Which specific chemicals severely reduced White-Tailed Eagle numbers mid-20th century?
Answer
Organochlorine pesticides like DDT
The dramatic decline observed in the White-Tailed Eagle population across much of its range during the mid-20th century was strongly linked to widespread environmental contamination. The primary chemical culprits identified were organochlorine pesticides, most notably DDT. These substances entered the food chain and biomagnified, leading to critical reproductive failure in the eagles, primarily by causing the thinning of their eggshells.
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