Predation of ducks poisoned by white phosphorus: Exposure and risk to predators

Roebuck, Bill D.; Nam, Sae-Im; Walsh, Marianne E.; Racine, Charles H.; Reitsma, Leonard R.; Steele, Benjamin B.

doi:10.1002/etc.5620131010

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Other water birds that use the area but do not have apparent die‐offs include northern shovelers ( Anas clypeata ), American widgeon ( A. americana ), Canada geese ( Branta canadensis ), and snow geese ( Chen caerulescens ); these birds may be less exposed to P 4 because of food habits or habitat preferences. Avian predators or scavengers including bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ), golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ), ravens ( Corvus corax ), and herring gulls ( Larus argentatus ) feed on dead or dying waterfowl and may be poisoned secondarily [4–6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood changes in mallards exposed to white phosphorus

Sparling

Vann

Grove

1998

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-White phosphorus (P 4 ) has been extensively used by the military for various purposes, including marking artillery impacts and as an obscurant. Target practice in an Alaskan tidal marsh during the last 4 decades has deposited large amounts of P 4 particles in sediments and water, which have resulted in die-offs of several waterfowl species. Because the toxicity of P 4 in birds has not been well documented and because it is quickly excreted or metabolized in living animals, we sought to determine the effects of experimental dosing on blood characteristics in game farm mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). In two experiments, one employing single doses of 5.4 mg P 4 per kilogram body weight in corn oil and the other using daily repeated doses of pelletized P 4 at either 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg, there were significant changes in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), inorganic P, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. Other indications of exposure included changes in uric acid, creatinine, and total protein, which were consistent with reported liver and kidney damage due to this contaminant. Changes in white blood cells included a greater frequency of thrombocytes and fewer lymphocytes in dosed birds compared to controls. A biomarker of exposure based on LDH activity and hemoglobin is proposed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood changes in mallards exposed to white phosphorus

Sparling

Vann

Grove

1998

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Of carcasses identified in 1992 to 1994, there were more than 100 of each of the susceptible species (green‐winged teal, mallard, and northern pintail), only 8 northern shovelers, and no American wigeon (Table 1). All 26 dead ducks collected in 1990 and 1991 [17–19] contained white phosphorus in their tissues so we assume that all ducks died of white phosphorus poisoning. Although wigeons and shovelers are less common at ERF, this cannot explain the differences in numbers of carcasses found (χ 2 = 195.28, d.f .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Different susceptibilities to white phosphorus poisoning among five species of ducks

Steele

Reitsma

Racine

et al. 1997

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-Three species of ducks, mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), northern pintail (Anas acuta), and green-winged teal (Anas crecca), that frequent an estuarine salt marsh in Alaska during migration die in large numbers from ingesting particles of white phosphorus. Two other common species, northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) and American wigeon (Anas americana), are rarely found dead. Selectivity indices show that this difference in mortality is not due to different numbers of each species being present. We investigated three hypotheses for the difference in susceptibility to this poison. First, we found that wigeons had more total grit in their gizzards than the susceptible species and shovelers had a high proportion of particles Ͼ1 mm compared to other species. Thus, ingestion of particles of white phosphorus as grit cannot explain the differences in susceptibility. Second, feeding behavior could not completely account for the lack of susceptibility in shovelers. Shovelers often forage with their neck or more in the water and often have their bills in the sediments. Wigeon, however, frequently forage with just their bill in the water and rarely penetrate the sediments. This feeding behavior, coupled with a diet consisting mainly of plants, may limit exposure of wigeon. Third, shovelers have wide upper bills, with lamellae consisting of long thin filaments extending from the upper bill inward toward the lower bill. These lamellae may allow white phosphorus particles to be flushed out during feeding. Thus, if physiological tolerance to white phosphorus is similar among these species, the difference in susceptibility appears to be due to differences in feeding behavior and bill morphology.

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“…Addressing the yearly death rate of more than 1,000 dabbling ducks and swans over an extended period, these researchers showed that mortality was due to their ingestion of unspent P 4 particles located in the bottom sediments of the estuarine salt marsh. Furthermore, since sick or dead birds were susceptible to predation and scavenging, secondary transmission of P 4 occurred in species such as Bald Eagles and Gulls [22]. Racine et al [12] observed the behavior of birds that were affected in the wild and showed that it could be repeated in six adult Mallards gavaged once with 12 mg P 4 /kg in tricaprylin.…”

Section: Avian Oral Toxicity: Acutementioning

confidence: 99%