Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Abstract Documented declines in Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) populations may be caused by several factors, including reduced reproductive success or survival from exposure to environmental contaminants during winter, migration, or breeding. We evaluated organochlorines and inorganic elements in Les...
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/condor/109.4.852 2023-05-15T18:48:42+02:00 Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Matz, Angela C. Rocque, Deborah A. 2007 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.4.852 http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/109/4/852/29714080/condor0852.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) The Condor volume 109, issue 4, page 852-861 ISSN 0010-5422 1938-5129 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2007 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.4.852 2022-04-15T06:35:35Z Abstract Documented declines in Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) populations may be caused by several factors, including reduced reproductive success or survival from exposure to environmental contaminants during winter, migration, or breeding. We evaluated organochlorines and inorganic elements in Lesser Scaup blood (n = 14) and eggs (n = 10) from a breeding area in the relatively pristine Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in interior Alaska. Most contaminants were not at concentrations of concern. Lead was detected in only four blood samples, with an average when detected (0.29 mg kg−1 wet weight [ww]) slightly above background levels (0.20 mg kg−1 ww). Our study area had little or no hunting, but since lead exposure is correlated with hunting pressure, lead should be evaluated in other Lesser Scaup breeding areas. Strontium in eggs (mean = 10.90 mg kg−1 dry weight [dw]) was significantly negatively correlated with eggshell thickness. Eggshell thickness was also 18% lower than in museum specimens, a percentage associated with population declines in other species, and was not correlated with other contaminants. Few comparative data in the literature exist, but productivity in this breeding area was low (mean nest success = 12%), so further research on the effects of strontium on productivity through the mechanism of eggshell thinning is needed. Most environmental contaminants are unlikely to be affecting Lesser Scaup populations breeding in interior Alaska, but lead and strontium should be studied further. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alaska Yukon Oxford University Press (via Crossref) Yukon The Condor 109 4 852 861 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Matz, Angela C. Rocque, Deborah A. Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract Documented declines in Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) populations may be caused by several factors, including reduced reproductive success or survival from exposure to environmental contaminants during winter, migration, or breeding. We evaluated organochlorines and inorganic elements in Lesser Scaup blood (n = 14) and eggs (n = 10) from a breeding area in the relatively pristine Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in interior Alaska. Most contaminants were not at concentrations of concern. Lead was detected in only four blood samples, with an average when detected (0.29 mg kg−1 wet weight [ww]) slightly above background levels (0.20 mg kg−1 ww). Our study area had little or no hunting, but since lead exposure is correlated with hunting pressure, lead should be evaluated in other Lesser Scaup breeding areas. Strontium in eggs (mean = 10.90 mg kg−1 dry weight [dw]) was significantly negatively correlated with eggshell thickness. Eggshell thickness was also 18% lower than in museum specimens, a percentage associated with population declines in other species, and was not correlated with other contaminants. Few comparative data in the literature exist, but productivity in this breeding area was low (mean nest success = 12%), so further research on the effects of strontium on productivity through the mechanism of eggshell thinning is needed. Most environmental contaminants are unlikely to be affecting Lesser Scaup populations breeding in interior Alaska, but lead and strontium should be studied further. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Matz, Angela C. Rocque, Deborah A. |
author_facet |
Matz, Angela C. Rocque, Deborah A. |
author_sort |
Matz, Angela C. |
title |
Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska |
title_short |
Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska |
title_full |
Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Contaminants in Lesser Scaup Eggs and Blood from Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska |
title_sort |
contaminants in lesser scaup eggs and blood from yukon flats national wildlife refuge, alaska |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.4.852 http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/109/4/852/29714080/condor0852.pdf |
geographic |
Yukon |
geographic_facet |
Yukon |
genre |
Alaska Yukon |
genre_facet |
Alaska Yukon |
op_source |
The Condor volume 109, issue 4, page 852-861 ISSN 0010-5422 1938-5129 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.4.852 |
container_title |
The Condor |
container_volume |
109 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
852 |
op_container_end_page |
861 |
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1766241930709041152 |