Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis, wintering biology and contaminant accumulation in Commencement Bay, Puget Sound, Washington
Canadian Field-Naturalist
By: Charles J. Henny, L. J. Blus, and R. A. Grove
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Abstract
Western Grebes wintering at the head of Commencement Bay (bordering the waterways) accumulated significant amounts of mercury, arsenic, DDE, PCBs, chlordanes, and perhaps cadmium and HCB between 17 October 1985 and 6 February 1986. No change in selenium or lead was detected, but copper declined significantly. Western Grebes were likely to accumulate even higher levels of certain contaminants because they remained in Commencement Bay for an additional 3 months after the final collection. Remige moult and bursa length were used to separate five individuals believed to represent one age class, from the remainder of the October collection. These birds, perhaps nonbreeders spending one continuous year in Puget Sound, contained the 5 highest PCB, 5 of the 8 highest DDE, and 2 of the 3 highest mercury concentrations. No evidence was found in the literature to suggest the contaminant concentrations we reported would adversely impact the Western Grebe population. As expected, lipid content of carcasses increased significantly from October (15.5%) to February (28.8%).
Suggested Citation
Henny, C.J., Blus, L.J., Grove, R.A., 1990, Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis, wintering biology and contaminant accumulation in Commencement Bay, Puget Sound, Washington: Canadian Field-Naturalist, v. 104, no. 3, p. 460-472.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis, wintering biology and contaminant accumulation in Commencement Bay, Puget Sound, Washington |
| Series title | Canadian Field-Naturalist |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 1990 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 13 p. |
| First page | 460 |
| Last page | 472 |