title: Organochlorine and mercury residues in eggs of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) from a long term study in the eastern Mediterranean.
abstract: Organochlorine and mercury residues were analyzed in unhatched eggs of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) (2002-2012) in central Greece. Concentrations graded as ∑DDTs > ∑PCBs > HCB > ∑HCHs > ∑Chlordanes. Temporal declines were found in the concentrations of ∑DDTs, ∑HCHs and ∑Chlordanes but not in Hg, HCB and ∑PCBs. TEQs of PCBs and their degree of metabolisation showed no time trend. The reproductive parameters showed neither a temporal trend nor a significant year effect. No relationships occurred between the reproductive parameters per year and nest type (natural, artificial) with any of the contaminants analyzed except HCB influenced by year and clutch size. Low pollutant concentrations suggest that either lesser kestrels ranged across the year in unpolluted areas or may be caused by their short food chain. The low concentrations seem improbable to have affected the reproduction of these birds, although critical levels are still to be defined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: vgoutner@bio.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goutner
authors.affiliation: School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Laboratory of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box 241, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bakaloudis
authors.affiliation: School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Laboratory of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box 241, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Malamati A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Papakosta
authors.affiliation: School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Laboratory of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box 241, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, D-26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mattig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, D-26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pijanowska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, D-26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D052284:Clutch Size; D004531:Eggs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D046093:Falconiformes; D020387:Food Chain; D006115:Greece; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Eggs; Lesser kestrel; Mercury; Organochlorines; Reproduction