ISSN:
1432-0703
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Ring doves (Streptopelia risoria) were brought into breeding condition and, after laying two clutches of two eggs each, were fed one of three experimental diets containing either 33.4 ppm dicofol (1, 1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichioroethanol), 37 ppmp,pi DDE (2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-1,1 dichloroethylene), or no toxicant (control). Mean shell thicknesses of eggs produced on experimental diets were: control, 156 x; DDE, 145 μ; and dicofol 142 μ. Birds fed DDE produced eggs with shells a mean 5.6% thinner than pre-treatment eggs, while birds fed dicofol produced eggs with shell means 7.2% thinner. No change in shell thickness was found in eggs from control doves. Analysis of covariance revealed a statistically significant effect of decreasing eggshell thickness over time in doves fed DDE and dicofol diets but not in control birds. Egg production was significantly lower in both dicofol-fed and DDE-fed birds when compared with controls. Control birds produced a mean of 1.97 eggs per clutch. Dicofol- and DDE-treated birds produced 1.88 and 1.79 eggs per clutch, respectively. The proportion of eggs found cracked or broken in the nest was greatest in birds fed dicofol, with 16.9% of all eggs broken or cracked, compared to 7.9% of eggs from the DDE group and 5.7% of eggs from control group. Selected eggs were analyzed for residues of dicofol, dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP), and DDE in the yolk. For the birds fed the dicofol diet, DDE residues in treatment eggs ranged from 0.036 to 0.119 ppm wet weight. DDE residues in pre-treatment eggs ranged from 0.013 to 0.080 ppm. Dicofol residues ranged from 2.62 ppm to 22.58 ppm. DCBP residues ranged from 2.55 to 17.68 ppm. Only residues of dicofol showed a significant correlation with percent shell thinning.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01056028
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