insoluble fission products that are absorbed by the plants in
minimal amounts under normal conditions.

The remaining portion

of the radioactivity 1s found in the more soluble calciunstrontium fraction which is known to be actively absorbed by
living plants.

The marked difference between the percent of

calcium-strontium fraction found in the plants from Engebi and
that found in the soils indicates that the plants absorbed more

of this fraction than any of the other radioactive materials
present in the soil.
Conclusions.

Analysis of the data obtained from counts

made of 57 samples of land plants collected after Mike detonation shows a correlation between distance of collection area
from ground zero and amount of radioactivity in the samples.

On the basis of these data no clear cut differences can he
pointed out as to the relative activity between species or between organs of a plant. The problems presented by surface con-

tamination make further interpretations unreliable.

4.7

Rate and Birds
Collecting Methods.

Attempts were made to collect rodents

and birds at éach of the principal collecting stations although
they were not always successful.

Collections of rats (Rattus exulans) were made by setting
live traps

in the runways near the openings of the rat burrows.

The traps were left overnight since these rats are, for the

most part, nocturnal in their feeding habits.

- 61-.

Openings to the

wa RSa

‘Tf

Select target paragraph3