Vulnerable Andean condors in steep decline

Méndez, Diego; Olea, Pedro P.; Sarasola, José Hernán; Vargas, F. Hernán; Astore, Vanesa; Escobar-Gimpel, Víctor; Estrada-Pacheco, Rayen; Gordillo, Sandra; Jácome, N. Luis; Kohn-Andrade, Sebastián; Kusch, Alejandro; Naveda‐Rodríguez, Adrián; Narváez, Fabricio; Parrado-Vargas, María Alejandra; Piana, Renzo P.; Restrepo-Cardona, Juan Sebastián; Wallace, Robert B.

doi:10.1126/science.abh3358

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Thus, it is a species with a population that is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly owing to persecution by man ( Méndez et al, 2015 ). Specifically, the population that inhabits the central valley of Chile is one of the most threatened due to the modification of habitat and food sources by anthropogenic activities ( Duclos et al, 2020 ; Méndez et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First metagenomic analysis of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) gut microbiome reveals microbial diversity and wide resistome

Martínez-Hernández

Berríos

Santibáñez

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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Background The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is the largest scavenger in South America. This predatory bird plays a crucial role in their ecological niche by removing carcasses. We report the first metagenomic analysis of the Andean condor gut microbiome. Methods This work analyzed shotgun metagenomics data from a mixture of fifteen captive Chilean Andean condors. To filter eukaryote contamination, we employed BWA-MEM v0.7. Taxonomy assignment was performed using Kraken2 and MetaPhlAn v2.0 and all filtered reads were assembled using IDBA-UD v1.1.3. The two most abundant species were used to perform a genome reference-guided assembly using MetaCompass. Finally, we performed a gene prediction using Prodigal and each gene predicted was functionally annotated. InterproScan v5.31-70.0 was additionally used to detect homology based on protein domains and KEGG mapper software for reconstructing metabolic pathways. Results Our results demonstrate concordance with the other gut microbiome data from New World vultures. In the Andean condor, Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum present, with Clostridium perfringens, a potentially pathogenic bacterium for other animals, as dominating species in the gut microbiome. We assembled all reads corresponding to the top two species found in the condor gut microbiome, finding between 94% to 98% of completeness for Clostridium perfringens and Plesiomonas shigelloides, respectively. Our work highlights the ability of the Andean condor to act as an environmental reservoir and potential vector for critical priority pathogens which contain relevant genetic elements. Among these genetic elements, we found 71 antimicrobial resistance genes and 1,786 virulence factors that we associated with several adaptation processes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First metagenomic analysis of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) gut microbiome reveals microbial diversity and wide resistome

Martínez-Hernández

Berríos

Santibáñez

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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“…In Ecuador and Colombia, 103 condors were poisoned between 1979 and 2021, of which only six individuals could be rescued, and five were subsequently rehabilitated and released ( Table 1 ). In Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, at least 174 individuals were affected by this threat between 1993 and 2021 [ 18 – 20 , 27 ]. The use of organophosphates and carbamates on carrion has been reported as a relevant threat to the Andean Condor [ 19 ], but our record of anticoagulants and pyrethrins in condors is the first reported to the species [ 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic threats to the Vulnerable Andean Condor in northern South America

et al. 2022

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Vultures comprise one of the most threatened groups of birds worldwide. With a total population not exceeding 6700 mature individuals, and in rapid decline across its range, the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is listed as a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list. Local population extinctions and decline are of particular concern in northern South America, where no more than 340 condors may exist at present. Despite this, no quantitative assessments exist in Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela regarding the threats affecting Andean Condor populations. To address this, we compiled records of Andean Condors injured, or killed, between 1979 and 2021. We obtained data of 164 condors affected by different causes of injury, of which 83.5% were reported in Ecuador, 15.2% in Colombia, and 1.2% in Venezuela. Of the total number, 84.7% of the injured individuals died. Between 1979 and 2021, in Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, at least 103 Andean Condors were presumably poisoned, 22 were shot, and 39 individuals were affected by other causes. The total number of individuals affected by different causes represents between 48% and 72% of the total population estimated in northern South America. Of great concern is the fact that, between 2007 and 2021, poisoning and shooting together caused the loss of 19–31% of the estimated population of condors in Ecuador, and 7–21% of the estimated population in Colombia. Given the important mortality induced by humans, environmental education programs, socio-ecological research, application of environmental laws, and management strategies based on scientific evidence to prevent and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts are urgently required for effective Andean Condor conservation in northern South America.

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“…. Mass poisonings of the Vulnerable Andean condor prompt national strategy against the use of toxic baits in Argentina Ethnobiol Conserv 11:14 of Tarija, Bolivia that intervened in a case of massive condor deaths where at least 34 condors died as a consequence of the use of toxic baits (Méndez et al 2021b). Other cases have been reported in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (CAS 2021; Pavez y Estades 2016; Trome 2017; El Universo 2019).…”

Section: Acknowledgementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies performed by the PCCA demonstrated the use of carbofuran and parathion in the toxic baits that caused the massive deaths of condors in the country (Estrada Pacheco et al 2020a). Similar poisoning events are occurring at a worrying scale and frequency in other countries in the region, which could drive the species to extinction (Méndez et al 2021b). However, these cases represent only the tip of an iceberg, since the discovery and intervention in poisoning events is not always possible because people do not report them or they may occur in inaccessible places.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Mass poisonings of the Vulnerable Andean condor prompt national strategy against the use of toxic baits in Argentina

Jácome¹,

Abarzua²,

Astore³

et al. 2022

Ethnobio Conserv

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Massive deaths of Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) prompted a National Strategy Against the Use of Toxic Baits in Argentina, based on 6 lines of action: 1) delivery of kits and unified intervention protocols in cases of wildlife poisoning, 2) community education programs, 3) surveys of rural people, 4) training courses and participatory construction workshops, 5) toxicology studies, and 6) an academic-scientific committee made up of specialists in toxicology. The strategy was developed in the 14 provinces of the country where the Andean condor is distributed. 554 people from 166 institutions have participated in the trainings and workshops, reporting 200 poisoning events involving more than 21000 individuals from 61 species. Birds and mammals were the groups most affected, and further, human victims show the impact on public health. 19 toxic substances were identified, mainly insecticides. This study proved that carbofuran is the toxic most used. Analysis of bait types suggests a significant conflict with carnivores.195 surveys revealed that almost half of the farmers know people who use toxic baits and that the negative perception towards some species could determine their use. The strategy began to address the problem of the use of toxic baits in Argentina in a strategic, participatory and regional way, through the management of public policies and scientific research. We propose actions to work on the causes that lead to the application of this dangerous practice. Given its extensive use, we believe that this strategy can be adapted and applied in other countries in the region.

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Vulnerable Andean condors in steep decline

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

First metagenomic analysis of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) gut microbiome reveals microbial diversity and wide resistome

First metagenomic analysis of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) gut microbiome reveals microbial diversity and wide resistome

Anthropogenic threats to the Vulnerable Andean Condor in northern South America

Mass poisonings of the Vulnerable Andean condor prompt national strategy against the use of toxic baits in Argentina

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