Effects of Injected Organochlorines on Naturally Incubated Herring Gull Eggs

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Abstract
Organochlorine contaminants were extracted from Lake Ontario herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs and injected into relatively uncontaminated, unincubated gull eggs on Kent Island, New Brunswick [Canada]. Synthetic mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyl, DDE, mirex, photomirex and hexachlorobenzene were injected in a similar fashion. All eggs were incubated by their natural parents. No increases in embryonic or chick mortality were observed in any contaminated injected group when compared to the injected controls. The embryonic uptake of pollutants was similar in naturally contaminated eggs and injected eggs. The significance of these findings with regard to the reproductive failure of Lake Ontario herring gulls is discussed.