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DDE effects on reproduction of ring doves

M. A. Haegele·R. H. Hudson
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Abstract

Reproductive performance was measured for 126 days in twelve pairs of ring doves ( Streptopelia risoria ) fed a diet containing 40 ppm of p,p'-DDE and in twelve other pairs given untreated food. The DDE-treated doves took an average of 2 1 2 "> 2 1/2 times longer to renest than controls, produced 13·5% fewer eggs/clutch, had 10% thinner eggs, and experienced twice as great mortality of young; all these differences were statistically significant. Hatchability was also lower but not significantly so. Control birds nested forty-nine times during the study, laying two eggs in each clutch. DDE-treated birds nested only thirty-three times, laying an average of 1·7 eggs/clutch. The combined effects of DDE on reproduction resulted in only ten young being successfully raised by DDE-treated pairs versus thirty-five being raised by controls.

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BibTeXRIS

M. A. Haegele, R. H. Hudson. 1973. DDE effects on reproduction of ring doves. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9327(73)90031-1

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