Bioaccumulation of metals and reproductive effects in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:37474

La Tier, A J; Pastorok, R A; Ginn, T C ^[1]; Garcia, P I ^[2]

---

1. PTI Environmental Services, Bellevue, WA (United States)
2. BioSystems Analysis, Santa Cruz, CA (United States)

Reproductive parameters were used to evaluate the potential effects of exposure on female deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) to metals-enriched soils in the Upper Clark Fork River Superfund Complex. Deer mice were collected from floodplain and transitional area habitats in each of four drainages with a wide range of metals concentrations in soil. Whole-body tissue concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were measured in composite samples of male and female deer mice. Females were necropsied, and the uterus was removed to evaluate reproductive performance based on percentages of females with embryos and with uterine scars (i.e., implantation sites) and the mean numbers of embryos and uterine scars per female. Reproductive activity was evidenced by the presence of embryos or uterine scaring in animals from metals-enriched areas. Despite elevated body burden of metals in mice from study areas, deer mice were prevalent in all areas, and mean litter size (4.4/female) was normal for this region (4--6 pups/female). Reproductive indicators suggested that the rate of reproduction was higher in the study areas than in the reference area. These results indicate that the metals elevations in deer mice do not result in measurable effects on reproduction.

• OSTI ID: 37474
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
LAND POLLUTION
LEAD
MICE
MONTANA
SENSITIVITY
SOILS
US SUPERFUND
ZINC