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Avian Monitoring |
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Contaminant Exposure And Reproductive Success Of Ospreys (Pandion Haliaetus) Nesting In Chesapeake Bay Regions Of Concern. Rattner, B.A., Mcgowan, P.C., Golden, N.H., Hatfield, J.S., Toschik, P.C., Lukei, R.F., Hale, R.C., Schmitz-Afonso, I., Rice, C. 2004. Archives Of Environmental Contamination And Toxicology. 47:126-140. Summary and Abstract available at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/Publications.htm?seq_no_115=151196 Toschik, P.C., M. C. Christman, B.A. Rattner, M.A. Ottinger. 2005. Evaluation of osprey habitat suitability and interaction with contaminant exposure. Journal of Wildlife Management. In Press. (43 pp.) An Evaluation of Columbia River Ospreys for Long-term Contaminant Monitoring in Large Rivers Charles J. Henny, Robert A. Grove, James L. Kaiser and V. Raymond Bentley ABSTRACT An Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) population nesting along the lower 410 km of the Columbia River (94 occupied nests in 1997 and increased to 103 in 1998) was studied to evaluate the merit in using the species as an indicator for long-term monitoring of selected contaminants that biomagnify in food chains. We collected 29 Osprey eggs (1 per nest) and evaluated egg contents for organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and total mercury. For purposes of this investigation, the Columbia River study area was subdivided into four distinct Reaches (I-IV), primarily based on major industrial or point source locations. Residue concentrations (geometric means) in Osprey eggs for most contaminants did not vary significantly among reaches. However, PCB105 was significantly higher, and nearly all other PCB congeners were higher, in eggs collected from Reach II (immediately below the Bonneville Dam hydroelectric facility) than those collected in Reach I (upstream) or Reach III (downstream), although three other large hydroelectric dams are located in Reach I. This finding seems particularly instructive, and makes a strong case for using Ospreys as a monitoring species, especially since a historic landfill of electrical equipment containing PCBs was not reported at Bonneville Dam until 2000. Elevated hexachlorobenzene appeared to be related to the discharge waste from an aluminum smelter located within Reach III. The mean productivity for this population was 1.64 young/active nest (nests without an egg collected) in 1997-1998, which we considered excellent, although substantial evidence was found that DDE (geo. mean 4872 µg kg-1 wet weight, with 24% of eggs > 8000 µg kg-1) adversely influenced eggshell thickness and success at some nests. Other contaminants had limited, if any, adverse effects on production. During this study, other investigators conducted independent studies within the same study area which yielded information concerning chemical concentrations in whole fish specimens and in river water using semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs). Some positive findings were noted among the different sampling techniques. We recently completed a more comprehensive Osprey-whole fish contaminant study on the nearby Willamette River in 2001 (subject of future report) that will provide additional data for a more complete understanding of Osprey-fish contaminant relationships in large river systems. With most Osprey populations now increasing, and nests distributed at regular intervals (instead of clumped in colonies) along large rivers, we believe the Osprey may indeed be a useful species for monitoring contaminants in the United States and throughout its breeding range. |
