Focal species of birds in European crops for higher tier pesticide risk assessment

Abstract

Focal species have been defined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as real species that represent others in a crop resulting from their potential higher level of exposure to pesticides. As such they are the most appropriate species for refining estimates of exposure further, through, for example, radio tracking and dietary studies. Plant protection product manufacturers collectively commissioned many studies in Europe, according to the EFSA guidelines, to identify focal species in different crops that may be used in risk assessments for spray applications of pesticides. Using frequency of occurrence in crops and risk-based criteria for exposure, all studies have been reviewed to identify if possible at least 1 focal species per feeding guild, per crop in the new registration zones for southern and central Europe. Some focal species repeatedly appeared across a wide range of arable or tree crops but not both, demonstrating broad adaptation to these 2 different crop structures. Many have widespread distributions, for example, 15 of the focal species have a distribution covering all agricultural regions of Europe (northern, central, and southern zones). Three species, corn bunting, serin, and tree sparrow, are restricted to the central and southern zones, whereas another 4 species, Sardinian and fan-tailed warbler, and crested and short-toed lark, are essentially restricted to the southern zone. The authors consider the focal species identified as suitable for risk assessment in Europe at the zonal level and for further refinement of exposure through studies, such as radio tracking or diet analysis, if necessary.

Selecting appropriate focal species for assessing the risk to birds from newly drilled pesticide‐treated winter cereal fields in France

“…Despite high FO field and FO survey values, application of criteria by Dietzen et al () exclude as focal species larger omnivorous birds such as crows, rooks, and starlings frequently observed in flocks in winter, which look for all foraging opportunities provided by the farming cycle but have no preference for winter cereal fields (Whitehead et al ; Mason and MacDonald ). These species are frequently considered agricultural pests by farmers, leading to use of bird control methods to prevent crop damage.…”

“…Hence it can be important to establish relevant focal species in risk assessment, introducing greater realism for refined risk assessments, when needed. Various authors (e.g., Crocker and Irving ; CSL ; Andrade et al ; MNHN ; Dietzen et al ) have suggested lists of real focal bird species for European crop scenarios. However, few of these focus on the scenario of newly drilled treated cereal seeds, and none do so with specific reference to France.…”

“…Carrion crow, wood pigeon, gray partridge, skylark, common starling, and pied wagtail were the bird species most frequently observed on wheat fields. This list of candidate species was processed to determine the most relevant focal species according to the method of Dietzen et al (); this process resulted in the selection of skylark, gray partridge, wood pigeon, and pied wagtail as focal species to assess risks to birds for pesticides applied during drilling of winter cereals in France (September through November). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:000–000.…”

“… Key Points We identified real bird focal species important in higher‐tier risk assessments for plant protection products applied during drilling of winter cereals in France (September–December) such as the skylark, the gray partridge, the wood pigeon, and the pied wagtail. We used a large data set of bird observations performed in 126 newly drilled cereal fields in autumn in France over 2 years. We focused our data analysis on immediate postdrilling period important to identify relevant bird focal species. We followed rules detailed in the Guidance Document for Bird and Mammals (2009) for determination of candidate bird focal species and process the list of candidate species according to the method of Dietzen et al () to determine the most relevant real focal species. …”

Recovery in environmental risk assessments at EFSA

“…In the context of ERA, focal bird species have been defined by EFSA as bird species that represent others in a crop resulting in realistic worst case for ERA due to their potential higher level of exposure to pesticides (Dietzen et al, 2014). Because in the example provided by Dietzen et al (2014) focal taxa are selected according to exposure rather than recovery, it is, within the context of this scientific opinion, important to consider the traits of focal taxa likely to determine their recovery. Species which are the least able to recover following use of a potential stressor may possess multiple traits that predispose them to poor recovery.…”