How did the pesticide DDT threatened the population of the brown pelican?

Question

Clara Addison · Accepted Answer

DDT changes the way in which birds metabolize calcium, resulting in unusually thin-shelled eggs which sadly can't support the weight of a mother during the incubation period.

The California condor is a prime example of a bird that is still unable to lay eggs in the United States with sufficiently thick shells to prevent cracking, demonstrating the ongoing effects of DDT. The lesson here is that convenience comes at a cost, and we should learn from our mistakes with DDT usage. The use of DDT as a pesticide began in 1939 and continued for nearly 2.5 decades, devastating wildlife not just in that time period but for decades thereafter. If a product is incredibly effective at fixing one issue, we shouldn't assume it magically has no side effects, both in the short and long term.

Isaac Ayoub · Answer

undefined The pesticide DDT threatened the population of the brown pelican by causing thinning of eggshells, which resulted in reproductive failure and a decline in their numbers. DDT accumulates in the bodies of organisms and disrupts calcium metabolism, leading to the production of fragile eggs that were more likely to break during incubation or fail to hatch. As a result, brown pelican populations suffered significant declines due to reproductive failures caused by DDT contamination in their environment.