Size and mass of grit in gizzards of sandhill cranes, tundra swans, and mute swans
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Abstract
Because it has been suggested that waterbirds may ingest lost or discarded lead fishing weights as grit, we examined grit in the gizzards of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis), Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus), and Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), three species where individuals have been poisoned by the ingestion of lead fishing weights. The greatest proportion (by mass) of grit in gizzards of Sandhill Cranes consisted of particles with a minimum dimension of 2.36-4.75 mm. Grit particles in swans were much smaller, with the most prevalent (by mass) being 0.6-1.18 mm. The greatest dimension of the largest grit particle found in cranes and swans was 17.4 mm and 14.0 mm, respectively. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a ban on lead fishing weights of ≤25.4 mm in any dimension. Based on the size of grit particles that we found in gizzards of Sandhill Cranes, Mute Swans, and Tundra Swans, we believe it is unlikely that individuals of those species would ingest, as grit, lead fishing weights larger than 25.4 mm in any dimension.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Size and mass of grit in gizzards of sandhill cranes, tundra swans, and mute swans |
| Series title | Waterbirds |
| DOI | 10.2307/1522036 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2001 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Waterbird Society |
| Contributing office(s) | National Wildlife Health Center |
| Description | 3 p. |
| First page | 242 |
| Last page | 244 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |