Reproductive Success of Mallard Ducks Fed Mirex

Hyde, Kenneth M.; Graves, J. B.; Watts, A. B.; Bonner, F. L.

doi:10.2307/3800312

“…The maximum value of dieldrin found in the current study was 0.17 mg kg −1 in a pool of common mergansers (Table I). Hyde et al (1973) found no apparent effects on adults or hatching success associated with adult breast muscle tissue levels of mirex as high as 37 mg kg −1 although there was reduced duckling survival at this level. These levels far exceed anything found in the current study (Table I).…”

Section: Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 71%

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Braune

¹

,

Malone²

2006

Environ Monit Assess

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Samples of breast muscle from 32 species of waterfowl collected from 123 sites across Canada were analyzed for chlorobenzenes (CBz), chlordane-related compounds (CHL), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), DDT, mirex, dieldrin, PCBs and mercury. SigmaDDT, SigmaCBz and SigmaPCB were the compounds most frequently found above trace levels. SigmaHCH and SigmaMirex were detected the least often. Mercury was detected in all of the mergansers, over 50% of dabbling, bay and sea ducks, and in less than 2% of the geese analysed. The highest levels of contaminants were generally found in birds feeding at higher trophic levels such as sea ducks and mergansers. With the exception of a few samples of mergansers and long-tailed ducks from eastern Canada, which contained SigmaPCB concentrations of 1.0-2.4 mg kg(-1), SigmaPCB levels were less than 1 mg kg(-1) wet weight. Only one merganser from eastern Canada had a SigmaDDT concentration (2.6 mg kg(-1) ww) which was greater than 1 mg kg(-1) ww. The highest SigmaCHL (0.10 mg kg(-1) ww) was also found in mergansers from eastern Canada. Levels of total mercury in breast muscle were either low (< 1 mg kg(-1) ww) or below detection limits with the exception of a few samples of mergansers from eastern Canada which contained mercury concentrations of 1.0-1.5 mg kg(-1) ww. Health Canada determined that the organochlorine and mercury levels found in samples of breast muscle of ducks and geese analysed in this study did not pose a health hazard to human consumers and therefore these waterfowl were safe to eat.

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“…With regard to mirex, high dietary levels (100–600 μg/g) ingested by laying hens and mallard ducks ( Anas platyrhychos ) were associated with reduced hatching rates and survival of the young [82,83]. Relatively lower levels of dietary mirex (5–160 μg/g), on the other hand, did not affect egg production, egg weight, or shell thickness in white leghorn chicken ( Gallus gallus ) or Japanese quail ( Coturnix japanica ) [84].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herring gulls and great black‐backed gulls as indicators of contaminants in bald eagles in Lake Ontario, Canada

Weseloh¹,

Hughes²,

Ewins³

et al. 2002

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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In 2000, a pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nested successfully along the shorelines of Lake Ontario in North America for the first time since 1957. However, it is a continuing question whether bald eagles will be able to reproduce successfully as they return to nest on Lake Ontario. Great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) and herring gulls (L. argentatus) were selected as surrogate species to predict contaminant levels in eggs of bald eagles nesting on Lake Ontario. Because of the suspected overlap in the diets of great black-backed gulls and bald eagles (i.e., fish, gull chicks, and waterfowl), the two species probably occupy a similar trophic level in the Lake Ontario food web and, thus, may have similar contaminant levels. Fresh great black-backed gull and herring gull eggs were collected from three study sites in eastern Lake Ontario in 1993 and 1994 and analyzed for contaminants. Average contaminant levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDE), total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dieldrin in great black-backed gull eggs were 12.85, 26.27, and 0.27 microg/g, respectively. The mean ratio of contaminant levels in great black-backed gull eggs to contaminant levels in herring gull eggs for these three contaminants was 2.09 (range of means, 1.73-2.38). Predicted levels of contaminants in bald eagle eggs in Lake Ontario would be expected to be similar to the mean levels reported for great black-backed gull eggs. As a comparison, contaminant levels in bald eagle eggs collected from other Great Lakes nesting sites were compared to mean levels reported for herring gull eggs collected from nearby sites in 1986 to 1995. The mean ratio of contaminant levels in bald eagle eggs to contaminant levels in herring gull eggs from these sites for DDE, total PCBs, and dieldrin was 2.40 (range of means, 1.73-3.28). These ratios are very similar to those reported using great black-backed gull eggs, illustrating the apparent similarity in trophic status shared by the two top predator species at these Great Lakes sites. Predicted levels of contaminants in bald eagle eggs at Lake Ontario are similar to levels reported for bald eagles breeding at other Great Lakes sites, suggesting that bald eagles may be able to breed on the shores of Lake Ontario. However, it is unclear at this time what level of breeding success should be expected, given that productivity at other similarly contaminated Great Lakes sites may be below that required to sustain a successful breeding population. The absence of an inland bald eagle population from which bald eagles may begin to colonize the shorelines of Lake Ontario may be delaying initiation of nesting site selection; other factors such as habitat and prey availability would likely not limit reproductive success.

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“…With regard to mirex, high dietary levels (100-600 g/g) ingested by laying hens and mallard ducks (Anas platyrhychos) were associated with reduced hatching rates and survival of the young [82,83]. Relatively lower levels of dietary mirex (5-160 g/g), on the other hand, did not affect egg production, egg weight, or shell thickness in white leghorn chicken (Gallus gallus) or Japanese quail (Coturnix japanica) [84].…”

Section: Relationship Of Contaminants To Bald Eagle Productivity On Lmentioning

confidence: 97%

Herring Gulls and Great Black-Backed Gulls as Indicators of Contaminants in Bald Eagles in Lake Ontario, Canada

Weseloh¹,

Hughes²,

Ewins³

et al. 2002

Environ Toxicol Chem

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In 2000, a pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nested successfully along the shorelines of Lake Ontario in North America for the first time since 1957. However, it is a continuing question whether bald eagles will be able to reproduce successfully as they return to nest on Lake Ontario. Great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) and herring gulls (L. argentatus) were selected as surrogate species to predict contaminant levels in eggs of bald eagles nesting on Lake Ontario. Because of the suspected overlap in the diets of great black-backed gulls and bald eagles (i.e., fish, gull chicks, and waterfowl), the two species probably occupy a similar trophic level in the Lake Ontario food web and, thus, may have similar contaminant levels. Fresh great black-backed gull and herring gull eggs were collected from three study sites in eastern Lake Ontario in 1993 and 1994 and analyzed for contaminants. Average contaminant levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDE), total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dieldrin in great black-backed gull eggs were 12.85, 26.27, and 0.27 microg/g, respectively. The mean ratio of contaminant levels in great black-backed gull eggs to contaminant levels in herring gull eggs for these three contaminants was 2.09 (range of means, 1.73-2.38). Predicted levels of contaminants in bald eagle eggs in Lake Ontario would be expected to be similar to the mean levels reported for great black-backed gull eggs. As a comparison, contaminant levels in bald eagle eggs collected from other Great Lakes nesting sites were compared to mean levels reported for herring gull eggs collected from nearby sites in 1986 to 1995. The mean ratio of contaminant levels in bald eagle eggs to contaminant levels in herring gull eggs from these sites for DDE, total PCBs, and dieldrin was 2.40 (range of means, 1.73-3.28). These ratios are very similar to those reported using great black-backed gull eggs, illustrating the apparent similarity in trophic status shared by the two top predator species at these Great Lakes sites. Predicted levels of contaminants in bald eagle eggs at Lake Ontario are similar to levels reported for bald eagles breeding at other Great Lakes sites, suggesting that bald eagles may be able to breed on the shores of Lake Ontario. However, it is unclear at this time what level of breeding success should be expected, given that productivity at other similarly contaminated Great Lakes sites may be below that required to sustain a successful breeding population. The absence of an inland bald eagle population from which bald eagles may begin to colonize the shorelines of Lake Ontario may be delaying initiation of nesting site selection; other factors such as habitat and prey availability would likely not limit reproductive success.

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Reproductive Success of Mallard Ducks Fed Mirex

Cited by 13 publications

References 17 publications

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Herring gulls and great black‐backed gulls as indicators of contaminants in bald eagles in Lake Ontario, Canada

Herring Gulls and Great Black-Backed Gulls as Indicators of Contaminants in Bald Eagles in Lake Ontario, Canada

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