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Orkanochlorine Residues in Aquatic Birds in the Canadian Prairie Provinces KbI^ VEEMBBE ' i WMHfe -Servlet, Edknontoo, Afterla Lincoln M. Reynolds tori Evmrcb Fouadstion, Sheridan Part, Ootario A survey was conducted of organochlorlne in 21 aquatic bird specks at SI locaAIberia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Aa I DOO residue levels from analytes without ,aratlon proved to be unreliable, they were Iran the results. DOE and dieMrin levels * ' la etl> of larldi and fkh-catini birds . s cf aecse end ducks, presumably reflect* bit different trophic levels between thoee two woups a* bhflb. Interepactflc difference* of DDE, dieldrin, HB and # EMC residues observed in larids and flab eating birds at the same breeding localhies may reflect Interspecific dlBereooec of feeding habits. DD8.i&Mrtn and PCE levels may be predicted in tfaauea, of CeUfornie Oull female* when known in " ` g*. Residue levels In eggs cloecly raaembied j the livers of fcmiks at the time of laying, ibkkneti waa significantly and inversely correwith the ooncentretlon of DDE in 40 Great Heron eggs from Alberta, but no significant ........ UlQfi was found betwaen the concentration of PCfes end shell thickness in those eggs. Introduction It has been shown that Ash-eating birds in England contained greater average organo- chtorine residues than any other group of birds examined (Moore and Walker, 1964). J. O. Keith (1966) found that fish-eating birds in California accumulated large residues of insecti cides I in their body tissues. The results of a study | on reproductive success in a Wisconsin population of Herring Gulls, Lotus argentatus, contaminated with DDT suggested that DDT residues were responsible for the low hatching success of eggs (J. A. Keith, 1966). Reduced shell thickness has been found to be correlated with tne amount of DDE in the egg contents of raptoijs (Hickey and Anderson, 1968; Fyfe etal., 1969) and fish-eating birds (Hickey and Ander son, 1968; Anderson etai., 1969). Experimental studies with Mallards, Anas ptatyrhynchos, showed that DDE can reduce thickness and cause| cracking of eggfhelis (Heath et of.. 1969). For these reasons, and as Uu)e is known about |the extent of organocKlorine residues pre sent in aquatic birds, of the Canadian prairie provinces, survey was conducted to determine the type and quantity of organochlorine residue* present in aquatic birds, particularly larids and fish-eating birds, in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Eggs were chosen as samples to be analysed for organochlorine residues as (hey are easy to collect and constitute distinct units of comparison between species. Methods Seventy composite samples of eggs were col lected during egg-laying and incubation from aquatic birds in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1968 and thirty composite samples of eags were collected in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 1969. Each composite sample consisted of 10 eggs, representing one egg from each of 10 nests of the same species. Composite rather than individual samples were collected to re duce costs of analyses. Additionally, in 1969 ten individual egg samples were taken from Common Terns, Sterna hlrundo, and Doublecrested. Cormorants, Phalacrocorax atiritus, and 40 Individual egg samples were taken from Great Blue Herons, Ardea herodias, to assess variations of pesticide residue levels within nesting colonies. The egg shells of the Great Blue Herons were dried at room temperature for 4V4 months before their thickness was measured in order to relate shell thickness to DDE levels in those eggs. Thickness in each case represents the shell itself plus the dried egg membranes. Ten adult California Oulls, Lotus califomicus, were also collected on an Edmon ton garbage dump upon arrival during the second week of April. 1969. Ten females of that species and their eggs were taken from their nests at Joseph and Miquelon lakes, 20 and 27 miles respectively from the first collection site, during egg-laying and their first week of incu- 117 MONS 033953 111 The Canadian Fuld-Natuiaust Vol 84 T_Ia.--meDDT nd DDD rewdue Itvtli In ppm wet weight before and after PCS Mperation In tittuee and of female California Guilt. Mean DDT Mtaa DDD Tbeue jN. Sam. Wore After % Before After *r AbdMi, tot 10 2.099 0.577 29 1.091 0.064 3 Ovary 10 0.156 0.025 16 0.157 0 025 16 & 10 0 066 0.002 1 0.072 0 009 13 10 0.022 0.001 5 0.025 0.001 4 10 0.090 0.029 Jt 0 073 ND 0 ND none detected < 0.0001 ppm bitloo is the Brat week o( May, 1969. Gull tissues wad eggs were analyzed (or the purpoie of eomrlw pesticide residue levels between arriving and Incubating guilt u well at between incubating females and their own eggs. One type of tissue analysed was (at, taken (rom the abdominal cavities o( the guilt. The' eoatents of eggs and bird tissues were Moced'ln glass jan and preserved by freezing. teberLery Analysts Tot extraction of the organochlorine residues, the frozen egg sample was thawed out and homogenized in a Waring Blender. An aliquot (2-5 g) of the blend was weighed into a 30 ml beaker to the nearest milligram and dried in a vacuum oven at 45*C with slight vacuum to constant weight (approximately J6 hours needed). The per cent moisture was then calculated (rom the difference In weights. After constant weight wu obtained, the dried sample was broken up by adding 3-10 g an hydrous Na. SO. end grinding with a flattened glass rod. The dried material was removed from the sides and bottom of the beakers by grinding and scraping. The mixture was pouted Into a Soxhlet thimble and the beaker rinsed several times with ether : n-hexane (1:1). A glass wool plug was used to cover tbs sample la dw thimble which was then extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus for 2 hours, using about 190 ml of 1:1 ether-hexane mixture at a rate of 10 siphonings per hour. After extraction, the solvent wts removed in t Bash evaporator and the dried flask wes wsighed. The per cent fet wet calculated from the difference in weight!. v onto e.ezrr x r o.aria** Pawns l. ftelitionihip batwetn DDT, before PCI eparetion, tod PCB levtU to ppm wet welfht ( p <0.01). HONS 083954 It7 6 V ir m r e r a n d R eyn o ld s: Pesticide R esidues in B irds rflfrlllMdlM I -- I HONS 0 8 3 9 5 5 MONS 0 8 3 9 5 6 _ .... ].Na>Lrii 4. CM* Late iMimnbte Nlil.OlKLiMmKIhrNUibmkhIii U11 .MblwHIUM 1kill UliL.MndUnktUl D.ltaMlIki iHMlKbmkMIIALAi t ali.Ol.MilhWfyMiaUtehl a1BM4...,lCUTaitMemmWiUMlafUfetleMliiMM* 1n7..*VKH**CMM*laLttee* lt.U(Skci.WMaWniaMU.) Ji'uSiMmMi L.CCMcM* lalitlet CMmIiIMm l.jLteMUte KIC..UDMbwmN^LMliAHli lt.MnpUM ii. Bear Mw _ W.JmSSTm* Ja4O.BM4RWMaNteiUfei If. BateMvLate MJ4flOc...LCLM.MtHTeM*WNtlateeftmMeUUUlt*eH it tiitite Vr aouiiwufti . CvteMlate >i ww. ca JfD^ M4 HDMf.W ND I..SM1l 1..MMS *U4444 441 449 1" . 4..Mm49144$4 JB Tib .441U1 .IM |4M i1..14i1r14 Cal Ite .#.I1I1I 4.144 (1 114)1 4.46* .441 - KIM Him U4 CCmm* j[ MM 441212 Ml .. 4M44l M4 - CMr ! nCM Ml .M4 .XM "cSte" ND 4.111 .444 4M .443 914 .444 11MM4 (Me n TM* Ml . (4 4MP .444 .Ml .144 4.114 CCrMaMte - - - i_______________ rc--; j is? 414 <4.1 UP mu .111 Ml m 4..J44M4 rtt 4.144 JM .4M41l IN *zsr IMt.mil 1mm ;5 ..4I4ll4 l.4ll441 ...41441*444 One ND .IB Mate ND CM 4. ..MtV>l 1 55?. .Ml .Ml ,M4 !im Vol. t4 T h i Canadian Ficld-Natukaust / MONS 08395 7 Thi Canadian Field-Naturauit Vol. (4 V w,t-v*lfht ppm ratMues of ^-BHC in composite .ample. ot 10 aquatic bird m in Ota prairin 1 proviocM 6. Batik Riv. (WtUskiwln) T.^amkapn a&t IS. Moots l. M. Ufa* WinloMOak irXawlMw II. Vatican L. 19. Uka WinI (St. 'l\h . - m Uka It. UN Man. ND ND NO ND ND 0.040 0.020 ND 0.020 0.021 ND ND ND ND ND 0 230 ND ND Oil* ND ND 0.167 ND 0.0J2 ND 0.170 ND 0 200 0.201 0 200 ND ND ND ND. ND The fat residue wat dissolved in 150 ml of 5% benzene m acetone and the solution was cleanedmp by cold precipitation, essentially according to the method of McCully and Mc Kinley (19641. The solution was chilled to --70*C and stirred for 35 minutes In a dry icemethanol com bath. The mixture was then Fiovaa 3. Sample locations of aquatic bird axis in Albarta, Sailutchawaft and Manitoba. filtered through a carbon-celite (2 g: 10 g) pad at -- 70C dried with Na. SO., concentrated and made to a volume of 5 ml with hexane. Addi tional cleanup was effected by use of a FlorUII column and the cleaned-up extract was analysed for pesticide residues by gas liquid chromato graphy-electron capture (GLC-EC) technique with parameters at described by Reynolds (1969). The compounds screened for were lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, kelthane, DDE, dieldrin, DDD, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, metboxychlor, eodrin and tedion in 196S and in addition heptachlor epoxide (HE) and benzene bexachloride (a-, fi-, and 7-BHC) in 1969. No corrections were made for pesticide losses during the extraction and cleanup processes, although recovery studies for 8 of the more common pesticides showed an average loss of about 10%. Confirmation of specific residues was made by use of more polar phase OLC columns, derivatization and use of characteristic HONS 063958 1910 VERMEER AND REYNOLDS: PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN BIRDS m OLC retention Umei of the derivatives, and by thin layer chromatography where possible. A number of samples were analysed (or polychlo(obiphenyls (PCBs) u these com pounds Interfere with the organochlorbe pesti cide analyses. The PCBs were separated from the orglnochlorinc pesticides by differential ahition (1,0m a Flortsil column and estimated by the method of Reynolds (In press). The PCB values reported are based on Aroclor 12)4 and are the averages of the calculation foe peaks No. I and 10. two of the major peaks in the PCB commercial mixture. It can be seen that DDT and DDD residue levels obtained la SO California Oull tissues without prior PCB sep aration,are unreliable (Table 1). An Increase In those levels can be significantly correlated with a greater PCB contamination (Figures 1 and 2). As the DDT and DDD levels obtained without PCB separation are unreliable and as they constituted only a small fraction of the total DDT plus metabolite contamination, they have beejn omitted from the results. The DDE values presented may include small contributions from PCBs since DDE is not separated from a minor PCB Interfering peak. However, If the OLC pattern of a sample extract (prior to PCB separation 00 Flortsil) shows high "apparent" DDE with little or no DDD and DDT present, then all or most of the apparent DDE is probably "true" DDE. It should be noted that almost all the samples, with the exception of the fat tissues, showed less than1 one ppm DDT or DDD prior to PCB separation, thus indicating that PCB contribu tions to me DDE values are likely to be small. No standard method was found in the litera ture to represent quantities of organocMorlne residues in tissues. In this paper, the pesticide residues are shown in ppm wet weight as most articles delating to pesticides appear to follow this procedure. As loss of moisture from eggs during Incubation tends to concentrate organochlorine residues In the growing embryo, and at there are Interspecific differences in the moisture percentage of eggs it may be more accurate to present residues on a dry-weight basis. For those who want to convert the residues from wet to dry or lipid weight in ppm, Use percentage moisture and fat of each pooled egg sample is shown in the appendix. Results and Dlscassfoa Survey at Footed Egg Sampler The numbers in Figure 3 denote the locations where the rag samples were collected and re late to those in Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5. Samples were taken in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1968, except for Cypress and Old Wives Lakes, and at those two lakes and in Manitoba in 1969. Collections were made at certain loca tions in Alberta in both yean. Table 2 shows the DDE residue levels present b aquatic bird eggs. The eggs of lands (except Franklin's Oull, Lana ptpixean) and those of fish-eating birds such as the Double-crested Cormorant, White Pelican, Pelecama erythrorkynehot, Orest Blue Heron, and Western Orebe, Aechmophorus occidental!}, contained the highest DDE levels, while waterfowl egg levels were generally the lowest This difference may simply reflect feed ing habits and biological magnification of DDE, for the plant and small animal food of the waterfowl can be reliably expected to contain lower concentrations of DDE than the larger animal food of the larids and flah-eating birds. Within larids, the generally higher DDE residue levels in the eggs of California Oulla than b those of Ring-billed Oulls, Lana detawarensh, may alto result from a dif ference b diet, since California Oulls cat on the average larger rodents and are greater scavengers than Ring-billed Oulls (Vermeer, 1967). For Franklin's Oulls, the average DDE re sidue level found in the present study Is similtr to the 0.462 ppm wet weight reported for 30 eggs of Franklin's Oulls at Hay Lakes, Alberta, in 1966 (Guay, 1968). The relatively low residue levels in the eggs of Franklin's Gulls may be related to their dominandy Insect ivorous diet. Ouay (1968) found that the Franklin's Oull diet consisted of 18% insects. No vertebrates were present b the stomachs of the 27 Franklin's Oulls examined by him. The diet of California and Ring-billed Oulls b con trast includes large quantities of rodents (Ver meer, 1967). MOMS 083959 mtrn, 124 Th i Canadian Fuld-NaTuhalut Vot. 14 Tails 0. -Mmm anid 95% conMenc interval! of organochlorine (naectkide reaiduea In tiatue* of California Guitar fflected in t it vicinity of Ed tiooton; 10 during aprtng arrival and 10 during cgg-layk^ In IM Ti IM & Abdomlna fat Uver Brain Tima collected Arrival TO* TO* Eaa-Urfne % Fat In tiaaue *7.4*7 4 *4.4*14 4.1*1 0 4.0*0.4 7.5*0.4 *.4*0.1 Rtalduet in ppm wet weight DDE DieMrin HE 111. *2* 141.55 154.11* 01.20 7.74* 4.45 5.57* 5.29 2.14* 1.45 1.51* 0.74 1.01*0.44 1.14*0.40 0.09*0.05 0.04*0.04 0.02*0 01 0 02*0.01 4.44*1.41 451*0.2$ 4.42*0.02 0-01*0.01 0.0007* 0.0011* HBoUer rad in < J aamptea. The Herring Oull, like the California Gull, it locations appear to vary mom than In the a scavenger, hut the former appear* to cat more other larids. i Bah hi Its, Inland habitat (Mendall, 1939; Lud The higher residue levels found in the eggs of wig, 1962). The ODE rcaiduc level* obterved Double-crested Cormorants than In those of In the HP of thb species at the large Manitoba White Pelican* may be related to their dlflcttnt lake* nu)i be a reflection of iu diet. J. A. Keith feeding bSbits. White Pelicans scoop flsh from (1966) associated Herring GuH egg levels aver the water surface (Hall, 1923) while Double- aging 202 ppm wet-weight DDE with excep crested Cormorants obtain fish by diving (Bar tionally low hatching success in northern Lake tholomew, 1942). Anderson M *1. (1969) Michigan, and the lower 93% confidence limit found similar differences in DDE residues be of this average was 122 ppm, seven times higher tween those two species in Minnesota, Wiscon than the highest Herring Oull level reported sin, North Dakota, Manitoba and Saskatche ban. wan. They explain them at being a result of No quantitative data oa the food habits dissimilar non-breeding area exposures. Ac of Common Terns, In the prairie pro cording to their calculations, based oo Informa vinces art available. The diet of this species tion from Bent (1922), Lewis (1929), Mendall on the Maine coast chiefly consists of Ash snd (1936), and refuge personnel, pelicans arrive crustaceans (Mendall, 1933). The DDE levels on the average on April 10 and cormorants on b the eggs of this species at different breeding May 3. However, Lewis (1929: 14) states that Tabu T,---ytrlatton ot DDE residues In ppm wet weight In individual samples of 10 aquatic bisd sms in Alberta ii Catftcient of Where Collected Mean lUige Variation Graat Btu* 1Uron Giant Blue Craat Blue 1 iaroa Grant Blue 1 eron Sftfornia <5 n ill . Double-creal *d Cormorant Belly River (Glenwoodville) Battle River (Wetaakiwln) Jamieson Lake Chip Uka Chip Lake Miquelon and Jtei Lake* L. Tharien Lake 9.99 S.71 4.41 57.01 6.54 7.11 5.S7 1.5 - 21.0 14 - 14.5 1.0 - 41.4 0.7 - 244.4 1.2 - 44.5 2.1 - 20.2 1.4 - 4.4 41.44 0.44 10.44 197.75 III.94 91.09 41 45 MOMS 003960 1*70 VEnMEEE AND REYNOLDS: PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN Blips 123 cormorants In Manitoba may arrive a( the end of March or early April. From eight average arrival dales each (Lewis 1929: Id), 4* calculate that cormorant! arrive on average la Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota on April 17 and la Manitoba on April 24. One o( us (KV) watched the spring arrival of oonaoranta at Cypress Lake, Saskatchewan, In 1969 and at Lake Newell, Alberta, in 1964 and 1969. Cormorants occupied their nesting grounds by mid-April, even before Ice disap peared from those lakes, and Initiated egg-laying during the last sreek of April (Vermeer, 1970: in press). KV also observed little or BO Inter specific difference In hatching dates where the two species nested together in larga numbers in the Canadian prairie provinces. Heace it appears that the Interspecific differences in DDE residues cannot be explained on the basis of dissimilar spring arrival dales. Different food habits oo the breeding and/or non-breeding grounds is a snore likely explanation for dissimilar DDE contamination of the two species. The diddrin residue levels In the aquatic bird eggs are shown in Table 3. Although the dicldrin levels are not as high si those of DDT compounds, their effects are not less serious. DeWitt er of. (1960) tested the toxicity of 21 insecticides to Bobwhite Quail, Coiinuj vtrglnianur, and found diddrin to be 14 Panes mors toxic than DDT. At has been observed for die DDE residues, the eggs of larldt and lab-eating birds contain more diddrin than those of water fowl, while cormorants appear to be more contaminated than pelicans. HE is of similar toxicity as diddrin to birds (Moore, 1963). HE Is rapidly metabolised from hcptachlor and hence the latter la rarely ,0.10 .SOOTS- I.SSSS X * r t.irra 00.00 J 0.00 0.10 0.10 Mm WalOrtn 0.10 Fiourf. 4. ftt1ithnrtl|n of of*enocMorin# rosMue levels within fairs of egfs fro* 10 California Oull ilutckes; points beinf Intersections of poh values. MQNS 083961 126 Thr Canadian Field-Naturalist Vd. 14 Tabls 6. Maana and 95% confidence Intervile of orjenocKlorine Ineocticlde reelduee In tleeuee end tingle oue of 1 10 California Gull female* at Miquelon and Joseph Lake*. AlberU in 1000. Pit coot ppm wet veiffet Fat Non*fat DDE Dieldrin HE (water *el) Abdominal at as Um train 64.6*1.9 11.4*5.* 7.1*1.0 4 0*0.6 6.94:0.5 7.4*1.2 17.7*1.1 I*. 1*0 5 2*.5*0.9 15.9*1.1 154.11*01.20 12.54* 9.55 7.20* 4.94 5.37* 5.29 1.51* 0.74 1.14*0.40 0.15*0.12 0.04*0.03 0.09*0.04 0.02*0.01 0.31 *0.2S 0.019*0.014 0.014*0.019 0.009*0.004 0.001 detected is residue. But heptecblor u still pfoeent where high HE residue levels were found la Ring-billed Oull end Mallard eggs st Cypress htit (Table 4). U cea be seen in Table S tpat Herring end Ring-billed Culls sre more ooalamioated with HE than cormorants aad pelicans, while cormorants in turn have higher average HE levels than pelicans. Table 5 shows that the cormorants at the lakes in Manitoba are most contaminated with P BHC residues. Eggs of White Pelicans, Her ring and Ring-billed Oulli contained lower p BHC residues at the same locations. Perhaps P BHC is | associated with the fish on which cormorants feed. Nothing is known concerning the source of the organochlorine residues in the aquatic birds. We compared residue levels from tissues of 10 California' Culls collected near Edmonton at spring arrival with those of 10 birds of that species taken at Joseph and Miquelon Lakes during egg-laying and the first few days of In cubation in 1969 (Table 6). Although there are no statistically significant changes in residue levels between gulls from dime two time per iods, a trend Indicates a residue decline of DDE in gulls with the advancing season. This suggests that food taken during spring migra tion or during the winter contained higher levels of DDT or DDE than food taken during the early breeding season. In order to reduce costs of residue analyses, composite egg samples were usually analyzed However, ten individual eggs, of various species from several localities in Alberta in 1969, were also analyzed to determine DDE residue varia tion within local populations (Table 7). It can be teen that the DDE levels vasy considerably within eggs of local breeding populations of Great Blue Herons, California Culls and Com- Tasls 9.--DDE and dieldrin ivsidu* ratios in tissues and sinfle ees of 10 California Cull females at Joseph and Miquelon Lakes, Alberta in ISM. Ttaic comparibona DDE Mean rettot * SE Coefficient of correlation Dieldrin Mean ratio# * SE Coefficient of correlation KXhraln/eS Ovary/e* < oos < 0. 19.4*3.3 0.11*0.12 0.20*0.05 1.74*0.20 0.9506** 0 9242** 0.9215** 0.9539** 20.3*2 9 1.41*0.29 0.27*0.04 2.21*0 05 0.1073* 0 5612 0.9546** 0.4527 HUNS 083962 1*70 VllMIl* AND RlYNOlD): FESTICIDE RESIDUES IN BlEM 127 Tablb 10.1-DDE ftnd dicldrin rmido* ratio# ia tbauca of 20 California Cull* from Edmonton and Joaeph and 1 Mention Laket, Alberta in IM9. DWdrin Cwftcient of correlation Mean ratio* 3E Coeftcitnt of correlation O.WMM 0.9172** 0.9206** I6.42.1 1.70*0.01 0.4760* 0.1570** 0.72W* 0100 Terns. Although one highly contaminated full, heron or tern may bits a mean composite sample, nevertheless a pooled sample Is better than t ilpgle sample as an Indicator of the degree of organochlofine contamination of n population. Two Great Blue Heron eggs with 71.0 and '254.4 DDE residue levels at Chip Lake, for uample, had the highest DDB levels of all aqu|stlc bird eggs collected. If one egg, low in DDB residues, had been snmpled, there would be no Indication that tome herons at that locality were highly contaminated. The variation in individual DDE residue levels was' smaller in Double-crested Cormor ants than in Oreat Blue Herons, California Outls and Comipon Terns (Table 7). Intraspedflc variation ip mean DDE residues between differ ent localities was also smaller in cormorants, is well as In'pelicans, than in California Oulls, Ring-bllleq Oulls, Common Terns, Herring flouts 9. hslatioa bstwssa DDE concentrations ant ami! thickness la forty Oreat Blue Heron l||t from four Albertan beronrirr in INI. Oulls and Oreat Blue Herons (Table 2). This may be related to the almoat eschialvely Hah diet of cormorants as compared to Dm only partly fish diet of the gulls and herons. Cormor ants probably are more restricted to feeding In deeper waters thsn terns, which here been observed feeding in very shsllow beys as well as in ponds adjnceot to the lakes where they nest. Eggs as Indicators Two eggs of each of 10 clutchea of California Oulls at Joseph and Miquelon Lakes were taken in 1969 to determine it organochlorine residue levels In one egg were representative of those in other eggs laid by the same female, h can be seen that they were representative as there sre highly significant correlations of residue levels between eggs of the same clutch (Figure 4). A comparison is also made between the oeganochlorine insecticide residue levels in tissues and in single eggs of 10 California Oull females during the egg-laying period (Table 8). As residue levels of eggs and Uven were the most alike of all the tissues examined, those In eggs are approximate indicators of those In liven of temiles at the time of egg-Itying It can be seen that the residue levels in the abdominal fat are significantly higher then those in the overy, egg, and liver, and that the levels of those tissues in turn are significantly higher than in the brain of the same birds. As organochlorine residues tend to dissolve and concentrate in fat, the tissues with most fat generally have the highest residue levels. There are exceptions, however, for while the brain contains a significantly higher percentage of fat than the liver, nevertheless the liver has e significantly higher DDE and dield- *ONs oai**3 121 THi Canadian Fiild-Natvralist Vul. 14 Taali II,--Mum and 93% confidence intervale of PCB foeiduee in tleeuee and .ingle eafe of 10 California Gull Icfnatee at Joseph and Miquelon Lakea, Alberta In I960, Tail* 12.--PCB residue ratios in tissues Of 19 Cali fornia Gull tamales and their eggs at ioaeph and Mi quelon Lakes, Alberta in 19*9. TImuw Per rant Non fat Fit (voter excluded) PCB In ppm vet weifM Tieeue comperitona Brain/etf Ovnry/ef| Meea ratio * SE 23.45*6.32 t.ll*0.37 0.30*0.09 1.67*0.30 Coefficient of correUtion o.tssr 0.6139* 0.6274* 0.7127* I (1 Ovary ECRfter Brain 6 .6*9.9 1 .{*3.d 6*1.0 .0*0.6 i.feo.s 7.4*3.2 ir.r*i.i 16.1*0.3 26.3*0.0 13.0*1.1 11.07*0.97 1.Sided.*3 0.11*0.30 0.30*0.36 0.20*0.16 ** L=-d^i--=iJ rin level then the brtin (Table 8). Hence retidue compaction* between diflereni tiuuei on a lipid bub may be tometime! migleading. Reaidue level* in tissues of California Gull female* are eompared with thoie in their e(g* (Table 9). A* HE retidue* were not observed in aaany samples, they have been excluded from the table. Highly significant correlation* can be obtervep in DDB Icvela between tksues and e||*. Dieldrln level* in the fat and brain aleo relate significantly to thoie in eggs. DOB and dieldrln ratios appear to be of ilmilar magnitude for the tame tiuue eompartioni. Hence, a* the correlation* are generally signi ficant, DDE and dieldrln tetidue level* In tiuuei of California Oull* at the time of egg laying may be predicted when known In their egg*. They may alto be predicted when known in another tiuue than egg* (Table 10). PCB reaidue level* in tliiue* of California Gull female* are alio compared with thoie in their egg* (Table* II and 12). It can be teen that the dktributlon of PCB reildue* in tiuuei follow* the tanfe trend a* thoie for DDE, dield- rin and HE (Tablet g), and that the pattern of PCB retidue ratios alio follow! the lame trend ai thoie tor DDE and dieldrln (Table 9). Hence PCB retidue level! in egg-laying California Oulll may be predicted when known In their eggi, and for b rdi generally, PCB residue! may prove to have |a tiuue diitributlon (tattern sim ilar to the patterns of DDE, dieldrln, and HE. Figure 5 ihow* a highly significant inverse correlation between shell thickness and DDE residues in 40 Great Blue Heron egp from heronries at the Battle River near Wetuklwin, the Belly River near Glenwoodville, Chip Lake, and Jamieson Lake In Alberta. The DDE re sidue* are shown in ppm wet weight to main tain uniform presentation of results. Somewhat better correlations between DDE residues in eggs and egg shell thickness of herons were observed on a dry-weight (r = --0.5741") and a lipid-weight buis (r = -O.S958**). Hence more significant correlations may be obtained by means of the latter methods when comparing organochlorlne residues within the same tiuue*. Although a linear regreulon is shown in Figure S, the relation between DDE residues in eggs and egg shell thickness was Ta*ls 13.--Halation between DDE residue levete and embryonic development in Great Blue Heron egg* col lected at Chip Lake on May 21. 19*9 ppm DDE % water in vet vt. in eg| Condition of embryo in collected etf 5dT younf per nct 0.713 217 2.74 4.00 4.62 6.39 11.1 23.6 79.0 234.4 M Embryo alive 93 Embryo alive 94 Embryo alive 80 No development (infertile)) 94 Embryo etive 92 Embryo alive 83 Embryo alive 13 Embryo alive 12 Emfetti.. 73 eerfy sttft 3 4 S 4 S 4 4 5 4 1 MQNS 003964 fai- 1970, VbRMEEE AND REYNOLD,: PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN BlEDS 129 Ilghdy curvilinear, Ailing sn exponential curve jr (374.0(1) (0.9987)*. However, more egg ssmples with high DDE residue contents ere needed to determine whether the sctutl reletion- hlp between DDE residues in eggs end shell thickness Is s curvilinear or n linear one. In contrast with DDE, no signlAcant corre lation j(r-> -0.1692) was found between shell thickness end PCS residues in the contents of the 40 Orcat Blue Heron eggs. The heron eggs most contaminated with DDE were found at Chip Lake. It can be teen then in embryo bom an egg with 78.0 ppm DDB shows development at least until hatching (Table 13). The embryo from an egg with 234.4 ppm DDB died at an early stage, perhaps as a result of the DDE concentration. i. A. Keith was most helpful In his critical review | of the manuscript. R. lsbister, J. E. Poison, nod S. O. Scaly, assisted in the collec tion of egg samples. Ukeafurt CHed AaisssSB. D. W,, I. S. Hiekej, St W. StlMbraufk, D. r. HueSn and n. I Chrlstiassa. IMS. SigUk*pc* of chlorinated hydrocarbon residue* to Weeding pcHcana and cormorant*. Canadian Field* NeturW ): PM 12. Rarthalanw, C. A. 1942. The fishing activity of ' Double^Mbd Cormorant! In Son Franciaco Bay. Corner, 44; U-21. " Ini, aJ,C 1922. Ufa histories of North American petrel* and pelicans and their atliei/Order Tubinana ml Btegtnopodes. U.S. National Museum BuBetW 121. 143 pp. DaWMt, {I. fc, C. Ms Menxk, V. A. AdomaMt and W. L UthtL I960. Paitiddal residues in ani mat tissues. Transaction* Twenty-fifth North American Wildlife Conference. 277-215. Fyfe, *.]W, I. Camphelg B. Ha;m aod K. Hodaon. 1HI. Reglooat population decline! and organoChlorine tamctkidei In Canadian Prairie Falcone, Caaodkn FtoW-NatwraliM. 83: 191-200. GeVt l.[W. 1961. The breeding biology of FrankMu'! Quit (terns pipixan >. Unpublished Ph D. ThaamUnlveniity of Alberta, Edmonton. 129 pp. KM, ft, R. 1925. Pelicani versus fishes in Pyramid Lake Condor 27: 147.160. Heath, Be Cm I. W. Span* and 2. F. Kreitaer. 1969. Marked DDB Impairment of mallard reproduction la ooolirollad studies. Nature 224: 47-42. Mete* 9. and Ds W. Anderaoo. 1961. Chlorin ated hydrocarbon# and egg abeO change# la rap torial and Aril-eating bird#- Science 142: 271*275. Keith, h A. 1966. Reproduction hi a population of Herring Oulli {larus arptntaUu) oontamiaatod by DDT. Journal of Applied Ecology. 3, Supple ment: 57*70. Keith, J. O. 1964. Insecticide cowtera(nation In wetland habitat! and their effect on iah-cating bird*. Journal of Applied Ecology. 3, Supplement 71-45. Lewie, H. F. 1929. The natural Malory of the Double-crested Cormorant (PAe/nrmronax auritut muritui) (Lesson). Ru-Mi-Lou Book#, Ottawa. 94 PPLudwig, J. p. 1962. A aurvey of the gull and tern population! of Lake! Huron. Michigan and Super ior. Jack-Pine Warbler 4fc 104-119. McCuNy. K. A. artd W. P. McKtahr* 1964. Deter mination of chlorinated pesticide raalduea )n fat by electron capture gaa chromatography. Journal of AuodaUon of Official Agricultural Chemist* 47: 652-659. Mrodatl, H. L. 1935. The relationship of otruin aea Mrtfa to the fishing Industry of the Stale of Maine. Bulletin of the Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries, Maine. 27 pp. -------------. 1936. The home-life and economic Ka ma of the Double-crested Cormorant (/Aefcrrwrom aurliut turitut) (Lassoo). Uaivanity of Maine Studies Second Serial, Number 31 (Maine Bulletin 39). 159 pp. 1939. Food habit# of the Herring Oull in relation to frerii-water game Bahaa hi Maine. Wilton Bulletin 51: 223-226. Moore, N. W. 1965. Environmental contamination by peiticidei, pp. 219-237. In Q. T. Goodman et l, (Ed.), Ecology and the Industrial Society, Oxford. ------------ . and C. H. Walter. 1964. Orgaaochlorine insecticide residue! in wild birds. Nature, 201: 1072-1073. Reynold!, L. M. 1969. Polychloroblpbeoyh (PCB's) and tbeit interference with pesticide residue analysis. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxi cology 4: 126-14). -------------. (In preae). Pesticide residua analysis in the presence of potychlorobipbenyli (PCB'e). Realdue Reviews 34. Vermeer, ft. 1967. A study of two special of guile, Lantt Californiaus and L. jclawarcncti, bread- tag in an inland habitat Unpublished Ph D. Thesis, University of Alberta, 128 pp. -------------. 1970. Some aspects of the nesting of Double-crested Cormorants at Cypress Lake, Saskatchewan in 1969; A plea for protection. Blue Jay 28: 11-13. ---------. (In preae). Arrival and dutch initia tion of Double-creitcd Cormorants at Lake Newell, Alberta. Received June 18, 1970 Accepted July 8, 1970 MONS 033965 T n i C anadian Fie ld -N a t u m l h t 9 9 6 C B 0 SNOW V oL 14