thumbnail

Effects of contaminants on Double-crested Cormorant reproduction in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA

By: , and 
Edited by: N.J. Adams and R.H. Slotow

Links

  • The Publications Warehouse does not have links to digital versions of this publication at this time
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

In 1994 and 1995, Double-crested Cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus were monitored from egg-laying through 12 days of age at Cat Island, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. Sample eggs at hatching were analysed for organochlorines (including total PCBs, PCB congeners, and DDE), hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity in livers of embryos, and eggshell thickness. The number of eggs per nest that hatched and survived to i 2 days of age was estimated to be 2.2 in 1994 and 2.0 in 1995. Hatching success of eggs was not correlated with PCBs, the toxicity of PCBs based on congeners, or EROD activity. Hatching success was correlated with eggshell thickness and negatively correlated with DDE concentrations. Even though the insecticide DDT was banned in the early 1970s, we suggest that DDE concentrations in cormorant eggs in Green Bay are still having an affect on reproduction in this species.
Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Effects of contaminants on Double-crested Cormorant reproduction in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Year Published 1998
Language English
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Other Government Series
Larger Work Title Proceedings of the 22nd International Ornithological Congress, Durban 16-22 August 1998, Abstracts of oral presentations and posters
First page 424 (abstr
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details