Contaminants in eggs of aquatic birds from the grasslands of central California
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
By: R. L. Hothem and D. Welsh
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Eggs were collected from the Grasslands of western Merced County, California, during 1986 and 1987, and at the Mendota Wildlife Area in Fresno County in 1987, as part of a reproductive study of nesting ducks and shorebirds. The eggs were analyzed to evaluate the effects of contaminants in agricultural drainwater on avian reproduction. Agricultural drainwater was the major source of water for irrigation and fall flooding in the Grasslands until the fall of 1985 when drainwater was mostly replaced by uncontaminated water. Drainwater had not been used at Mendota. Concentrations of arsenic and boron in eggs from all sites were lower than those known to harm avian reproduction. However, mean concentrations of selenium, a trace element known to impair avian reproduction at high dietary levels, were higher in eggs from the Grasslands than in eggs from the uncontaminated site. Although some selenium concentrations were as high as those found to have caused death or deformities at other sites, reproductive impairment was not observed in any ducks or shorebirds nesting in the Grasslands in 1986 or 1987.
Suggested Citation
Hothem, R.L., Welsh, D., 1994, Contaminants in eggs of aquatic birds from the grasslands of central California: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 27, no. 2, p. 180-185, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00214261.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Contaminants in eggs of aquatic birds from the grasslands of central California |
| Series title | Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |
| DOI | 10.1007/BF00214261 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 1994 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| First page | 180 |
| Last page | 185 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Fresno County, Merced County |