Contaminant levels in eggs of American white pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, from Chase Lake, North Dakota

Canadian Field-Naturalist
By: , and 

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Abstract

American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) are colonial nesters, making them susceptible to site-specific mortality factors. One of the largest known breeding colonies is at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota. In 2004, this colony suffered total reproductive failure. In 2005, we collected abandoned eggs from this colony to test for environmental contaminants. Nine eggs were analyzed for 28 organochlorine pesticides, total polychlorinated biphenyls, and 26 inorganic elements. Based on concentrations in this sample of eggs and levels linked to reproductive problems in birds, adult pelicans in the Chase Lake breeding colony are not at known risk from any of the environmental contaminants we measured.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Contaminant levels in eggs of American white pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, from Chase Lake, North Dakota
Series title Canadian Field-Naturalist
Volume 122
Issue 4
Year Published 2008
Language English
Publisher Ottawa Field-Naturalist's Club
Publisher location Ottawa, Ontario
Contributing office(s) Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Canadian Field-Naturalist
First page 312
Last page 315
Country United States
State North Dakota
Other Geospatial Chase Lake
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