ( Analytical task: Development of low cost and sensitive methods for the determination of pesticides in the environment is needed (Andrade-Eiroa et al, 2002;Heinisch et al, 2005;Heinisch et al, 2004;Taylor & Grate, 1995;Wegner et al, 2005). For direct detection of these molecules hyphenated techniques such gas or liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (Alder et al, 2006;Hercegova et al, 2007;Hernandez et al, 2005;Lacorte & Barcelo, 1996;Lambropoulou & Albanis, 2007;Popp et al, 1997;Rodriguez-Mozaz et al, 2007;Sancho et al, 2006), capillary electrophoresis (Boyce, 2007;Ravelo-Perez et al, 2006), thin layer chromatography (Sherma, 2007) coupled with various detectors are used.…”