PREFACE 



This report summarizes the research conducted from 1 July 1975 to 30 September 1978 

 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) about the effects of petroleum on aquatic birds. 

 The following assessments were made: 



1 . Effects of oiling on hatchability of eggs. 



2. Effects of oil ingestion on physiological condition and survival of birds. 



3. Effects of oil ingestion on reproduction in birds. 



4. Accumulation and loss of oil by birds. 



5. Development of analytical methods for identification and quantification of oil break- 

 down products in tissues and eggs of ducks. 



Research was funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Inter- 

 agency Energy-Environment Research and Development Program and the FWS Environmental 

 Contaminants Evaluation Program, with Dr. Allan Hirsch, Chief, Office of Biological Services, 

 serving as FWS coordinator. Coastal Ecosystems Project contacts were Drs. William Palmisano 

 and Howard Tait. Mr. Clinton Hall served as EPA's coordinator. The research was conducted at 

 the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, under the direction of Dr. Lucille F. Stickel and Dr. 

 Michael P. Dieter. 



Questions about this research and requests for this publication should be directed to: 



Information Transfer Specialist 

 National Coastal Ecosystems Team 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 NASA-Slidell Computer Complex 

 1010 Gause Blvd. 

 Slidell, LA. 70458 



This report should be cited as follows: 



Stickel, L.F., and M. P. Dieter. 1979. Ecological and physiological/toxicological effects 

 of petroleum on aquatic birds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Services Program. 

 FWS/OBS-79/23. 14 pp. 



