From sport hunting to breeding success: Patterns of lead ammunition ingestion and its effects on an endangered raptor

Gil‐Sánchez, José María; Molleda, Saray; Sánchez‐Zapata, José A.; Bautista, Jesús; Navas, Isabel; Godinho, Raquel; García-Fernández, Antonio J.; Moleón, Marcos

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.069

Cited by 40 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Ecke et al 2017) in numerous scavenging bird species worldwide. Birds of prey are among the most threatened vertebrate groups in the world (Gil-Sánchez et al 2018) and many populations have experienced abrupt declines across the globe, with recovery efforts having been necessary to sustain several species (Johnson et al 2013). This is a matter of concern not only for conservationists, but also for human wellbeing because scavengers serve important functions in ecosystems such as waste removal (O'Bryan et al 2018).…”

Section: Avian Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heads in the sand: public health and ecological risks of lead-based bullets for wildlife shooting in Australia

et al. 2018

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Lead (Pb) is a toxic element banned from fuel, paint and many other products in most developed countries. Nonetheless, it is still widely used in ammunition, including rifle bullets, and Pb-based bullets are almost universally used in Australia. For decades, poisoning from Pb shot (shotguns) has been recognised as a cause of disease in waterfowl and Pb shot has been subsequently banned for waterfowl hunting in many jurisdictions. However, the risks posed by Pb-based bullets (rifles) have not been similarly recognised in Australia. Pb-based rifle bullets frequently fragment, contaminating the tissue of shot animals. Consuming this Pb-contaminated tissue risks harmful Pb exposure and, thus, the health of wildlife scavengers (carrion eaters) and humans and their companion animals who consume harvested meat (game eaters). In Europe, North America and elsewhere, the environmental and human health risks of Pb-based bullets are widely recognised, and non-toxic alternatives (e.g. copper-based bullets) are increasingly being used. However, Australia has no comparable research despite widespread use of shooting, common scavenging by potentially susceptible wildlife species, and people regularly consuming shot meat. We conclude that Australia has its collective 'head in the sand' on this pressing worldwide One Health issue. We present the need for urgent research into this field in Australia.

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Section: Avian Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heads in the sand: public health and ecological risks of lead-based bullets for wildlife shooting in Australia

et al. 2018

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“…, Gil‐Sánchez et al. ). As one of the largest predatory and scavenging species of raptors, Golden Eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ) are at risk of substantial Pb exposure from scavenging throughout their global range (Austria, Kenntner et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture‐related subsidies: enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure

et al. 2020

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2020. The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture-related subsidies:enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure. Ecosphere 11(1):Abstract. Supplementary food resources (e.g., subsidies) associated with agriculture can benefit wildlife species, increasing predictability and availability of food. Avian scavengers including raptors often utilize subsidies associated with both recreational hunting and pest shooting on agricultural lands. However, these subsidies can contain lead (Pb) fragments if they are culled with Pb-based ammunition, potentially leading to Pb poisoning and physiological impairment in wildlife. Nesting Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) commonly forage in agricultural lands during the breeding season, and therefore, both adults and their nestlings are susceptible to Pb exposure from scavenging shot wildlife. We assessed drivers of Pb exposure in 258 nestling Golden Eagles (401 total blood samples), along with physiological and growth responses, in agricultural lands across four western states in the United States. We also evaluated the birds' Pb stable isotope signatures to inform exposure sources. Twenty-six percent of Golden Eagle nestlings contained Pb concentrations associated with subclinical poisoning for sensitive species (0.03-0.2 lg/g ww), 4% had Pb concentrations that exceeded subclinical poisoning benchmarks (0.2-0.5 lg/g ww), and <1% exceeded either concentrations associated with clinical poisoning (0.5-1.0 lg/g ww) and or those deemed to cause severe clinical poisoning (>1.0 lg/g ww). Lead concentrations were highest in nestlings with close proximity to fields that potentially provided subsidies and declined exponentially as distance to subsidies increased. However, close proximity to agriculture, and presumably subsidies, positively influenced nestling growth rates. Across the range of Pb exposure, nestlings experienced a 67% reduction in delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (d-ALAD) activity, suggesting nestlings may have been anemic or experiencing cellular damage. Isotopic ratios of 206 Pb/ 207 Pb increased non-linearly with increasing blood Pb in Golden Eagle nestlings, and 45% of the birds were consistent with those of ammunition. However, above 0.10 lg/g ww, the proportion associated with ammunition increased to 89% of the nestlings. An improved understanding of how these positive (growth) and negative (physiology) effects associated with proximity to subsidies interact would be beneficial to managers when considering management scenarios and potentially evaluating any measures taken to reduce Pb exposure across the landscape.

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“…Vultures dissolve and absorb lead soon after ingestion due to their low stomach pH, often resulting in acute death (García-Fernández et al 2005, Fisher et al 2006. Sublethal or chronic exposure (prolonged exposure at lower concentrations) is also of concern because it can make birds less fit and predispose them to other causes of death (Mateo et al 2003, Pain et al 2007, Berny et al 2015 or may affect reproductive success (Buerger et al 1986, Gil-Sánchez et al 2018, behavior (Scheuhammer 1987), or physiology (Burger 1995, Fair and Ricklefs 2002, Naidoo et al 2012.…”

Section: Exposición Al Plomo En Poblaciones En Peligro Crítico De Gypmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the accumulation of lead in bones from lead ammunition affects the degree of bone mineralization in Egyptian Vultures, which could mean an increase in bone fragility (Fleming et al 2000, Whitehead and. The accumulation of lead over time is an additional threat to the species because it can affect the fitness of a population, including reproduction (Gil-Sánchez et al 2018), thus affecting the long-term survival of long-lived species. The effects of the cumulative exposure to lead on this population are difficult to assess with the low sample sizes in this study.…”

Section: Individualmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead Exposure in the Critically Endangered Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) Population in Southern Africa

Krüger¹,

Amar

2018

Journal of Raptor Research

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From sport hunting to breeding success: Patterns of lead ammunition ingestion and its effects on an endangered raptor

Cited by 40 publications

References 50 publications

Heads in the sand: public health and ecological risks of lead-based bullets for wildlife shooting in Australia

Heads in the sand: public health and ecological risks of lead-based bullets for wildlife shooting in Australia

The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture‐related subsidies: enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure

Lead Exposure in the Critically Endangered Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) Population in Southern Africa

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