| Abstract: | In 1976 and 1977, die-offs of birds of several species occurred in Umatilla and Morrow counties, Oregon. Detection of high levels of heptachlor epoxide (HE) in tissues of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) prompted this study to determine the extent and impact of heptachlor contamination on geese on two study areas on the Columbia River--the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge (Umatilla) in Oregon and Washington and on the McNary Recreation Area (McNary) about 65 km upstream in Washington. Nest success of Great Basin Canada geese (B. c. moffitti) at McNary was 90.2 percent compared to 5I.7 percent at Umatilla. HE in eggs was correlated with nest success--95 percent of the nests from which sample eggs contained <1 ?g/g of HE were successful compared to 20 percent of those with eggs that contained >10 ug/g. Eggs from McNary were essentially clean of organochlorine pollutants, while eggs from Umatilla contained an average of 2.93 ?g/g of HE and a maximum of 24.29 ug/g. Lethal levels of HE were detected in brains of resident Great Basin Canada geese and over-wintering Taverner‘s geese (B. c. taverneri) that were found dead on or near Umatilla: The source of HE in geese appeared to be ingestion of seeds treated with heptachlor for wireworm control. The small population of moffitti is in danger of extirpation from heptachlor. Recommendations for minimizing the heptachlor problem include: (1) improved handling of treated grain to decrease its availability to wildlife, (2) use of treated seed only in areas requiring wireworm control, and cessation of prophylactic use, particularly on wheat planted in irrigated circles immediately following potatoes, and (3) replacement of heptachlor with a safer chemicaL |
| Genre: | Book chapter |
| ProdID: | 5210360 |
| Citation Author: | Blus, L.J.; Henny, C.J.; Lenhart, D.J.; Cromartie, E. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | Jarvis, Robert L.; Bartonek, James C. (editors) |
| Citation End Page: | 116 |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Management and Biology of Pacific Flyway Geese: A Symposium |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | 346 |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | 346 |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | Oregon State University Book Stores, Inc. |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Effects of heptachlor-treated cereal grains on Canada geese in the Columbia Basin; 1979; Book chapter; Management and Biology of Pacific Flyway Geese: A Symposium; Blus, L.J.; Henny, C.J.; Lenhart, D.J.; Cromartie, E. |
| Citation Start Page: | 105 |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 1979 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Effects of heptachlor-treated cereal grains on Canada geese in the Columbia Basin; 1979; Book chapter; Management and Biology of Pacific Flyway Geese: A Symposium; Blus, L.J.; Henny, C.J.; Lenhart, D.J.; Cromartie, E. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Tue, 9 Jun 2009 09:23 -0500 |
| Publisher: | Oregon State University Book Stores, Inc. |
