Reproduction and growth

Reproduction

Number of eggs per clutch, number of hatchlings per clutch, % hatch, etc.

Growth

General condition, nestling weights, lengths of wing segments, etc,

Egg and nestling collected from same nest

Egg

Contaminants present in egg are due to body burden of hen. May have accumulated locally or elsewhere.

Shell

Chemical analysis for metals

Contents (Yolk)

Chemical analysis for lipophilic chemicals including PCBs, pesticides and organometals

13-day-old nestling

Contaminants present in nestling beyond amounts present in the egg must be due to local exposure - mainly diet

Crop & stomach contents

Chemical analysis for contaminants in foodstuffs

Feather

- Entire feather less base of quill - analysis for metals

- Base of quill - possible immunohistochemistry for Cytochrome P450 induction - a measure of exposure to certain organic chemicals such as PCBs and PAHs

Blood

Enzyme analysis for ALAD ()-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase), a measure of lead exposure

Bile

Chemical analysis for metabolites of PAHs

Liver

Enzyme assay for several Cytochrome P450 associated monooxygenase activities and gel electrophoresis with western blotting for cytochromes P450, measures of exposure to certain organic chemicals such as PCBs and PAHs

Brain

Enzyme assay for cholinesterase inhibition, a measure of exposure to certain types of pesticides

Carcass

Chemical analysis for organochlorines

Sediments from each study location have been submitted for analysis for physical composition, metals, PAHs and organochlorines.