Caspian tern

Birds. In avian populations, organochlorine-associated suppression of T-cell mediated immune response has been found in herring gull and Caspian tern colonies adjacent to the Great Lakes in Northern America.In the most severe cases, immune response was suppressed by up to 50%. Similarly, seabirds exposed to petrochemicals from oil spills have been found to have suppressed immune function. " ... 

Ludwig, J.P., Auman, H.J., and Kurita, H. et al. (1993). Caspian tern reproduction in the Saginaw Bay ecosystem following a 100 year flood event. Journal of Great Lakes Research 19, 96-108... 

Ewins, P.J., D.V. Weseloh, R.J. Norstrom, K. Lagierse, H.J. Auman, and J.P. Ludwig. 1994. Caspian Terns on the Great Lakes Organochlorine Contamination, Reproduction, Diet, and Population Changes, 1972-1991. Canad. Wildl. Serv., Occas. Paper Numb. 85. 28 pp. 

Struger, J.S. and D.V. Weseloh. 1985. Great Lakes Caspian terns egg contaminants and biological implications. Colonial Waterbirds 8 142-149. 

Caspian tern, Sterna caspia Egg Washington State 1991 ... 

Mora, M.A., H.J. Auman, J.P. Ludwig, J.P. Giesy, D.A. Verbrugge, and M.E. Ludwig. 1993. Polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated insecticides in plasma of Caspian terns relationships with age, productivity, and colony site tenacity in the Great Lakes. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 24 320-331. 

Grasman, K.A., and Fox, G.A., Associations between altered immune function and organochlorine contamination in young Caspian terns (Sterna caspia) from Lake Huron, 1997-1999, Ecotoxicology, 10, 101, 2001. 

Ludwig, J.R, et al., Deformities, PCBs, and TCDD-equivalents in double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and Caspian terns (Sterna caspia) of the upper Great Lakes, 1986-1991 Testing a cause-effect hypothesis, J. Great Lakes Res., 22, 172, 1996. 

Similar to cormorants, it appears that most of the PCDD/Fs found in Caspian tern eggs are accumulated outside the Great Lakes prior to nesting, however, there may be some local influence, especially on 2378-TeCDF concentrations. 

Yamashita, N., Tanabe, S., Ludwig, J.P., Kurita, H., Ludwig, M.E., Tatsukawa, R., 1993. Embryonic abnormalities and organochlorine contamination in double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) from the upper Great Lakes in 1988. Environ. Pollut. 79, 163-173. 

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