Effects of Atrazine on Penned Pheasants and the Occurrence of Stress Marks on Feathers

Doses of 4 g of atrazine (AAtrex) were not lethal to penned hen pheasants (Phasispus colchicus), but levels of 6, 8, 10 and 12 g induced mortality. Pen studies to determine the effects of atrazine on reproduction of hen pheasants were conducted with two replicates of the basic test. Birds were administered treatment levels of 0, 100, 200, or 400 mg of atrazine per hen per week. Egg production and gain in weight of hens were unaffected by the treatments. Replicate A eggs were unaffected by the treatments. Replicate A eggs were unaffected in shell thickness and pipping rates, while fertility and hatchability were statistically different. Replicate B eggs were unaffected in fertility, hatchability and shell thickness but indicated a significant difference in pipping rates. Hens receiving 200 and 400 mg of atrazine laid eggs that were significantly lighter in weight than eggs from control birds. Survival and gain in weight of chicks were not different between treatments. Effects of the atrazine on behavior tested with visual cliff performance and susceptibility to hand capture indicated no differences between experimental and control birds. Stress marks were visible in plumage of pheasants subjected to environmental change, limited diet, and caging. Stress marks related to atrazine ingestion were not determinable in the experimental design utilized.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Year

1975

Author dc:creator

• Melius, Thomas Orin

• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• <p>No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only<br /><a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/</a></p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/181

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1181