Environmental contaminants in California condors
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Abstract
Five wild California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) that died in 1980-86 were necropsied and tissues were analyzed for environmental contaminants. Three died of lead (Pb) poisoning, 1 presumably of cyanide (CN) poisoning, and 1 nestling of handling shock. Organochlorine concentrations were low in 4 condors that were analyzed for these contaminants. Blood samples from 14 wild and 14 captive condors were analyzed primarily for Pb. Five of 14 wild condors sampled had elevated (> 0.70 ppm) concentrations of Pb in blood whereas Pb concentrations in all captive condors were low. Lead levels in individual birds often fluctuated over time. Lead exposure, especially poisoning, was a major factor affecting the wild California condor population during 1982-86. The probable source of Pb was bullet fragments in carrion on which condors were feeding.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Environmental contaminants in California condors |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.2307/3801228 |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 1988 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 10 p. |
| First page | 238 |
| Last page | 247 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
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