Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Pheasant Reproduction, Behavior, and Survival

Abstract

Cock pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were given single capsules weekly containing either 0 or 25 mg polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) for 17 weeks in the spring of 1970. Hen pheasants mated to these cock groups were given single capsules weekly containing 0, 12.5, or 50 mg PCB (Aroclor 1254). Among groups receiving PCB, egg production was depressed significantly ( P < 0.05), and the number of eggs that were pipped but not hatched was increased significantly (P < 0.05). Even though weekly weight changes of hens, fertility and hatchability of eggs, mortality of adults, and eggshell thickness did not appear to be affected by PCB, total reproductive success was depressed. Behavior, on a visual cliff, of chicks hatched from hens given 50 mg weekly was significantly different (P < 0.01), more of them jumped to the visually deep side or made no choice of sides than chicks from other groups. Mortality of chicks from hatching to 6 weeks of age was significantly greater (P < 0.01) in the offspring of hens receiving 50 mg PCB weekly, and surviving chicks of this group were significantly lighter (P < 0.05) in weight than other groups at 6 weeks of age. EFFECTS OF PCB S ON PHEASANTS * Dahlgren and Linde} 315 tivity of Heterakis gallinae eggs with Histomonas meleagridis. Exptl. Parasitol. 6(2):189193. , AND ANNE M. CHUTE. 1970. Relative importance of young and mature turkeys and chickens in contaminating soil with Histomonas-bearing Heterakis eggs. Avian Diseases 14(2):342-348. , AND . 1971. The ring-necked pheasant ( Phasian1ls colchicus torquatus ) as a host for Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis. Am. Midland Naturalist. ( In press. ) PHILLIPS, J. C. 1928. Wild birds introduced or transplanted in North America. U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bull. 61. 64pp. Received for publication October 10, 1970. Polychlorinated biphenyls have been detected in wildlife in Europe (The New Scientist 1966, Holden and Marsden 1967, Holmes et al. 1967, Jensen et al. 1a9, Koeman et al. 1969) and in the United States ( Risebrough et al. 1968, Anderson et al. 1969, Bagley et al. 1970, Risebrough 1970). This chlorinated hydrocarbon was found as a residue in tissues of both seabirds and land-dwelling species. The induction of steroid enzymes in the liver by PCB has been demonstrated in both laboratory rats ( Street et al. 1969 ) and in pigeons (Risebrough et al. 1968); and 1 Supported jointly by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, South Dakota State University) and The Wildlife Management Institute. since the capacity of PCB to induce these enzymes is as potent as or more potent than DDT, PCB's have been implicated in eggshell thinning. Sax ( 1963:596) indicated that the liver of man could be injured by PCB; liver damage has been shown for guinea pigs, laboratory rats, and domestic rabbits by Miller (1944). McCune et al. (1962) and Flick et al. (1N5) found that PCB fed to young chickens produced edema and pathological changes in internal organs. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of PCB on reproduction, survival, and behavior of pheasants. We are grateful to W. L. Tucker, Statistician, Agricultural Experiment Station, South Dakota State University, for statistical advice. This study was conducted with This content downloaded from 157.55.39.147 on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:25:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 316 Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 35, No. 2, April 1971 funds supplied by the U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.