Which wildlife effect is typical of organochlorine pesticides?

• A. Eggshell thinning
• B. Increased hatch success
• C. Increased population prevalence
• D. No effect

Answer: (A)

Organochlorine pesticides are highly persistent and accumulate in fatty tissues of animals, especially birds. In birds, this bioaccumulation disrupts calcium metabolism during eggshell formation, weakening the shell and producing eggs that are thinner than normal. This makes eggs more prone to breakage during incubation, reducing hatchability and often driving declines in wildlife populations such as birds of prey. So, the typical wildlife effect is thinning of the eggshells, not improved hatch success, not population increases, and not a complete lack of effect.