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Cooke R, Whiteley P, Death C, Weston MA, Carter N, Scammell K, Yokochi K, Nguyen H, White JG. Silent killers? The widespread exposure of predatory nocturnal birds to anticoagulant rodenticides. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166293. [PMID: 37586529 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) influence predator populations and threaten the stability of ecosystems. Understanding the prevalence and impact of rodenticides in predators is crucial to inform conservation planning and policy. We collected dead birds of four nocturnal predatory species across differing landscapes: forests, agricultural, urban. Liver samples were analysed for eight ARs: three First Generation ARs (FGARs) and five SGARs (Second Generation ARs). We investigated interspecific differences in liver concentrations and whether landscape composition influenced this. FGARs were rarely detected, except pindone at low concentrations in powerful owls Ninox strenua. SGARs, however, were detected in every species and 92 % of birds analysed. Concentrations of SGARs were at levels where potential toxicological or lethal impacts would have occurred in 33 % of powerful owls, 68 % of tawny frogmouths Podargus strigoides, 42 % of southern boobooks N. bookbook and 80 % of barn owls Tyto javanica. When multiple SGARs were detected, the likelihood of potentially lethal concentrations of rodenticides increased. There was no association between landscape composition and SGAR exposure, or the presence of multiple SGARs, suggesting rodenticide poisoning is ubiquitous across all landscapes sampled. This widespread human-driven contamination in wildlife is a major threat to wildlife health. Given the high prevalence and concentrations of SGARs in these birds across all landscape types, we support the formal consideration of SGARs as a threatening process. Furthermore, given species that do not primarily eat rodents (tawny frogmouths, powerful owls) have comparable liver rodenticide concentrations to rodent predators (southern boobook, eastern barn owl), it appears there is broader contamination of the food-web than anticipated. We provide evidence that SGARs have the potential to pose a threat to the survival of avian predator populations. Given the functional importance of predators in ecosystems, combined with the animal welfare impacts of these chemicals, we propose governments should regulate the use of SGARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raylene Cooke
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia.
| | - Pam Whiteley
- Wildlife Health Victoria: Surveillance, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee 3030, Vic., Australia
| | - Clare Death
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Vic., Australia
| | - Michael A Weston
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Nicholas Carter
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Kieran Scammell
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Kaori Yokochi
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Hao Nguyen
- National Measurement Institute, 1/153 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne 3207, Vic., Australia
| | - John G White
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
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Cooke R, Whiteley P, Jin Y, Death C, Weston MA, Carter N, White JG. Widespread exposure of powerful owls to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in Australia spans an urban to agricultural and forest landscape. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:153024. [PMID: 35026248 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The powerful owl (Ninox strenua) is a threatened apex predator that consumes mainly arboreal marsupial prey. Low density populations reside in urban landscapes where their viability is tenuous. The catalyst for this research was the reported death of eight powerful owls around Melbourne, Australia, in less than one year (2020/2021). Eighteen deceased owls were toxicologically screened. We assessed toxic metals (Mercury Hg, Lead Pb, Cadmium Cd and Arsenic As) and anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) in liver (n = 18 owls) and an extensive range of agricultural chemicals in muscle (n = 14). Almost all agricultural chemicals were below detection limits except for p,p-DDE, which was detected in 71% of birds at relatively low levels. Toxic metals detected in some individuals were generally at low levels. However, ARs were detected in 83.3% of powerful owls. The most common second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) detected was brodifacoum, which was present in every bird in which a rodenticide was detected. Brodifacoum was often present at toxic levels and in some instances at potentially lethal levels. Presence of brodifacoum was detected across the complete urban-forest/agriculture gradient, suggesting widespread exposure. Powerful owls do not scavenge but prey upon arboreal marsupials, and generally not rodents, suggesting that brodifacoum is entering the powerful owl food web via accidental or deliberate poisoning of non-target species (possums). We highlight a critical need to investigate SGARs in food webs globally, and not just in species directly targeted for poisoning or their predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raylene Cooke
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia.
| | - Pam Whiteley
- Wildlife Health Victoria: Surveillance, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee 3030, Vic., Australia
| | - Yun Jin
- Wildlife Health Victoria: Surveillance, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee 3030, Vic., Australia
| | - Clare Death
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee 3030, Vic., Australia
| | - Michael A Weston
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Nicholas Carter
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - John G White
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
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Warburton B, Eason C, Fisher P, Hancox N, Hopkins B, Nugent G, Ogilvie S, Prowse TAA, Ross J, Cowan PE. Alternatives for mammal pest control in New Zealand in the context of concerns about 1080 toxicant (sodium fluoroacetate). NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2021.1977345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles Eason
- Lincoln University, Department of Pest Management and Conservation, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Penny Fisher
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | | | - Brian Hopkins
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Graham Nugent
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Shaun Ogilvie
- Eco Research Associates Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | - James Ross
- Lincoln University, Department of Pest Management and Conservation, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Phil E. Cowan
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
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Eason C, Shapiro L, Eason C, MacMorran D, Ross J. Diphacinone with cholecalciferol for controlling possums and ship rats. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2019.1657473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Eason
- Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
- Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Lee Shapiro
- Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
- Connovation Ltd., Manukau, New Zealand
| | | | | | - James Ross
- Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
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Eason CT, Shapiro L, Ogilvie S, King C, Clout M. Trends in the development of mammalian pest control technology in New Zealand. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2017.1337645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles T. Eason
- Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
- Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Ecology, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Carolyn King
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Mick Clout
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Welfare Impacts of Pindone Poisoning in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Animals (Basel) 2016; 6:ani6030019. [PMID: 26927192 PMCID: PMC4810047 DOI: 10.3390/ani6030019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Control methods used to manage unwanted impacts of the European rabbit in Australia and New Zealand include the use of toxic bait containing the anticoagulant pindone. Towards increased certainty in evaluating the animal welfare impacts of pindone poisoning in rabbits, we recorded behavioral and post-mortem data from rabbits which ingested lethal quantities of pindone bait in a laboratory trial. Pindone poisoning in rabbits resulted in welfare compromise, primarily through functional impairments related to internal haemorrhage over a maximum duration of 7 days. Applying this data to a formal assessment framework for ranking animal welfare impacts indicated that pindone had relatively high severity and also duration of welfare impacts in comparison to other rabbit control methods.
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Fisher P, Brown S, Arrow J. Pindone residues in rabbit tissues: implications for secondary hazard and risk to non-target wildlife. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/wr15019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Pindone is used to control rabbits in Australia and New Zealand, but the secondary non-target risks presented by pindone-poisoned rabbits are poorly known.
Aims
We aimed to generate new data on residual concentrations of pindone in poisoned rabbits for use in a review of the secondary poisoning risks posed to non-target animals in New Zealand.
Methods
Laboratory rabbits were offered pellet bait containing 0.25 g kg–1 pindone in three trials to simulate a range of bait uptake scenarios: single exposure and low or high chronic exposure. Residual pindone concentrations measured in body tissues of laboratory rabbits that had ingested known exposures of pindone were compared with those in wild rabbit carcasses collected after three pindone-baiting operations. Residues in the faeces of some laboratory rabbits were also measured.
Key results
Highest concentrations of pindone residues were in the liver and fat tissue of poisoned rabbits, with consistently lower concentrations in muscle tissue. A dose–response relationship between pindone exposure and liver residue concentrations was found only at the highest chronic exposures. Rabbit carcasses collected after field-baiting operations had generally higher pindone residue concentrations than did laboratory rabbits that had ingested known lethal amounts of bait. Unmetabolised pindone was excreted in rabbit faeces.
Conclusions
The occurrence of the highest residual pindone concentrations in rabbit liver was consistent with the known tissue distribution of anticoagulants in mammals; however, the co-occurrence of similar-range pindone concentrations in rabbit fat has not been previously described. Re-ingestion of soft faecal pellets (caecotrophy) in rabbits that have eaten pindone bait may function as a secondary exposure to increase or prolong their oral exposure to pindone. Some rabbits poisoned following field pindone-baiting operations are likely to have consumed well in excess of a lethal amount of bait.
Implications
Concentrations of residual pindone in fat and liver of poisoned rabbits suggest that secondary poisoning hazard to some non-target predators and scavengers is high. The lack of field-based assessments of the non-target impacts of pindone is a marked information gap that needs to be addressed.
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Eason CT, Frampton CM, Henderson R, Thomas M, Morgan D. Sodium monofluoroacetate and alternative toxins for possum control. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.1993.10420354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. T Eason
- a Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research , P.O. Box 31011, Christchurch , New Zealand
| | - C. M. Frampton
- a Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research , P.O. Box 31011, Christchurch , New Zealand
| | - R. Henderson
- a Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research , P.O. Box 31011, Christchurch , New Zealand
| | - M.D. Thomas
- a Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research , P.O. Box 31011, Christchurch , New Zealand
| | - D.R Morgan
- a Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research , P.O. Box 31011, Christchurch , New Zealand
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Robinson MH, Twigg LE, Wheeler SH, Martin GR. Effect of the anticoagulant, pindone, on the breeding performance and survival of merino sheep, Ovis aries. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2005; 140:465-73. [PMID: 15694595 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2004.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2004] [Revised: 11/11/2004] [Accepted: 11/15/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The effect of the anticoagulant, pindone, on the breeding performance and survival of relatively free-ranging merino sheep was assessed. Pindone (2-pivalyl-1, 3-indandione) was administered orally as a single (10, 3, or 2 mg pindone kg(-1) over three consecutive days) or multiple exposure (dosing regime repeated after a further 8 days). Prothrombin times (PT) increased up to 4-fold in treated sheep, and haemorrhage occurred in some instances, particularly with the double dose treatment. Deaths of sheep also occurred, usually when the sheep were placed under added stress, particularly that associated with shearing. The breeding performance of pregnant ewes dosed with pindone was reduced, mainly due to an increase in stillborn and nonviable lambs (i.e. deaths within 2 days of birth). The motility of sperm in treated rams was also affected. Pindone persisted in the blood (maximum, 13.2 mg L(-1)) for up to 14 days after the last dose, and the half-life (t1/2) was estimated at approximately 5 days depending upon the dosing regime. Other tissue residues ranged from 17 (fat) to 39 (liver) mg kg(-1). The implications of these findings for ongoing responsible use of pindone (anticoagulants) in pest control programs are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Robinson
- Vertebrate Pest Research Section, Agriculture Western Australia, Bougainvillea Avenue, Forrestfield, WA 6058, Australia
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Jolly SE, Eason CT, Frampton C, Gumbrell RC. The anticoagulant pindone causes liver damage in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Aust Vet J 1994; 71:220. [PMID: 7945103 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1994.tb03407.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S E Jolly
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
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