University of Guelph researchers studied nearly 700 herring gull eggs from the Great Lakes region and have found that based on egg colour they can determine environmental contamination levels.
Using a spectrophotometer to measure slight colour variation, researchers found that when contamination levels are higher the egg is not as blue-green as it would be in less contaminated areas.
Because all birds share the same two colour pigments in their eggs – brown and blue-green, it is possible that this study could be applied to other populations and used around the world.
Terri-Lee Reid
Terri-Lee Reid is a Freshwater Conservation Researcher at the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF). She leads initiatives in researching, designing and delivering freshwater programs and advocating CWF’s freshwater positions to government, the public and other stakeholders.
