Chlorinated hydrocarbons and total mercury in the prey of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla L.) in the Quarken Straits of the Gulf of Bothnia, Finland.

Abstract

Samples of the white-tailed eagle population and its prey were collected from the Quarken straits area of the Gulf of Bothnia, Finland, and were analyzed for DDT, DDD, PCBs, aldrin, lindane, and mercury. Mercury, PCB, and DDE were detected in all animals studied. It was concluded that one of the most important reasons for the poor breeding results of the white-tained eagle (especially hatchability) are the combined effects of the studied pollutants originating for the most part from the fish-eating species in its prey (mergansers and great crested grebes). (JTE)