Weasel exposure to the anticoagulant rodenticide bromadiolone in agrarian landscapes of southwestern Europe

Fernandez-de-Simon, Javier; Díaz‐Ruiz, Francisco; Jareño, Daniel; Domínguez, Julio; Lima-Barbero, José Francisco; Diego, Noelia de; Santamaría, Ana Eugenia; Herrero‐Villar, Marta; Camarero, Pablo R.; Olea, Pedro P.; García, Jesús T.; Mateo, Rafael; Viñuela, Javier

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155914

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…6 ). The main specialist ground predator of voles, the weasel ( Mustela nivalis ), is common in the study area 69 , 70 and its populations suffer abundance cycles coupled to those of voles, with a slight delay 6 . In this kind of agricultural landscapes, weasels use almost exclusively undisturbed and well vegetated field margins, probably because they are the only habitat with long-term stability (e. g. unexposed to harvesting, ploughing or other perturbations associated to crop management) and well developed vegetation (in contrast with between-fields margins), providing protection from aerial predators, so their home ranges have a reticular shape and crop fields are very rarely used 71 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat type modulates sharp body mass oscillations in cyclic common vole populations

Olea,

de Diego,

García

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Cyclic rodent populations exhibit pronounced changes in body mass associated with the population cycle phase, long-known as Chitty effect. Although Chitty effect is a common epiphenomenon in both America and Europe, there is still incomplete evidence about the generality of these patterns across the entire range of most species. Moreover, despite decades of research, the underlying factors driving Chitty effect remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may underlie observed patterns in vole size variation in the Iberian common vole Microtus arvalis asturianus. We weighed and measured 2816 adult voles that were captured during 6 trapping periods. Vole numbers and body mass showed strong period- and phase-related variation both in females and males, demonstrating marked Chitty effect in the studied population. Body mass of adult males correlated with body length, evidencing that heavier males are also structurally larger. Statistical models showed that probability of occurrence of large-sized vole (> 37 g) was significantly more likely in reproductive males, during increase and peak phases, and it was modulated by habitat, with crop fields and field margins between crops showing an increased likelihood. We suggest an effect of the habitat on vole body mass mediated by predation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat type modulates sharp body mass oscillations in cyclic common vole populations

Olea,

de Diego,

García

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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“…In other studies, males showed significantly higher ∑SGARs than females, such as sparrowhawks in the UK and barn owls in Canada . The prevalence of bromadiolone in the common weasel Mustela nivalis from southern Europe was higher in males than females . These authors mentioned differences in diet and home range between sexes as well as the transfer of contaminants to bird eggs as possible reasons for higher exposure patterns in males than females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“… 68 The prevalence of bromadiolone in the common weasel Mustela nivalis from southern Europe was higher in males than females. 69 These authors mentioned differences in diet and home range between sexes as well as the transfer of contaminants to bird eggs as possible reasons for higher exposure patterns in males than females. Although female buzzards are slightly larger than males, to our knowledge, no clear difference in the diet or home range has been reported between the sexes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant Turning Point: Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) Exposure to Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides in the United Kingdom

Ozaki,

Movalli,

Cincinelli

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are widely used to control rodent populations, resulting in the serious secondary exposure of predators to these contaminants. In the United Kingdom (UK), professional use and purchase of SGARs were revised in the 2010s. Certain highly toxic SGARs have been authorized since then to be used outdoors around buildings as resistance-breaking chemicals under risk mitigation procedures. However, it is still uncertain whether and how these regulatory changes have influenced the secondary exposure of birds of prey to SGARs. Based on biomonitoring of the UK Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) collected from 2001 to 2019, we assessed the temporal trend of exposure to SGARs and statistically determined potential turning points. The magnitude of difenacoum decreased over time with a seasonal fluctuation, while the magnitude and prevalence of more toxic brodifacoum, authorized to be used outdoors around buildings after the regulatory changes, increased. The summer of 2016 was statistically identified as a turning point for exposure to brodifacoum and summed SGARs that increased after this point. This time point coincided with the aforementioned regulatory changes. Our findings suggest a possible shift in SGAR use to brodifacoum from difenacoum over the decades, which may pose higher risks of impacts on wildlife.

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“…Furthermore, the use of rodenticides can have very negative effects on biodiversity (Moriceau et al, 2022; Nakayama et al, 2018; Rattner et al, 2014; Singleton et al, 2007). Rodenticides do not only affect species of birds, mammals, and reptiles that feed on rodents (Elliott et al, 2022; Fernandez‐de‐Simon et al, 2022; Lettoof et al, 2020; Lohr, 2018; Roos et al, 2021; Ruiz‐Suárez et al, 2014; Serieys et al, 2015), they can also affect other species (Oliva‐Vidal et al, 2022; Stone et al, 1999; Vyas, 2017). Furthermore, the most widely used rodenticides are known to inflict extremely painful and slow deaths to rodents (Baker et al, 2022; Mason & Littin, 2003).…”

Section: The Role Of Cats In Rodent Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of free‐roaming cats cannot be generalized and their role in rodent management should not be overlooked

Badenes‐Pérez

2022

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Cats, Felis catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), were domesticated because of their role in rodent control around human settlements. Free-roaming cats (henceforth, referred to as "cats") can predate on a wide variety of small-to mediumsized animals and affect biodiversity. The impact of cats on biodiversity varies from country to country, region to region, and habitat to habitat. Depending on the location and context, the overall impact of cats on biodiversity can be negative, neutral, or positive. Management of cats should take into account the complex interactions that occur between cats, rodents, and the species they prey upon.

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Weasel exposure to the anticoagulant rodenticide bromadiolone in agrarian landscapes of southwestern Europe

Cited by 12 publications

References 72 publications

Habitat type modulates sharp body mass oscillations in cyclic common vole populations

Habitat type modulates sharp body mass oscillations in cyclic common vole populations

Significant Turning Point: Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) Exposure to Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides in the United Kingdom

The impacts of free‐roaming cats cannot be generalized and their role in rodent management should not be overlooked

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