PARENT SESSION
PS1 - Wildlife Toxicology
Sunday, 17 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall

(P004) Organochlorine Residues in American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Eggs from Florida.

Canas, Jaclyn^*,1, Finger, Adam¹, Tian, Kang¹, Woodward, Allan², Anderson, Todd¹, ¹ Institute of Environmental & Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA² Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, USA

ABSTRACT- American alligator eggs (n=100) collected from four lakes in Florida over a four year period (1998-2001) were analyzed for organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues. These analyses were conducted to obtain exposure information and to possibly relate OC exposure to differences in hatching success among nests within the lakes. Homogenized egg yolks were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction, cleaned up using gel permeation chromatography, and analyzed with gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The major OC detected was DDE (99% of the eggs) at concentrations ranging from non-detect to 18 ppm (g/g). Other OCs detected included lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDT, and methoxychlor. DDE was also found at the highest concentration in 94% of the eggs. There was a relationship between OC residues and nest location, with eggs from Lake Apopka and Lake Griffin having the highest OC burdens.

Key words: alligator eggs, organochlorine residues, pesticides