Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Residues of environmental pollutants and necropsy data for Eastern United States ospreys, 1964–1973

  • Published:
Estuaries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thirty-three ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) that were found dead or moribund in the Eastern United States between 1964 and 1973 were necropsied. The brains and carcasses of 26 of these birds were analyzed for organochlorines. The livers of 18 and the kidneys of 7 were analyzed for selected metals. Most adults were recovered in April and May and most immatures were recovered in August through October. The adult sex ratio was highly unbalanced in favor of females. Major causes of mortality were impact injuries, emaciation, shooting, and respiratory infections. Of special interest were two birds with malignant tumors and one with steatitis. Many birds had undergone marked weight losses resulting in mobilization and redistribution of organochlorine residues. Organochlorines were detected in the birds at the following percentages: DDE 100%, PCB 96%, DDD 92%, dieldrin 88%, chlordanes (including nonachlors) 82%, DDT 65%, and heptachlor expoxide 38%. Organochlorine levels tended to be higher in adults than in immatures. One adult from South Carolina had a potentially dangerous level of dieldrin in its brain, which might have contributed to its death. Immature ospreys from Maryland had extremely elevated levels of copper in their livers compared with immatures from other areas and all adults. One immature from Maryland had an elevated level of arsenic in its liver, which might have contributed to its death. One adult from Florida that had died of impact injuries had potentially dangerous levels of mercury in both liver and kidney and slightly elevated levels of cadmium in these tissues. Additional birds appeared to have been exposed to contamination of the environment by arsenic and mercury. The levels of chromium, zinc, and lead in livers appeared normal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Ames, P. L. 1966. DDT residues in the eggs of the osprey in the Northeastern United States and their relation to nesting success.J. Appl. Ecol. 3 (suppl):87–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagley, G. E., andL. N. Locke. 1967. The occurrence of lead in tissues of wild birds.Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2:297–305.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, F. C., andA. J. Parker. 1969. Accidental arsenic poisoning in the broiler chicken.Vet. Record 85:632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. B. 1956. The copper content of the liver and blood of some vertebrates.Australian J. Zool. 4:1–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belisle, A. A., W. L. Reichel, L. N. Locke, T. G. Lamont, B. M. Mulhern, R. M. Prouty, R. B. DeWolf, andE. Cromartie. 1972. Residues of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1969 and 1970.Pestic. Monit. J. 6:133–138.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bent, A. C. 1937. Life histories of North American birds of prey: order Falconiformes (part 1). U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 167. 409 p.

  • Blus, L. J., B. S. Neely, Jr,T. G. Lamont, andB. M. Mulhern. 1977. Residues of organochlorines and heavy metals in tissues and eggs of brown pelicans, 1969–73.Pestic. Monit. J. 11:40–53.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bogan, J. A., andI. Newton. 1977. Redistribution of DDE in sparrowhawks during starvation.Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 18:317–321.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borg, K., K. Erne, E. Hanko, andH. Wanntorp. 1970. Experimental secondary methyl mercury poisoning in the goshawk (Accipiter g. gentilis L.).Environ. Pollut. 1:91–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • —,H. Wanntorp, K. Erne, andE. Hanko. 1969. Alkyl mercury poisoning in terrestrial Swedish wildlife.Viltrevy 6:301–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connors, P. G., V. C. Anderlini, R. W. Risebrough, J. H. Martin, R. W. Schreiber, and D. W. Anderson. 1972. Heavy metal concentrations in brown pelicans from Florida and California. Cal-Neva Wildlife. p. 56–64.

  • Cooke, A. S. 1973. Shell thinning in avian eggs by environmental pollutants.Environ. Pollut. 4:85–152.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, M. T. 1941. Returns from banded birds: recoveries of some banded birds of prey.Bird-Banding 12:150–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cromartie, E., W. L. Reichel, L. N. Locke, A. A. Belisle, T. E. Kaiser, T. G. Lamont, B. M. Mulhern, R. M. Prouty, andD. M. Swineford. 1975. Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1971–72.Pestic. Monit. J. 9:11–14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dustman, E. H., L. F. Stickel, andJ. B. Elder. 1972. Mercury in wild animals Lake St. Clair 1970, p. 46–52.In R. Hartung and B. D. Dinman (eds.), Environmental Mercury Contamination. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ecobichon, D. J., andP. W. Saschenbrecker. 1969. The redistribution of stored DDT in cockerels under the influence of food deprivation.Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 15:420–432.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fimreite, N., R. W. Fyfe, andJ. A. Keith. 1970. Mercury contamination of Canadian prairie seed eaters and their avian predators.Canadian Field-Nat. 84:269–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, andL. Karstad. 1971. Effects of dietary methyl mercury on red-tailed hawks.J. Wildl. Manage. 35:293–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Findlay, G.M., andA.S.W. De Freitas. 1971. DDT movement from adipocyte to muscle cell during lipid utilization.Nature 229:63–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finley, M. T., andR. C. Stendell. 1978. Survival and reproductive success of black ducks fed methyl mercury.Environ. Pollut. 16:51–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freeland, J. H., andR. J. Cousins. 1973. Effect of dietary cadmium on anemia, iron absorption, and cadmium binding protein in the chick.Nutrition Reports Internat. 8:337–347.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gasaway, W. C., andI. O. Buss. 1972. Zinc toxicity in the mallard duck.J. Wildl. Manage. 36:1107–1117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gillespie, M. 1960. Long distance flyers—the ospreys.Eastern Bird Banding Assoc. News 23:55–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, A., C. B. Williams, R. S. Jones, M. Yanagita, G. E. Cartwright, andM. M. Wintrobe. 1956. Studies on copper metabolism. XXII. Hemolitic anemia in chickens induced by the administration of copper.J. Lab. Clin. Med. 48:442–453.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grier, J. W., C. R. Sindelar, Jr., and D. L. Evans. 1977. Reproduction and toxicants in Lake of the Woods ospreys, p. 181–192.In J. C. Ogden (ed.), Transactions of the North American Osprey Research Conference. USDI, National Park Service, Transactions and Proceedings Series No. 2.

  • Heinz, G. H. 1976a. Methylmercury: second-year feeding effects on mallard reproduction and duckling behavior.J. Wildl. Manage. 40:82–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • — 1976b. Methylmercury: second-generation reproductive and behavioral effects on mallard ducks.J. Wildl. Manage. 40:710–715.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, B. M., andR. W. Winterfield. 1975. Acute copper toxicosis in the Canada goose.Avian Dis. 19:385–387.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henny, C. J. 1977. Research, management, and status of the osprey in North America, p. 199–222.In R. D. Chancellor (ed.), Proc. World Conference on Birds of Prey. International Council for Bird Preservation.

  • —, andW. T. Van Velzen. 1972. Migration patterns and wintering localities of American ospreys.J. Wildl. Manage. 36:1133–1141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, andH. M. Wight. 1969. An endangered osprey population: estimates of mortality and production.Auk 86:188–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, D. W. 1978. Organochlorine pesticide residues in Florida birds of prey, 1969–76.Pestic. Monit. J. 12:8–15.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, K. B., J. R. Narveson, andF. A. Lux. 1969. Toxicity of an organic arsenical, 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid residues in chicken tissues.Agricultural and Food Chem. 17:1400–1402.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koeman, J. H., J. Garssen-Hoekstra, E. Pels, andJ. J. M. de Goeij. 1971. Poisoning of birds of prey by methyl mercury compounds.Meded. Fac. Landbouwwet. Gent 36:43–49.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • —,J. H. Pennings, J. J. M. de Goeij, P. S. Tjioe, P. M. Olindo, andJ. Hopcraft. 1972. A preliminary survey of the possible contamination of Lake Nakuru in Kenya with some metals and chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides.J. Appl. Ecol. 9:411–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lande, E. 1977. Heavy metal pollution in Trondheimsfjorden, Norway, and the recorded effects on the fauna and flora.Environ. Pollut. 12:187–198.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, F. C. 1936. Recoveries of banded birds of prey.Bird-Banding 7:38–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, M. H., andP. J. Coughtrey. 1975. Preliminary observations on the levels of cadmium in a contaminated environment.Chemosphere 3:155–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehring, A. L., Jr.,J. H. Brumbaugh, A. J. Sutherland, andH. W. Titus. 1960. The tolerance of growing chickens for dietary copper.Poultry Sci. 39:713–719.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulhern, B. M., W. L. Reichel, L. N. Locke, T. G. Lamont, A. Belisle, E. Cromartie, G. E. Bagley, andR. M. Prouty. 1970. Organochlorine residues and autopsy data from bald eagles 1966–68.Pestic. Monit. J. 4:141–144.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parslow, J. L. F., D. J. Jefferies, andM. C. French. 1972. Ingested pollutants in puffins and their eggs.Bird Study 19:18–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ——, andH. M. Hanson. 1973. Gannet mortality incidents in 1972.Marine Pollut. Bull. 4:41–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder, H. A., J. J. Balassa, andI. H. Tipton. 1962. Abnormal trace metals in man—chromium.J. Chron. Dis. 15:941–964.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, C. F., B. L. Damron, andR. H. Harms. 1970. Abnormalities of erthrocytes and renal tubules of chicks poisoned with lead.Am. J. Vet. Res. 31:515–523.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. S. 1969. Responses of chicks to dietary supplements of copper sulphate.Br. Poult. Sci. 10:97–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, P. R., R. W. Risebrough, W. Walker II,R. Hernandez, A. Poole, D. Puleston, andI. C. T. Nisbet. 1978. Productivity of ospreys in Connecticut-Long Island increases as DDE residues decline.Science 202:333–335.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, P. I., andG. R. Elliott. 1975. An assessment based on residues in owls of environmental contamination arising from the use of mercury compounds in British agriculture.Agro-Ecosystems 2:223–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stickel, W. H., L. F. Stickel, andJ. W. Spann. 1969. Tissue residues of dieldrin in relation to mortality in birds and mammals, p. 174–204.In M. W. Miller and G. G. Berg (eds.), Chemical Fallout. Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Ill.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, D. H., R. C. Stendell, andB. M. Mulhern. 1979. Relations of wintering canvasbacks to environmental pollutants—Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.Wilson Bull. 91:279–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiemeyer, S. N., P. R. Spitzer, W. C. Krantz, T. G. Lamont, andE. Cromartie. 1975. Effects of environmental pollutants on Connecticut and Maryland ospreys.J. Wildl. Manage. 39:124–139.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • —,D. M. Swineford, P. R. Spitzer, andP. D. McLain. 1978. Organochlorine residues in New Jersey osprey eggs.Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 19:56–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, E. C., andA. N. Worden. 1973. The influence of dietary copper concentration on hepatic copper in the duckling and the chick.J. Sci. Fd. Agric. 24:167–174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Worth, C. B. 1936. Summary and analysis of some records of banded ospreys.Bird-Banding 7:156–160.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wiemeyer, S.N., Lamont, T.G. & Locke, L.N. Residues of environmental pollutants and necropsy data for Eastern United States ospreys, 1964–1973. Estuaries 3, 155–167 (1980). https://doi.org/10.2307/1352065

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1352065

Keywords

Navigation