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R. M. Prouty

Publications and source records attributed to R. M. Prouty.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1979

Organochlorine pollutants and population status of least terns in South Carolina

Least Tern nesting colonies on the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas in South Carolina were studied from 1971 through 1975. We located 10 colonies including 6 on the Refuge and 4 on nearby coastal islands. The number of nests in each colony ranged from several up to 220. Least Terns began reproductive activity in April, and the egg-laying period ranged from May to July. The earliest hatching record was 6 June. Reproductive success in most colonies seemed poor. Tidal flooding of eggs, predation of eggs and young, and disturbance by domestic animals and man were responsible for most failures. Residues of DDE, PCB's, and other organochlorine pollutants in the eggs were low and posed no identifiable threat to the Least Terns. DDE residues in eggs declined from 0.63 μg/g in 1972 to 0.33 μg/g in 1975. In contrast, PCB residue trends were erratic; mean residue values were 0.40 μg/g in 1972, 1.08 μg/g in 1974, and 0.62 μg/g in 1975. Eggshell thickness means for 1972, 1974, and 1975 were 2 to 7% lower than the pre-1947 mean; but the differences between means were not statistically significant. There is no evidence of a decline in Least Tern populations in South Carolina over the past 30 years such as observed in many other parts of the range of the species. A number of the current nesting islands seem secure from adverse environmental perturbations, although several colonies are on islands that are in danger of extensive development.

South Carolina↗
USGS1977

Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1973-74

Thirty-nine bald eagles found sick or dead in 13 States during 1969 and 1970 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of DDE, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and mercury were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; DDD residues were detected in 38; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) were detected less frequently. Six eagles contained possible lethal levels of dieldrin in the brain, and one contained a lethal concentration of DDE (385 ppm) in the brain together with 235 ppm of PCB's. Autopsy revealed that 18 bald eagles were illegally shot; other causes of death were impact injuries, electrocution, emaciation, and infectious diseases.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1976

Organochlorine residues in three bat species from four localities in Maryland and West Virginia, 1973

In 1973, 119 bats of three species were collected from four localities in Maryland and West Virginia. The collection included 43 big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), 43 little brown brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), and 33 eastern pipistrelles (Pipistrellus subflavus). The bats were collected from Round Top Mountain, Washington Co., Md.; Trout Cave, Pendleton Co., W. Va.; Montpelier Barn, Prince Georges Co., Md. Residues of sigmaDDT were highest in carcasses of bats from Round Top Mountain, which is surrounded by apple orchards. Bats from Trout Cave had the lowest residues, a circumstance which probably reflects the absence of agriculture and industry in the area. A polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and oxychlordane were highest at Montpelier Barn. Sources of the PCB are unknown, but chlordane is used against termites and in gardening at nearby housing developments. Residues in bats from North East Methodist Church were low except for dieldrin. Among species, little brown bats usually had the highest residue concentrations in their carcasses, whereas big brown bats had the lowest. When DDE in carcass fat of all species was above 60-90 ppm, it became measurable in brain tissue. Above 60-90 ppm, DDE levels in brains rose with increasing levels in carcass lipids. Residues of the PCB tended to respond similarly. Residue levels in brains were greatest in little brown bats; the maximum level of the PCB, 7.9 Ppm, was more than twice that of DDE.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1975

Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1971-72

Thirty-seven bald eagles found sick or dead in 18 States during 1971-72 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's). DDE and PCB's were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; 30 carcasses contained DDD and 28 contained dieldrin. Four eagles contained possibly lethal levels of dieldrin and nine eagles had been poisoned by thallium. Autopsies revealed that illegal shooting was the most common cause of mortality. Since 1964 when data were first collected, 8 of the 17 eagles obtained from Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida possibly died from dieldrin poisoning; all four specimens from Maryland and Virginia were from the Chesapeake Bay Tidewater area.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1974

Organochlorine residues in brown pelican eggs: Relation to reproductive success

This study was conducted to determine the influence of residues of organochlorine pollutants on reproductive success in the brown pelican. A sample egg was taken from each of 93 marked nests in the nesting colony in South Carolina. Periodic visits were made to determine the fate of marked nests. Each sample egg was analysed for residues of organochlorine pollutants. Nest success in the brown pelican was related to residues of DDE and dieldrin in sample eggs. DDE seemed primarily responsible for nest failure; however, deleterious effects of this pollutant on nest success were not satisfactorily separated from those induced by dieldrin. Significant intercorrelation of all five organochlorine residues identified in the eggs complicated the relationship of residues to nest success. Maximum DDE residues in an egg from a successful nest were 2·37 μg/g and 8·48 μg/g in an egg from an unsuccessful nest. Comparable maximum residues for dieldrin in sample eggs were 0·54 μg/g (successful) and 0·99 μg/g (unsuccessful). Nineteen of the 26 eggs from unsuccessful nests contained DDE residues that exceeded 2·37 μg/g, and 14 of these 26 eggs contained dieldrin residues that exceeded 0·54 μg/g. Residues of DDD, DDT or PCBs in sample eggs were not significantly related to nest success. Reproductive success in the brown pelican colony was subnormal in the year of study—1971 and 1972—but reproductive success was normal in those nests in which the sample egg contained either ≤2·5 μ g/g of DDE or ≤0·54 μ g/g of dieldrin.

Environmental Pollution↗
USGS1974

Relations of the brown pelican to certain environmental pollutants

Nearly all brown pelican eggs collected from 13 colonies in South Carolina, Florida, and California in 1969 and from 17 colonies in South Carolina and Florida in 1970 exhibited eggshell thinning. Of the 100 eggs analyzed for residues of pollutants, all eggs contained measurable quantities of DDE; most eggs contained measurable quantities of p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, or PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls). All eggs contained measurable quantities of mercury. DDE appears to have been responsible for virtually all the eggshell thinning. There is strong evidence that DDE played a major role in lowered reproductive success in South Carolina and California, and this pollutant appears to be intimately related to the population decline in South Carolina. Other pollutants, particularly dieldrin, may have had deleterious effect on reproductive success in South Carolina. Carcasses of pelicans collected by shooting in Florida and South Carolina in 1970 varied in residue load according to age and geographic location. Birds under 1 year of age contained smaller quantities of residues than did birds I year or older.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1970

Organochlorine residues and autopsy data from bald eagles 1966-68

Sixty-nine bald eagles found moribund or dead in 25 States during 1966-68 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls and DDE were detected in all samples of eagle carcasses; residues of dieldrin were detected in 68 and residues of DDD in 64; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and DCBP were detected less frequently. Eight specimens had levels of dieldrin in the brain within the lethal range, and another probably died of DDT poisoning. Autopsy revealed that illegal shooting was the most frequent cause of mortality of these eagles; electrocution, impact injuries, probable lead poisoning, and infectious avian diseases were other causes of mortality.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1969

Pesticide residues in eagles

Bald and golden eagles found sick or dead in 18 States and Canada during 1964-1965 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues in bald eagles were considerably higher than in golden eagles. Residues of DDE, DDD, and dieldrin were detected in all samples of bald eagle carcasses; other compounds found, less frequently were heptachlor epoxide, endrin, and DCBP, a metabolite of DDT. DDE was detected in all samples of golden eagle carcasses; DDD, DDT, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide were detected less frequently.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗