Organochlorine Contaminants in Common Goldeneye Wintering on the Niagara River

Abstract

We collected adult male common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) near their time of arrival on wintering grounds (Nov-Dec) (n = 26) and just prior to spring migration (Feb-Mar) (n = 24) from the Upper Niagara River (UNR), New York, to identify and measure organochlorine contaminants in fat tissues. Detectable concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxychlordane, and heptachlor epoxide (HE) were found in all adult birds. Polychlorinated biphenyl, dieldrin, HCB, and HE increased (P < 0.05) in adults between the 2 sample periods. In a group of hatching-year (HY) birds sampled in November-December (n = 27), organochlorine residues were less than those of adults from the same period (P < 0.001). Contaminants known to occur in prey items (e.g., crustaceans, gastropods, insects, pelecypods, fish, and annelids) are probably the major source of exposure for common goldeneye on the Niagara River. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 52(3):441-445 The Niagara River is important winter habitat for 15,000-20,000 ducks (Beardslee and Mitchell 1965). Greater scaup (Aythya marila), canvasback (A. valisineria), common merganser (Mergus merganser), red-breasted merganser (M. serrator), oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis), and common goldeneye are the primary wintering species. Common goldeneye arrive on the Niagara River during late November-early December and stay until mid-March. Their numbers peak at about 3,000 from early January to mid-February (N.Y. State Dep. Environ. Conserv., unpubl. data). Several studies of the Niagara River have found toxic chemicals in water, sediment, benthos, and fish (Yurawecz 1979, Elder et al. 1981, Niagara River Toxics Comm. 1984). Polychlorinated biphenyl, DDE, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), oxychlordane, and HE have been found in limited numbers of common and red-breasted mergansers, greater scaup, and bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) from the Niagara River (Baker et al. 1976, Kim et al. 1984, N.Y. State Dep. Environ. Conserv. 1984). Organochlorine contaminants from the Niagara River may accumulate to significant levels in wintering common goldeneye because animal foods are important in their diet (Cottam 1939, Stewart 1962, Cronan and Halla 1968). Accumulation of persistent compounds in ducks is a concern to managers of the Niagara River waterfowl resource. From 1974 to 1984, a mean of 988 hunters annually used public blinds on Grand Island (Fig. 1) (N.Y. State Dep. Environ. Conserv., unpubl. data). In addition, comparable hunting pressure occurred on privately owned portions of Grand Island. Humans consuming waterfowl from the Niagara River are exposed to contaminants. The objectives of our study were to identify organochlorine contaminants that occur in common goldeneye wintering on UNR and compare changes in contaminant concentrations in birds from early to late winter. We extend gratitude to B. H. Hohmann, K. N. Williams, D. L. Kiel, M. Kandel, and the cooperating sportsmen whose assistance was essential in completing this study. T. L. Moore, J. R. Snider, and J. R. Colquhoun provided encouragement and advice. An early draft was improved by J. J. Spagnoli, K. F. Wich, G. A. Barnhart, E. G. Horn, and J. Moser. This study was funded through New York's Return a Gift to Wildlife Program, a voluntary contribution program supported by New York taxpayers, and Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration