An overview of existing raptor contaminant monitoring activities in Europe

Abstract

Biomonitoring using raptors as sentinels can provide early warning of the potential impacts of contaminants on humans and the environment and also a means of tracking the success of associated mitigation measures. Examples include detection of heavy metal-induced immune system impairment, PCB-induced altered reproductive impacts, and toxicity associated with lead in shot game. Authorisation of such releases and implementation of mitigation is now increasingly delivered through EU-wide directives but there is little established pan-European monitoring to quantify outcomes. We investigated the potential for EU-wide coordinated contaminant monitoring using raptors as sentinels. We did this using a questionnaire to ascertain the current scale of national activity across 44 European countries. According to this survey, there have been 52 different contaminant monitoring schemes with raptors over the last 50years. There were active schemes in 15 (predominantly western European) countries and 23 schemes have been running for >20years; most monitoring was conducted for >5years. Legacy persistent organic compounds (specifically organochlorine insecticides and PCBs), and metals/metalloids were monitored in most of the 15 countries. Fungicides, flame retardants and anticoagulant rodenticides were also relatively frequently monitored (each in at least 6 countries). Common buzzard (Buteo buteo), common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), tawny owl (Strix aluco) and barn owl (Tyto alba) were most commonly monitored (each in 6-10 countries). Feathers and eggs were most widely analysed although many schemes also analysed body tissues. Our study reveals an existing capability across multiple European countries for contaminant monitoring using raptors. However, coordination between existing schemes and expansion of monitoring into Eastern Europe is needed. This would enable assessment of the appropriateness of the EU-regulation of substances that are hazardous to humans and the environment, the effectiveness of EU level mitigation policies, and identify pan-European spatial and temporal trends in current and emerging contaminants of concern.

Mapping the spatio-temporal risk of lead exposure in apex species for more effective mitigation

“…Griffon vultures feed on carcasses often consumed by many other species, including threatened ones (e.g. Spanish imperial eagle Aquila adalberti) [1,8]. The strong dependence of griffon vultures on human-mediated carcasses from livestock [9] and hunting [8] further enhances its usefulness for monitoring potential exposure to environmental contaminants on humans (e.g.…”

“…the endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) [5]. In fact, raptors, which are long-lived species at the top of food webs, are severely affected by lead poisoning [4] and have become valuable sentinels for monitoring lead exposure of wildlife, and perhaps even people [1].…”

“…Among the wide variety of environmental contaminants contributing to ecosystem degradation worldwide [1], lead (Pb) is a highly toxic metal that poses major environmental and health risks for people and wildlife [2]. Although the potential effects of lead poisoning at the individual level are described for many species [3], much knowledge is still lacking on the possible effects of lead poisoning at higher ecological organization levels (e.g.…”

“…The high survival rate of griffon vultures with substantial lead exposure (and their location at the top of the food chain or their foraging skills to rapidly locate carrion over large areas; see §1) makes them good sentinels for monitoring lead exposure for other wild species, including most raptors [1]. The strong dependence of griffon vultures on human-mediated carcasses (i.e.…”

PCBs and DDTs in light-vented bulbuls from Guangdong Province, South China: Levels, geographical pattern and risk assessment

“…Birds have been successfully used as sentinel species to monitor the levels and effects of POPs in the environment because they are widespread, sensitive to environmental changes, and often high on the food chain (Dauwe et al, 2006;Van den Steen et al, 2010a,2010bCuster et al, 2012;Sun et al, 2012;Eng et al, 2014). Predatory birds have been widely used as biomonitoring species for POPs (Chen et al, 2009b;Chen and Hale, 2010;Eulaers et al, 2011;Gómez-Ramírez et al, 2014), but most of these birds are less suitable to reflect the local contamination status because they are migratory and live in an extended area with low population densities (Dauwe et al, 2006(Dauwe et al, , 2009. Thus, resident passerine bird species have been successfully used as biomonitoring tools to determine POPs contamination (Dauwe et al, 2009;Van den Steen et al, 2010b;Eens et al, 2013;Morrissey et al, 2013;Eng et al, 2014).…”