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| DDT Levels and Eagle Population ?'s; DDT, eagle population numbes | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 15 2009, 03:07 PM (455 Views) | |
| Lauri | Apr 15 2009, 03:07 PM Post #1 |
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Advanced Member
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Dear Dr. Sharpe, In regard to what you recently said about DDT as one possible culprit in the death of the PH chicks... since the local fish also have levels of DDT in their systems that could affect the eagles, has there been testing done on the fish? Using studies from the past, has anyone extrapolated when it could possibly be that the fish (and, by association, the animals that prey upon the fish) will be free of DDT? I assume that each year the concentration goes down and so it might be possible to make an estimate of when the residues might dissipate. Also, looking at historical records-- say from a hundred years ago-- are there any estimates of what sort of eagle population was on Catalina or the other islands at that time? What will be the ultimate sustainable population the islands might support in the future? Are the islands at-- say 20%-- of their optimum population? Lauri |
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| Eagle Guy | Apr 16 2009, 08:44 AM Post #2 |
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Advanced Member
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I don't think DDT had anything to do with the death of the PH chicks. The DDT levels in fish are quite low, except in the areas off the Palos Verdes Peninsula where the DDT was dumped. Some modeling suggests that DDT levels could actually increase for the next 10-20 years and then begin to decrease. It will probably be around for another 100 years or more. Historically, the Channel Islands are believed to have had at least 25 pairs of bald eagles, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were actually twice that many. We are now at about known 15 pairs, of which, 9-10 are breeding. |
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| Lauri | Apr 16 2009, 11:21 AM Post #3 |
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Advanced Member
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Dear Dr. Sharpe, Another hundred years of DDT contamination? Potent stuff, that! Yeeps. Thanks for your response. It's appreciated. Lauri |
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4:56 PM Jul 10