AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Organoghlorine Concentrations in Potential Avian Prey of Breeding Peregrine Falcons in North-Central New Mexico

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1995
Authors:Kennedy, PL, Stahlecker, DW, Fair, JM
Journal:The Southwestern Naturalist
Volume:40
Issue:1
Date Published:1995
ISBN Number:00384909
Keywords:Anthus, Anthus rubescens, Charadriidae, Charadrius, Charadrius vociferus, Euphagus, Euphagus cyanocephalus, Falco, Falco peregrinus, Falconidae, Icteridae, Motacillidae, Sayornis, Sayornis saya, Sturnella, Sturnella neglecta, Turdidae, Turdus, Turdus maximus, Turdus merula, Tyrannidae
Abstract:Despite the federal ban of DDT since 1972, some southwestern populations of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) still exhibit extremely low natural production and continue to accumulate high levels of DDE. During 1985, we collected 35 potential species of migrant and resident prey of peregrine falcons in north-central New Mexico to determine if local peregrine falcons are exposed to DDE on the breeding grounds. Thirteen (37.1%) of the 35 species pools contained DDE residues >1.0 ppm. Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya; 22.01 ppm), killdeer (Charadrius vociferus; 13.49 ppm), American pipit (Anthus rubescens; 11.63 ppm), western meadowlark (Sternella neglecta; 6.25 ppm), and Brewer's blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus; 5.28 ppm) pools had DDE residues >5.0 ppm. DDE concentrations were not significantly related to prey diet but migration status was a significant effect with DDE residues lowest in residents (geometric mean = GM = 0.08 ppm), intermediate in weakly migratory species (GM = 0.37 ppm) and highest in strongly migratory species (GM = 1.63 ppm). Based on results of this study and a review of the literature, we conclude that peregrine falcons utilizing this study area are still faced with a potential source of DDE contamination.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/30054399
Short Title:The Southwestern Naturalist
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith