Insecticides applied to a nursery colony of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus): lethal concentrations in brain tissues

Journal of Mammalogy
By: , and 

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Abstract

-Forty-six Myotis lucifugus were collected in May and June 1974 at a nursery colony in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, that had been sprayed with DDT and chlordane in August and September 1973. When collected, 27 bats were alive, two were convulsing, and 17 were dead. Brains, carcasses, and milk and masticated insects from stomachs were analyzed for organochlorine insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's). ...Concentrations of chemical residues in brains of surviving bats were compared with those of dead and convulsing bats. These comparisons indicated that DDT was the cause of death. Lethal brain concentrations of DDT in adult females averaged 24.52 parts per million (ppm) and suggested that adult M. lucifugus are approximately twice as sensitive to DDT as are adult laboratory rats and mice. Juvenile bats were about 1.5 times more sensitive than adult bats....Large chemical residues were present in milk. We found a statistically significant relationship between declines in carcass residues in lactating females and uterine regression for six of 10 toxicants. Among juveniles, there were corresponding, significant increases (for nine of 10 toxicants) in carcass levels of residues correlated with increasing age (growth of forearm).
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Insecticides applied to a nursery colony of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus): lethal concentrations in brain tissues
Series title Journal of Mammalogy
Volume 59
Issue 1
Year Published 1978
Language English
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 84-91
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Journal of Mammalogy
First page 84
Last page 91
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