Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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van den Hoek J. & Eygenraam J.A. (1965) Radioactive contamination in a wild bird population. ARDEA 53 (1-2): 1-8
During 1962 and 1963 Sr90 contamination was investigated in a small number of first year individuals of Anser albifrons. The aim of this study was to obtain data on the actual contamination levels, on the fluctuations in successive years and the variation within the population of these birds. The mean contamination level of bone in animals born in 1961 was 10 pCi Sr90/g.Ca, and that of individuals born in 1962, 29 pCi Sr90/g.Ca. This increase can be explained by higher dietary contamination levels, due to an increase in direct contamination which resulted from the nuclear explosions in the autumn of 1961. The variation within the groups is relatively small and comparable to that of a group of domesticated animals which were given exactly the same food. The reasons for this small variation are discussed. The conclusion seems justified that this procedure leads to a satisfactory estimate of contamination levels in these populations.


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