1
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Ozaki S, Movalli P, Cincinelli A, Alygizakis N, Badry A, Carter H, Chaplow JS, Claßen D, Dekker RWRJ, Dodd B, Duke G, Koschorreck J, Pereira MG, Potter E, Sleep D, Slobodnik J, Thomaidis NS, Treu G, Walker L. Significant Turning Point: Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo) Exposure to Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides in the United Kingdom. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6093-6104. [PMID: 38545700 PMCID: PMC11008253 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are widely used to control rodent populations, resulting in the serious secondary exposure of predators to these contaminants. In the United Kingdom (UK), professional use and purchase of SGARs were revised in the 2010s. Certain highly toxic SGARs have been authorized since then to be used outdoors around buildings as resistance-breaking chemicals under risk mitigation procedures. However, it is still uncertain whether and how these regulatory changes have influenced the secondary exposure of birds of prey to SGARs. Based on biomonitoring of the UK Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) collected from 2001 to 2019, we assessed the temporal trend of exposure to SGARs and statistically determined potential turning points. The magnitude of difenacoum decreased over time with a seasonal fluctuation, while the magnitude and prevalence of more toxic brodifacoum, authorized to be used outdoors around buildings after the regulatory changes, increased. The summer of 2016 was statistically identified as a turning point for exposure to brodifacoum and summed SGARs that increased after this point. This time point coincided with the aforementioned regulatory changes. Our findings suggest a possible shift in SGAR use to brodifacoum from difenacoum over the decades, which may pose higher risks of impacts on wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Ozaki
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Paola Movalli
- Naturalis
Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Nikiforos Alygizakis
- Environmental
Institute, Okružná
784/42, 97241 Koš, Slovak Republic
- Department
of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian
University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Alexander Badry
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Heather Carter
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline S. Chaplow
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Daniela Claßen
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | | | - Beverley Dodd
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Guy Duke
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Bldg, Benson Ln, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Koschorreck
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - M. Glória Pereira
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Elaine Potter
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Darren Sleep
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | | | - Nikolaos S. Thomaidis
- Department
of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian
University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Gabriele Treu
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Lee Walker
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
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2
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Elliott JE, Silverthorn V, English SG, Mineau P, Hindmarch S, Thomas PJ, Lee S, Bowes V, Redford T, Maisonneuve F, Okoniewski J. Anticoagulant Rodenticide Toxicity in Terrestrial Raptors: Tools to Estimate the Impact on Populations in North America and Globally. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38415966 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) have caused widespread contamination and poisoning of predators and scavengers. The diagnosis of toxicity proceeds from evidence of hemorrhage, and subsequent detection of residues in liver. Many factors confound the assessment of AR poisoning, particularly exposure dose, timing and frequency of exposure, and individual and taxon-specific variables. There is a need, therefore, for better AR toxicity criteria. To respond, we compiled a database of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) residues in liver and postmortem evaluations of 951 terrestrial raptor carcasses from Canada and the United States, 1989 to 2021. We developed mixed-effects logistic regression models to produce specific probability curves of the toxicity of ∑SGARs at the taxonomic level of the family, and separately for three SGARs registered in North America, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difethialone. The ∑SGAR threshold concentrations for diagnosis of coagulopathy at 0.20 probability of risk were highest for strigid owls (15 ng g-1 ) lower and relatively similar for accipitrid hawks and eagles (8.2 ng g-1 ) and falcons (7.9 ng g-1 ), and much lower for tytonid barn owls (0.32 ng g-1 ). These values are lower than those we found previously, due to compilation and use of a larger database with a mix of species and source locations, and also to refinements in the statistical methods. Our presentation of results on the family taxonomic level should aid in the global applicability of the numbers. We also collated a subset of 440 single-compound exposure events and determined the probability of SGAR-poisoning symptoms as a function of SGAR concentration, which we then used to estimate relative SGAR toxicity and toxic equivalence factors: difethialone, 1, brodifacoum, 0.8, and bromadiolone, 0.5. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Elliott
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
- Applied Animal Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Veronica Silverthorn
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Simon G English
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pierre Mineau
- Pierre Mineau Consulting, Salt Spring Island, Canada
- Biology Department, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sofi Hindmarch
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Philippe J Thomas
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Directorate, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandi Lee
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Victoria Bowes
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tony Redford
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - France Maisonneuve
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Directorate, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph Okoniewski
- Wildlife Health Unit, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Delmar, New York, USA
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3
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Headland T, Colombelli-Négrel D, Callaghan CT, Sumasgutner SC, Kleindorfer S, Sumasgutner P. Smaller Australian raptors have greater urban tolerance. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11559. [PMID: 37463922 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38493-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanisation is occurring around the world at a rapid rate and is generally associated with negative impacts on biodiversity at local, regional, and global scales. Examining the behavioural response profiles of wildlife to urbanisation helps differentiate between species that do or do not show adaptive responses to changing landscapes and hence are more or less likely to persist in such environments. Species-specific responses to urbanisation are poorly understood in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere, where most of the published literature is focussed. This is also true for raptors, despite their high diversity and comparably high conservation concern in the Southern Hemisphere, and their critical role within ecosystems as bioindicators of environmental health. Here, we explore this knowledge gap using community science data sourced from eBird to investigate the urban tolerance of 24 Australian raptor species at a continental scale. We integrated eBird data with a global continuous measure of urbanisation, artificial light at night (ALAN), to derive an urban tolerance index, ranking species from positive to negative responses according to their tolerance of urban environments. We then gathered trait data from the published literature to assess whether certain traits (body mass, nest substrate, habitat type, feeding guild, and migratory status) were associated with urban tolerance. Body size was negatively associated with urban tolerance, as smaller raptors had greater urban tolerance than larger raptors. Out of the 24 species analysed, 13 species showed tolerance profiles for urban environments (positive response), and 11 species showed avoidance profiles for urban environments (negative response). The results of this study provide impetus to conserve native habitat and improve urban conditions for larger-bodied raptor species to conserve Australian raptor diversity in an increasingly urbanised world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Headland
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia
| | | | - Corey T Callaghan
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, 33314-7719, USA
| | - Shane C Sumasgutner
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center (KLF), Core Facility for Behavior and Cognition, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645, Grünau/Almtal, Austria
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center (KLF), Core Facility for Behavior and Cognition, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645, Grünau/Almtal, Austria
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center (KLF), Core Facility for Behavior and Cognition, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645, Grünau/Almtal, Austria.
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4
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Nessi A, Winkler A, Tremolada P, Saliu F, Lasagni M, Ghezzi LLM, Balestrieri A. Microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems: A study using barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136281. [PMID: 36064015 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are recognised as an emerging environmental problem that needs to be carefully monitored. So far, MPs have been widely recorded in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Still, few studies have focused on MP occurrence in terrestrial ecosystems, although soils are suspected to be one of the main MP reservoirs. To test a non-invasive method for assessing MP contamination in terrestrial ecosystems, we analysed the pellets of a top terrestrial predator, the barn owl (Tyto alba). Sixty pellets were collected from three agricultural areas (20 pellets each) and analysed to assess both barn owl diet and MP content. Thirty-four MPs were confirmed by micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μ-FTIR) analysis in 33% of the pellets (min-max 1-5 MPs per pellet). Most of the detected items were microfibres (88.2%). Polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile and polyamide were the most abundant polymers. One of the three sites was significantly less contaminated. In the two sites with the highest MP occurrences, barn owl diet was characterised by predation on synanthropic rodents, particularly brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), which may indicate habitat degradation and increased exposure to MPs. Analyses also suggest that Savi's pine vole (Microtus savii) is the prey least at risk of MP contamination, probably due to its strictly herbivorous diet. We argue that the analysis of barn owl pellets may represent a cost-effective method for monitoring MP contamination in terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nessi
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Anna Winkler
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Tremolada
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Saliu
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Lasagni
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Balestrieri
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
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5
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Morozov NS. The Role of Predators in Shaping Urban Bird Populations. 4. The Urban Predation Paradox and Its Probable Causes. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022090242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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6
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Viteri MC, Hadly EA. Spatiotemporal impacts of the Anthropocene on small mammal communities, and the role of small biological preserves in maintaining biodiversity. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.916239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The multi-faceted impacts of the Anthropocene are increasingly modifying natural ecosystems and threatening biodiversity. Can small protected spaces conserve small mammal diversity across spatial and temporal scales of human impact? We identified small mammal remains from modern raptor pellets and Holocene archeological sites along a human modification gradient in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA and evaluated alpha and beta diversity across sites and time periods. We found that Shannon diversity, standardized species richness, and evenness decrease across modern sites based on level of human modification, with no corresponding change between Holocene sites. Additionally, the alpha diversity of modern sites with moderate and high levels of human modification was significantly lower than the diversity of modern sites with low levels of human modification as well as all Holocene sites. On the other hand, the small mammal communities from Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, a small protected area, retain Holocene levels of alpha diversity. Jasper Ridge has also changed less over time in terms of overall community composition (beta diversity) than more modified sites. Despite this, Holocene and Anthropocene communities are distinct regardless of study area. Our results suggest that small mammal communities today are fundamentally different from even a few centuries ago, but that even relatively small protected spaces can partially conserve native faunal communities, highlighting their important role in urban conservation.
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Elliott JE, Silverthorn V, Hindmarch S, Lee S, Bowes V, Redford T, Maisonneuve F. Anticoagulant Rodenticide Contamination of Terrestrial Birds of Prey from Western Canada: Patterns and Trends, 1988-2018. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:1903-1917. [PMID: 35678209 PMCID: PMC9540899 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As the dominant means for control of pest rodent populations globally, anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs), particularly the second-generation compounds (SGARs), have widely contaminated nontarget organisms. We present data on hepatic residues of ARs in 741 raptorial birds found dead or brought into rehabilitation centers in British Columbia, Canada, over a 30-year period from 1988 to 2018. Exposure varied by species, by proximity to residential areas, and over time, with at least one SGAR residue detected in 74% of individuals and multiple residues in 50% of individuals. By comparison, we detected first-generation compounds in <5% of the raptors. Highest rates of exposure were in barred owls (Strix varia), 96%, and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), 81%, species with diverse diets, including rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus), and inhabiting suburban and intensive agricultural habitats. Barn owls (Tyto alba), mainly a vole (Microtus) eater, had a lower incidence of exposure of 65%. Putatively, bird-eating raptors also had a relatively high incidence of exposure, with 75% of Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) and 60% of sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus) exposed. Concentrations of SGARs varied greatly, for example, in barred owls, the geometric mean ∑SGAR = 0.13, ranging from <0.005 to 1.81 μg/g wet weight (n = 208). Barred owls had significantly higher ∑SGAR concentrations than all other species, driven by significantly higher bromadiolone concentrations, which was predicted by the proportion of residential land within their home ranges. Preliminary indications that risk mitigation measures implemented in 2013 are having an influence on exposure include a decrease in mean concentrations of brodifacoum and difethialone in barred and great horned owls and an increase in bromodialone around that inflection point. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1903-1917. © 2022 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. Elliott
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health DirectorateEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaDeltaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Veronica Silverthorn
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health DirectorateEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaDeltaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Sofi Hindmarch
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health DirectorateEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaDeltaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Sandi Lee
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health DirectorateEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaDeltaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Victoria Bowes
- Animal Health CentreBC Ministry of AgricultureAbbotsfordBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Tony Redford
- Animal Health CentreBC Ministry of AgricultureAbbotsfordBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - France Maisonneuve
- Science & Technology BranchEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaOttawaOntarioCanada
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8
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Horváth A, Morvai A, Horváth GF. Difference in small mammal assemblages in the diet of the Common Barn-Owl Tyto alba between two landscapes. ACTA ZOOL ACAD SCI H 2022. [DOI: 10.17109/azh.68.2.189.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
As an opportunistic predator, the Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba) proved to be an appropriate model organism to survey the composition of small mammal assemblages. This study analysed barn owls’ pellet samples from 14 localities containing 34 animal taxa and 4,088 prey items in two years (2015–2016). Two groups of samples (7–7 localities) were separated based on the dominance of semi-natural habitats and agricultural lands. Rarefaction analysis proved that the species richness and diversity of barn owls’ diet were significantly higher in semi-natural landscapes. The multiple regression analysis between PCA scores showed that in the agrarian landscape the abundance of generalist species was influenced by the proportion of forests, while the value of the trophic level index was determined by the size of arable fields. In the case of semi-natural landscapes, the abundance of the synantrop guild and generalist species, especially S. araneus and A. agrarius, was influenced by the proportion of urban areas, the number of habitats and the size of arable fields. The results of this study suggested that the small mammal consumption of the Common Barn-owl is significantly different in the two landscapes, which reflects the impact of habitat heterogeneity and agricultural activity on prey availability.
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Leveau LM. The Harris Hawk ( Parabuteo unicinctus) in Urban Areas of Argentina: Arrival in Mar Del Plata City and Green Area Use in Buenos Aires City. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041023. [PMID: 33916355 PMCID: PMC8066816 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The process of city colonization by raptors has been documented, if scarcely, in the Northern Hemisphere, whereas this kind of event has been seldom documented in the Southern Hemisphere. Additionally, raptor habitat use in urban areas has been scarcely studied in the Southern Hemisphere. The objectives of this study were: (1) to describe an event of Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) arrival in Mar del Plata city, Argentina, and (2) to analyze its green area use in a recently colonized city, Buenos Aires. The Harris Hawk arrival was observed during 2019, mainly in periurban areas of Mar del Plata, and at least three pairs were breeding. In Buenos Aires, the occurrence of the Harris Hawk in green areas was related to the proximity to other large green spaces. The results obtained suggest the importance of green areas for raptor colonization in cities. Abstract Urbanization has a negative impact on raptor species diversity and abundance. However, some species can adapt to urban areas, and the process of city colonization by raptors has been documented scarcely in the Northern Hemisphere. Information about city colonization by raptors in the Southern Hemisphere is null, and studies about habitat use by raptors are scarce. The objectives of this study were: (1) to describe an event of Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) arrival in Mar del Plata city, Argentina, and (2) to analyze its green area use in a recently colonized city, Buenos Aires. Long-term data collected during 2002–2019, along an urbanization gradient of Mar del Plata, was used to describe the city arrival by the Harris Hawk. Surveys of green areas in Buenos Aires were used to model the Harris Hawk occurrence in relation to green area size and isolation to other green spaces. The Harris Hawk arrival was observed during 2019, mainly in periurban areas of Mar del Plata, and at least three pairs were breeding. In Buenos Aires, the occurrence of the Harris Hawk in green areas was related to the proximity to other large green areas. The results obtained suggest the importance of green areas for raptor colonization in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas M Leveau
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires-IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Pab 2, Piso 4, Buenos Aires 1426, Argentina
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10
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Walther B, Geduhn A, Schenke D, Jacob J. Exposure of passerine birds to brodifacoum during management of Norway rats on farms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:144160. [PMID: 33373750 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The exposure of non-target wildlife to anticoagulant compounds used for rodent control is a well-known phenomenon. Exposure can be primary when non-target species consume bait or secondary via uptake of poisoned animals by mammalian and avian predators. However, nothing is known about the exposure patterns in passerine birds that are commonly present on farms where rodent control is conducted. We used liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to screen for residues of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) in liver tissue of passerine birds that were present during rodent control with a product containing brodifacoum (BR). The 222 birds of 13 species were bycatch of rodent snap trapping in 2011-2013 on 11 livestock farms run synchronously with baiting. During baiting, ARs were detected in about 30% of birds; 28% carried BR. In liver tissue of 54 birds that carried BR, concentrations ranged from 4 to 7809 ng/g (mean 490 ± 169 ng/g). Among common bird species with AR residues, BR was most prevalent in robins (Erithacus rubecula) (44%) and dunnocks (Prunella modularis) (41%). Mean BR concentration was highest in great tits (Parus major) (902 ± 405 ng/g). The occurrence and concentrations of BR residues were about 30% higher in birds collected close to bait stations compared to birds collected further away. The results demonstrate that several ground feeding songbird species are exposed to ARs used on farms. If BR was present in liver tissue, concentrations were variable, which may imply a combination of primary and secondary exposure of songbirds. Exposure was mostly restricted to the immediate surroundings of farms where bait was used, which might limit the transfer to the wider environment. Efforts should be made to reduce the access for birds to AR bait to prevent high exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Walther
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany.
| | - Anke Geduhn
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany
| | - Detlef Schenke
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analysis and Stored Product Protection, Königin-Luise-Strasse 19, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Jacob
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany
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11
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Abstract
Urbanization poses a major threat to biodiversity worldwide. We focused on birds as a well-studied taxon of interest, in order to review literature on traits that influence responses to urbanization. We review 226 papers that were published between 1979 and 2020, and aggregate information on five major groups of traits that have been widely studied: ecological traits, life history, physiology, behavior and genetic traits. Some robust findings on trait changes in individual species as well as bird communities emerge. A lack of specific food and shelter resources has led to the urban bird community being dominated by generalist species, while specialist species show decline. Urbanized birds differ in the behavioral traits, showing an increase in song frequency and amplitude, and bolder behavior, as compared to rural populations of the same species. Differential food resources and predatory pressure results in changes in life history traits, including prolonged breeding duration, and increases in clutch and brood size to compensate for lower survival. Other species-specific changes include changes in hormonal state, body state, and genetic differences from rural populations. We identify gaps in research, with a paucity of studies in tropical cities and a need for greater examination of traits that influence persistence and success in native vs. introduced populations.
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Webster HJ, Emami-Khoyi A, van Dyk JC, Teske PR, Jansen van Vuuren B. Environmental DNA Metabarcoding as a Means of Estimating Species Diversity in an Urban Aquatic Ecosystem. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E2064. [PMID: 33171859 PMCID: PMC7695161 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptation to environments that are changing as a result of human activities is critical to species' survival. A large number of species are adapting to, and even thriving in, urban green spaces, but this diversity remains largely undocumented. In the current study, we explored the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) to document species diversity in one of the largest green spaces in Johannesburg, South Africa. Using a novel metabarcoding approach that assembles short DNA fragments suitable for massively parallel sequencing platforms to the approximate standard ~710 bp COI barcoding fragment, we document the presence of 26 phyla, 52 classes, 134 orders, 289 families, 380 genera and 522 known species from the study site. Our results highlight the critical role that urban areas play in protecting the world's declining biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather J. Webster
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Gauteng 2006, South Africa; (H.J.W.); (A.E.-K.); (P.R.T.)
| | - Arsalan Emami-Khoyi
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Gauteng 2006, South Africa; (H.J.W.); (A.E.-K.); (P.R.T.)
| | - Jacobus C. van Dyk
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Gauteng 2006, South Africa;
| | - Peter R. Teske
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Gauteng 2006, South Africa; (H.J.W.); (A.E.-K.); (P.R.T.)
| | - Bettine Jansen van Vuuren
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Gauteng 2006, South Africa; (H.J.W.); (A.E.-K.); (P.R.T.)
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Saufi S, Ravindran S, Hamid NH, Zainal Abidin CMR, Ahmad H, Ahmad AH, Salim H. Diet composition of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica) in urban area in comparison with agriculture settings. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juz025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThis study investigated the diet of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica, Gmelin) in the urban area of the Main Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, based on collected regurgitated pellets. We also compared the diet of the introduced barn owls with the diet of barn owls from two agricultural areas, i.e. oil palm plantations and rice fields. Pellet analysis of introduced barn owls showed that commensal Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, made up the highest proportion of the diet (65.37% prey biomass) while common shrews, Suncus murinus were the second highest consumed prey (30.12% prey biomass). Common plantain squirrel, Callosciurus notatus, made up 4.45% of the diet while insects were taken in a relatively small amount (0.046% prey biomass). Introduced barn owls showed a preference for medium-sized prey, i.e. 40–120 g (52.96% biomass and 38.71% total). In agricultural areas, rice field rats, Rattus argentiventer predominated the diet of barn owls (98.24% prey biomass) in rice fields while Malayan wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, were the most consumed prey in oil palm plantations (99.5% prey biomass). Food niche breadth value was highest for barn owls introduced in an urban area with a value of 2.90, and 1.06 in rice fields and 1.22 in oil palm plantations. Our analysis reiterates the prey preference of barn owls in various landscapes for small mammals. Our results also indicate the suitability of utilizing barn owls as a biological control not only in agricultural areas, but also as a biological control agent for commensal rodent pests in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safwan Saufi
- Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Shakinah Ravindran
- Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Noor Hisham Hamid
- FGV Agri Services Sdn Bhd, Tun Razak Agricultural Research Centre, Jerantut, 27000 Pahang, Malaysia
| | | | - Hamdan Ahmad
- Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
- Vector Control and Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Abu Hassan Ahmad
- Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Hasber Salim
- Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
- Vector Control and Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
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English MD, Robertson GJ, O’Driscoll NJ, Klapstein SJ, Peck LE, Mallory ML. Variation in isotopic niche, digestive tract morphology, and mercury concentrations in two sympatric waterfowl species wintering in Atlantic Canada. Facets (Ott) 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2019-0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sympatric communities of organisms may exploit different ecological niches to avoid intra- and interspecific competition. We examined the isotopic niches of American black ducks ( Anas rubripes) and mallards ( A. platyrhynchos) wintering in coastal and urban areas of Atlantic Canada and compared isotopic niche with digestive tract morphologies and blood mercury (Hg) concentrations. Isotopic niche width (for δ13C and δ15N) varied between the three groups of ducks studied, with coastally foraging black ducks exhibiting the widest isotopic niche, followed by coastal mallards, while urban feeding black ducks had a narrow isotopic niche. These niche differences had physical and chemical consequences: coastal black ducks had longer digestive tracts, a larger range in gizzard sizes, and higher and more variable Hg concentrations than urban black ducks and coastal mallards. This plasticity in ecological niche may reduce competition among and within species, and subsequently explain why winter numbers of black ducks and mallards have increased in Atlantic Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gregory J. Robertson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4T3, Canada
| | - Nelson J. O’Driscoll
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Sara J. Klapstein
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Liam E. Peck
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Mark L. Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
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Fröhlich A, Ciach M. Nocturnal noise and habitat homogeneity limit species richness of owls in an urban environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:17284-17291. [PMID: 31012067 PMCID: PMC6546646 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05063-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation are listed among the most significant effects of urbanization, which is regarded as an important threat to wildlife. Owls are the top predators in most terrestrial habitats, and their presence is a reliable indicator of ecosystem quality and complexity. However, influence of urbanization on owl communities, anthropogenic noise in particular, has not been investigated so far. The aim of this study was to identify the role of noise and landcover heterogeneity in the species richness of owl assemblage in the urban ecosystem. Owls were surveyed in the city of Kraków (southern Poland) on 65 randomly selected sample plots (1 km2). The area of main landcover types, landcover diversity index, mean size of landcover patch, and nocturnal noise level were defined within the sample plots and correlated with owl species richness. Five owl species were recorded in the study area with forests as the dominant landcover type for Tawny and Ural owls, grasslands for Long-eared and Barn owls, and gardens for Little owls. In total, 52% of sample plots were occupied by at least one species (1-3 species per plot). The number of owl species was positively correlated with landcover diversity index and negatively correlated with nocturnal noise emission. This study demonstrates that species richness of owls in urban areas may be shaped by landcover heterogeneity and limited by noise intensity. This indicates that noise changes top predator assemblage, which in consequence may disturb predator-prey interactions within human-transformed habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arkadiusz Fröhlich
- Department of Forest Biodiversity, Institute of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425, Kraków, Poland
| | - Michał Ciach
- Department of Forest Biodiversity, Institute of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425, Kraków, Poland.
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Lohr MT. Anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in an Australian predatory bird increases with proximity to developed habitat. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 643:134-144. [PMID: 29936157 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are commonly used worldwide to control commensal rodents. Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are highly persistent and have the potential to cause secondary poisoning in wildlife. To date no comprehensive assessment has been conducted on AR residues in Australian wildlife. My aim was to measure AR exposure in a common widespread owl species, the Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook) using boobooks found dead or moribund in order to assess the spatial distribution of this potential threat. A high percentage of boobooks were exposed (72.6%) and many showed potentially dangerous levels of AR residue (>0.1 mg/kg) in liver tissue (50.7%). Multiple rodenticides were detected in the livers of 38.4% of boobooks tested. Total liver concentration of ARs correlated positively with the proportions of developed areas around points where dead boobooks were recovered and negatively with proportions of agricultural and native land covers. Total AR concentration in livers correlated more closely with land use type at the spatial scale of a boobook's home range than at smaller or larger spatial scales. Two rodenticides not used by the public (difethialone and flocoumafen) were detected in boobooks indicating that professional use of ARs contributed to secondary exposure. Multiple ARs were also detected in recent fledglings, indicating probable exposure prior to fledging. Taken together, these results suggest that AR exposure poses a serious threat to native predators in Australia, particularly in species using urban and peri-urban areas and species with large home ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Lohr
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
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Molares S, Gurovich Y. Owls in urban narratives: implications for conservation and environmental education in NW Patagonia (Argentina). NEOTROPICAL BIODIVERSITY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2018.1545379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Molares
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica, Roca 780, Esquel, ARGENTINA
| | - Yamila Gurovich
- Departament of Anatomy, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
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Weir SM, Thomas JF, Blauch DN. Investigating spatial patterns of mercury and rodenticide residues in raptors collected near the Charlotte, NC, USA, metropolitan area. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:33153-33161. [PMID: 30251047 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3229-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Raptor population growth is dynamic and trends vary across species and by location in the United States. For those species that are declining, it is important to identify potential causes including chemical contaminants. Sampling wild raptors is problematic due to their small population sizes and role as a top predator. Therefore, we obtained liver samples (n = 56) from carcasses of several raptor species, including common species like red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, great horned owls, and osprey that arrived dead or were euthanized from a non-profit rehabilitation center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Raptors were found or collected in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, but most samples were located near the metropolitan region of Charlotte, NC. We analyzed livers for total mercury residue (mg/kg, dry weight) and five anti-coagulant rodenticides (μg/kg wet weight). Mercury was analyzed using a direct mercury analyzer approach and rodenticides were quantified by LC-MS. Mercury residues were high in piscivorous birds (15.09 mg/kg for osprey and 6.93 mg/kg for great blue herons, dry weight) and relatively high in red-shouldered hawks and one eastern screech owl tested. Six of our samples exceeded a health threshold of 1 mg/kg (wet weight) including three osprey and one each of great blue heron, red-shouldered hawk, and eastern screech owl. Brodifacoum was the only rodenticide consistently detected in our samples. Brodifacoum detections exceeded 75% in barred owls, great horned owls, and red-shouldered hawks. Sixty-nine percent of owl samples were within (or exceeded) a threshold of brodifacoum residue associated with a 10-20% risk of acute toxicity. Correlations between residues and human population density were not significant for either mercury or brodifacoum. Our data suggest that mercury residues for most raptors were not of significant concern with the exception of osprey and possibly red-shouldered hawks. Rodenticide exposures associated with a risk of acute toxicity appear to be common and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Weir
- Biology Department, Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
| | - Jeffrey F Thomas
- Biology Department, Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - David N Blauch
- Chemistry Department, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA
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Hindmarch S, Elliott JE, Morzillo A. Rats! What triggers us to control for rodents? Rodenticide user survey in British Columbia, Canada. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2018.1479565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sofi Hindmarch
- Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Delta, Canada
| | - John E. Elliott
- Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Delta, Canada
| | - Anita Morzillo
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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Ecological Factors Driving Uptake of Anticoagulant Rodenticides in Predators. EMERGING TOPICS IN ECOTOXICOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-64377-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Jacob J, Buckle A. Use of Anticoagulant Rodenticides in Different Applications Around the World. EMERGING TOPICS IN ECOTOXICOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-64377-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Spatial Dimensions of the Risks of Rodenticide Use to Non-target Small Mammals and Applications in Spatially Explicit Risk Modeling. EMERGING TOPICS IN ECOTOXICOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-64377-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Huang AC, Elliott JE, Hindmarch S, Lee SL, Maisonneuve F, Bowes V, Cheng KM, Martin K. Increased rodenticide exposure rate and risk of toxicosis in barn owls (Tyto alba) from southwestern Canada and linkage with demographic but not genetic factors. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2016; 25:1061-1071. [PMID: 27151403 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-016-1662-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Among many anthropogenic drivers of population decline, continual rapid urbanization and industrialization pose major challenges for the survival of wildlife species. Barn owls (Tyto alba) in southwestern British Columbia (BC) face a multitude of threats ranging from habitat fragmentation to vehicle strikes. They are also at risk from secondary poisoning of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), a suite of toxic compounds which at high doses results in a depletion of blood clotting factors leading to internal bleeding and death. Here, using long-term data (N = 119) for the hepatic residue levels of SGAR, we assessed the risk of toxicosis from SGAR for the BC barn owl population over the past two decades. We also investigated whether sensitivity to SGAR is associated with genetic factors, namely Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the CYP2C45 gene of barn owls. We found that residue concentration for total SGAR was significantly higher in 2006-2013 (141 ng/g) relative to 1992-2003 (57 ng/g). The proportion of owls exposed to multiple SGAR types was also significantly higher in 2006-2013. Those measures accordingly translate directly into an increase in toxicosis risk level. We also detected demographic differences, where adult females showed on average lower concentration of total SGAR (64 ng/g) when compared to adult males (106 ng/g). Juveniles were overall more likely to show signs of toxicosis than adults (33.3 and 6.9 %, respectively), and those symptoms were positively predicted by SGAR concentrations. We found no evidence that SNPs in the CYP2C45 gene of barn owls were associated with intraspecific variation in SGAR sensitivity. We recommend several preventative measures be taken to minimize wildlife exposure to SGAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Huang
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (Science and Technology Branch), 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada.
| | - John E Elliott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (Science and Technology Branch), 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
- Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Sofi Hindmarch
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (Science and Technology Branch), 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Sandi L Lee
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (Science and Technology Branch), 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - France Maisonneuve
- Environment Canada (Science and Technology Branch), National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Victoria Bowes
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Rd, Abbotsford, BC, V3G 2M3, Canada
| | - Kimberly M Cheng
- Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kathy Martin
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (Science and Technology Branch), 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
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Elliott JE, Rattner BA, Shore RF, Van Den Brink NW. Paying the Pipers: Mitigating the Impact of Anticoagulant Rodenticides on Predators and Scavengers. Bioscience 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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