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Lead concentrations in wing bones of the mottled duck
Author(s) -
Merchant Mark E.,
Shukla Shyam S.,
Akers Hugh A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620101116
Subject(s) - waterfowl , hunting season , anas , wildlife refuge , biology , feather , zoology , wildlife , ecology , fishery , geography , habitat , demography , population , sociology
Wing samples from mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) were collected from federal, state, and private hunting areas in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida during the 1987–1988 waterfowl season. The upper wing bone (humerus) was analyzed for lead content to determine long‐term exposure of each bird to lead. Comparisons were made between mean lead concentrations found in males and females, in adults and immatures, and between mottled ducks from different areas. In general, males and adult ducks were found to contain greater lead concentrations than females and immature ducks, respectively. Of the six areas considered, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, was observed to have the greatest (88.9 ppm dry weight basis) and private areas in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, found to have the lowest (27.9 ppm) concentrations of lead. The results from this study were found to be comparable to those obtained from a similar study performed during the 1972–1973 waterfowl season.