Custer, T. W., Bunck, C. M., and Stafford, C. L. , 1985, Organochlorine
concentrations in prefledging common terns Sterna hirundo at three Rhode Island
USA colonies: Colonial Waterbirds, v. 8, no. 2, p. 150-154.

Abstract:

Concentrations of DDE, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated
diphenyl ethers (PCDPEs) in carcasses of prefledging Common Terns (Sterna
hirundo) at three Rhode Island colonies support the hypothesis that local
contamination is responsible for among-colony differences observed in eggs in an
earlier study. The highest concentrations of DDE and PCBs (mean=0.24 and 2.8
ppm wet weight) were found in prefledging terns from Providence, a highly
industrialized area, and the lowest (DDE  range=nd-0.11, PCBs mean=0.85) in
terns from Price Neck, an undeveloped area 40 km to the south, PCDPEs were
detected in 3 of 14 tern carcasses from Providence and were not detected in
carcasses from 2 other colonies. The occurrence and concentrations of DDE and
PCBs in killifish (Fundulus spp.), a major dietary item of Common Terns,
qualitatively demonstrated the same trend among locations.

Keywords:

Fundulus-spp., polychlorinated diphenyl, ether, DDE, polychlorinated biphenyl,
local contamination