Pesticides and conservation of large ungulates: Health risk to European bison from plant protection products as a result of crop depredation

Abstract

The coexistence of large mammals and humans in the contemporary landscape is a big challenge for conservationists. Wild ungulates that forage on arable fields are exposed to the negative effects of pesticides, and this problem also applies to protected species for which intoxication by pesticides may pose a health risk and directly affect the effectiveness of conservation efforts. In this paper we assessed the threat posed by pesticides to the European bison Bison bonasus, a species successfully restituted after being extinct in the wild. We studied samples of B. bonasus liver from three free-living populations in Poland (Białowieska, Knyszyńska, and Borecka forests) and captive individuals from breeding centres. LC-QTOF-MS/MS two-step analysis for the detection, identification and confirmation of pesticide residues in liver samples, which included MS and targeted MS/MS scans, was conducted. It was found that European bison are exposed to pesticides as a result of crop depredation: the presence of tetraconazole, fluopyram and diazinon residues in 12 liver samples was confirmed. The concentration levels of the detected substances were quite low, but in the liver samples more than one substance was usually found, and the potential health risk to European bison may result from the synergistic interaction of these substances. The place of occurrence of the population, abundance, and the management regime affect the exposure of European bison to pesticides. Due to the high conservation status of the European bison, the monitoring of intoxication by pesticides should be included in the conservation plans of this species. This issue should also be more widely included in the study of other wild ungulates because knowledge about the impact of pesticides on wildlife is still insufficient.

Micro QuEChERS-based method for the simultaneous biomonitoring in whole blood of 360 toxicologically relevant pollutants for wildlife

“…If we take as a reference the list of substances included in the monitoring programs for residues in food for human consumption, at least 200 chemicals should be considered as worrisome in the European Union (EC, 2019a). Unfortunately, the excessive use of these agricultural pesticides causes their penetration into ecosystems and can compromise the health and even survival of many biological species (Encarnacao et al, 2019;Klich et al, 2020;Krief et al, 2017;Plaza et al, 2019). Also, deliberate abuse of pesticides to poison wildlife occurs throughout the world (Bille et al, 2016;Fajardo et al, 2012;Hernandez and Margalida, 2008;Motas-Guzman et al, 2003;Ntemiri et al, 2018;Ogada, 2014;Ruiz-Suarez et al, 2015).…”

Large lungworms (Nematoda: Dictyocaulidae) recovered from the European bison may represent a new nematode subspecies

“…necrotic inflammation of the prepuce) were selected. The formal aspects of conducted annual lethal control was described in Klich et al (2020) . The respiratory tracts were taken exclusively from animals infected by Dictyocaulus sp.…”

Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland)

“…These populations are not usually spatially connected with each other [ 10 ], and the spontaneous colonization of new suitable areas is rare [ 11 ], which results in the carrying capacity of forest complexes being exceeded [ 12 , 13 ]. This has led to some populations using habitats outside of forest complexes [ 14 ], thus resulting in the following health and economic consequences: a threat to the European bison’s health from pesticides used to protect crops [ 15 ]; physiological changes in the mineral status of animals that feed on crops [ 16 ]; economic losses experienced by farmers; and less social acceptance of this species by local communities [ 17 , 18 ].…”