Relative Sensitivity of Terns to PBDEs

Understanding the Relative Sensitivity of Terns to PBDEs

San Francisco Bay is critical habitat for many birds including several rare and endangered species such as the Least Tern. Some of the highest polybrominanted diphenyl ether (PBDEs) concentrations identified to date have been measured in Bay Area terns. At present, we have very little information to determine whether these concentrations are causing significant effects. Recent research by the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center suggests that significant effects on the hatching success of American Kestrels can occur at concentrations as low as 1.8 ug/g (wet weight). In contrast, mallards were relatively insensitive to exposure to PBDEs. A number of uncertainties exist with these studies as they are egg injection studies where contaminant is injected into the egg rather than a maternally-derived exposure. Nonetheless, maximum concentration in tern eggs from the Lower San Francisco Bay are in the range of this effect level. This egg injection study will develop thresholds for hatching, pipping and survival for the east coast common tern, a surrogate for the San Francisco Bay area Least, Caspian and Forster’s terns.

Collaborators

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

Contact

Barnett Rattner, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Gary Heinz, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Robert Hale, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences