Shell thickness, DDE levels in eggs, and reproductive success in common terns ( Sterna hirundo ), in Alberta

A comprehensive study of reproductive success of an isolated colony of common terns (Sterna hirundo) reveals that DDE, the principal chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide found in the terns, cannot be correlated to eggshell thickness. The low reproductive success observed was attributed in large measu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Zoology
Main Authors: Switzer, Bruce, Lewin, Victor, Wolfe, Fred H.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1971
Subjects:
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Common tern
Sterna hirundo
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z71-011
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z71-011
Description
Summary:A comprehensive study of reproductive success of an isolated colony of common terns (Sterna hirundo) reveals that DDE, the principal chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide found in the terns, cannot be correlated to eggshell thickness. The low reproductive success observed was attributed in large measure to disappearance of eggs and nest abandonment, responsible for 76% of the failures, while cracked or broken eggs accounted for only 16%. It is suggested that the direct correlation of DDE to eggshell thickness, implicated in the reproductive failure of other avian species, may be an oversimplification in the case of the common tern.

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