| Abstract: | Poisoning of North American waterfowl resulting from the ingestion of lead shot by ducks, geese, and swans causes an estimated annual mortality of 2 to 3% of the population (Bellrose 1959). To alleviate this problem the search for a suitable substitute for lead has been underway since the early 1950‘s. Proposed substitutes for lead shot were evaluated in a series of acute toxicity tests with pen-reared mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Most candidate materials were as toxic to ducks as commercial lead shot. Coating or alloying lead with other metals only delayed mortality among dosed ducks. The reputedly ‘disintegrable‘ lead shot with the water-soluble binder and the lead containing biochemical additives were also as toxic to mallards as the commercial lead shot. Mortality was not significantly different among lead-dosed adult or first-year hen and drake pen-reared mallards; lead-dosed adult, wild mallards of both sexes; and lead-dosed adult, male black ducks (Anas rubripes). The ingestion of one lead shot, size 4, by each of 80 pen-reared mallards caused an average 19% mortality. The presence and type of grit in the gizzard had a measurable effect on erosion of ingested shot and on shot retention among dosed mallards. Significantly fewer lead-dosed ducks died when fed crushed oystershell grit than when fed either quartz grit or no grit. |
| Genre: | Federal Government Series |
| ProdID: | 5230138 |
| Citation Author: | Longcore, J.R.;Andrews, R.;Locke, L.N.;Bagley, G.E.;Young, L.T. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | iv, 23 |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | 1618_Longcore.pdf and 1618_Longcore_OCR.pdf |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Citation Series: | Special Scientific Report -- Wildlife |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | 183 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Toxicity of Lead and Proposed Substitute Shot to Mallards; 1974; Federal Government Series; 183; Longcore, J.R.;Andrews, R.;Locke, L.N.;Bagley, G.E.;Young, L.T. |
| Citation Start Page: | |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 1974 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Toxicity of Lead and Proposed Substitute Shot to Mallards; 1974; Federal Government Series; 183; Longcore, J.R.;Andrews, R.;Locke, L.N.;Bagley, G.E.;Young, L.T. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015077581851?urlappend=%3Bseq=3 |
| Date Other: | Tue, 9 Jun 2009 11:33 -0500 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
