Browsing by Subject "Ecotoxicology"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Active monitoring of long-eared owl (Asio otus) nestlings reveals widespread exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides across different agricultural landscapes
    (Elsevier, 2024-03-25) Spadetto, Livia; Zamora Marín, José Manuel; León Ortega, Mario; Díaz García, Sarah; Tecles, Fernando; Fenoll, José; Cava, Juana; Calvo, José Francisco,; García Fernández, Antonio Juan; Gómez Ramírez, Pilar; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
    The widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) poses a worldwide threat to farmland wildlife. These compounds accumulate in tissues of both target and non-target species, potentially endangering both direct consumers and their predators. However, investigations on ARs in blood of free-ranging predatory birds are rare. Here, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) has been used as a model predator to assess AR exposure in different agricultural landscapes from a Mediterranean semiarid region. A total of 69 owlets from 38 nests were blood-sampled over 2021 and 2022, aiming to detect AR residues and explore factors that determine their exposure, such as land uses. In addition, prothrombin time (PT) test was conducted to assess potential effects of AR contamination. Overall, nearly all the samples (98.6 %) tested positive for at least one compound and multiple ARs were found in most of the individuals (82.6 %). Among the ARs detected, flocoumafen was the most common compound (88.4 % of the samples). AR total concentration (Sigma ARs) in blood ranged from 0.06 to 34.18 ng mL(-1), detecting the highest levels in the most intensively cultivated area. The analysis of owl pellets from 19 breeding territories showed relevant among-site differences in the contribution of rodents and birds into the diet of long-eared owls, supporting its high dietary plasticity and indicating AR presence at multiple trophic levels. Moreover, a positive and significant correlation was found between Sigma ARs and PT (Rho = 0.547, p < 0.001), which demonstrates the direct effect of ARs on free-living nestlings. Our results provide a preliminary overview of AR exposure in a little-studied owl species inhabiting agricultural and rural landscapes. Despite the low detected levels, these findings indicate widespread exposure -often to multiple compounds- from early life stages, which raises concern and draws attention to an ongoing and unresolved contamination issue.
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    Biomarcadores a nivel de una comunidad de pasto y de una población herbácea forrajera para suelos contaminados por cobre
    (Murcia: Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones, 2003) Pastor, Jesús; Gutiérrez-Maroto, Antonio; Hernández, Ana Jesús; Sin departamento asociado; Facultad de Biología
    El trabajo se propone discutir algunos parámetros que pueden ser considerados como biomarcadores en dos niveles de organización bio lógica, no usualmente considerados en los estudios sobre biomarca dores, para evaluar el efecto del Cu procedente de una antigua mina en suelos. Se ha elegido una comunidad de pasto aprovechada por ganado vacuno y una población de una leguminosa forrajera, por el interés que ambas tienen en la contaminación de redes tróficas. Se parte de un estudio de campo realizado en el área afectada por una mina de calcopirita en la provincia de Madrid, abandonada hace 37 años y con una escombrera actual de unos 3.500 m3. Una vez conoci dos los contenidos de Cu asimilable de la escombrera y de los suelos contaminados circundantes, se tomaron muestras de la capa superfi cial de suelo en 5 áreas con un contenido creciente de este metal (de 40 a 2.500 ppm) para llevar a cabo dos bioensayos efectuados en condiciones controladas de invernadero: (i) seguimiento de la cobertu ra vegetal procedente del banco de semillas durante 8 semanas; (ii) siembra de Lupinus albus hasta el inicio de la floración (12 semanas). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los biomarcadores a nivel de población vegetal (altura de la planta, diámetro de la hoja, longitud y anchura del folíolo, vigor de la planta y necrosis de la hoja), dan me jores resultados para revelar un efecto contaminante del cobre asimi lable de los suelos que el biomarcador utilizado (cobertura vegetal) a nivel de la comunidad pascícola.
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    Comparing anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in barn owl (Tyto alba) and common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus): A biomonitoring study in an agricultural region of southeastern Spain
    (Elsevier, 2024-09-10) Spadetto, Livia; Zamora-López, Antonio; Manuel Zamora-Marín, José; León-Ortega, Mario; Tórtola-García, Miguel; Tecles-Vicente, Fernando; Fenoll-Serrano, José; Cava-Artero, Juana; Calvo, José Francisco; García Fernández, Antonio Juan; Gómez Ramírez, Pilar; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
    Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are commonly used for rodent control, affecting various non-target wildlife species. Here, blood samples from common kestrels ( Falco tinnunculus, , n = 70 chicks) and barn owls ( Tyto alba, n = 54 chicks and 12 adults) from Southeastern Spain were analysed using HPLC-TQ. SGAR prevalence was 68.6% in kestrel chicks, 50% in barn owl chicks and 100% in adult barn owls, with multiple SGARs in both species. Prothrombin time analysis in barn owls revealed a positive correlation with blood Sigma SGARs, suggesting a potential adverse effect on coagulation. Analysis of variables potentially influencing SGAR prevalence indicated that, for kestrels, it was only related to the extent of artificial surface, showing no differences across study sites. In owlets, the highest prevalence occurred in the most urbanized study site, with human population density being a key factor. This study highlights species-specific differences in SGAR exposure, likely influenced by ecological traits. Barn owls probably encounter contaminated prey near anthropized areas, with widespread SGAR use and higher presence of target rodents. Conversely, kestrels, hunting a variety of prey often near human settlements, face consistently elevated exposure from multiple sources. Understanding these variations is crucial for effective conservation and minimizing SGAR impact on non-target wildlife.
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    Molecular fingerprint of gilthead seabream physiology in response to pollutant mixtures in the wild
    (Elsevier, ) Beauvieux, Anaïs; Fromentin, Jean-Marc; Romero, Diego; Couffin, Nathan; Brown, Adrien; Metral, Luisa; Bourjea, Jérôme; Bertile, Fabrice; Schull, Quentin; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
    The increase in trace element concentrations in the aquatic environment due to anthropogenic activities, urges the need for their monitoring and potential toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification at different trophic levels. Gilthead seabream is a species of commercial importance in the Mediterranean Sea, both for the aquaculture and fisheries sectors, however very little is known about their trace element contamination accumulation and the resulting effect on their health status. In the present study, 135 juveniles were collected from seven coastal lagoons known to be essential nursery areas for this species. We measured seventeen different inorganic contaminants at the individual level in fish muscle (namely Al, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Ti, Tl and Zn). Our results revealed the accumulation of multiple trace elements in individuals and distinct contamination signatures between lagoons which might lead to contrasted quality as nurseries for juveniles of numerous ecologically and economically relevant fish species in addition to seabreams. We further evaluated the potential adverse effect of these complex contamination mixtures on the liver (the main organ implicated in the metabolism of xenobiotics) and red muscle (a highly metabolic organ) using a proteomic approach. Alterations in cellular organization pathways and protein transport were detected in both tissues (albeit they were not similarly regulated). Chromosome organization and telomere maintenance in the liver appeared to be affected by contaminant mixture which could increase mortality, age-related disease risk and shorter lifetime expectancy for these juveniles. Red muscle proteome also demonstrated an upregulation of pathways involved in metabolism in response to contamination which raises the issue of potential energy allocation trade-offs between the organisms’ main functions such as reproduction and growth. This study provides new insights into the cellular and mo-lecular responses of seabreams to environmental pollution and proposed biomarkers of health effects of trace elements that could serve as a starting point for larger-scale biomonitoring programs.
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    Sampling and Contaminant Monitoring Protocol for Raptors.
    (Research Networking Programme-European Science Foundation, 2025-03-26) Espín, S.; Herzke, D.; Shore, R.F.; van Hattum, B.; Martínez-López, E.; Courdassier, M.; Eulaers, I.; Fritsch, C.; Jaspers, V.L.B.; Krone, O.; Duke, G.; Helander, B.; Mateo, R.; Movalli, P.; Sonne, C.; Van den Brink, N.W.; García Fernández, Antonio Juan; Gómez Ramírez, Pilar; Facultad de Veterinaria
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    Spatiotemporal variations of organochlorine pesticides in an apex predator: Influence of government regulations and farming practices
    (Elsevier, 2019-06-20) Pérez-García, Juan Manuel; León-Ortega, Mario; Enrique Martínez, José; Francisco Calvo, José; Sánchez-Zapata, José Antonio; Botella, Francisco; María-Mojica, Pedro; Martínez-López, Emma; García Fernández, Antonio Juan; Gómez Ramírez, Pilar; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
    Background Intensification of agricultural practices has caused several negative effects to the environment. The use of fertilizers and pesticides may alter geochemical cycles or cause direct wildlife intoxication. Detrimental effects of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have forced the authorities to ban or restrict its use. This study evaluates the variation in levels of OCPs in a sentinel species in relation to changes in government regulations and the spatial configuration of agricultural practices around the nests. Methods Between 2003 and 2007, we analysed OCP levels in 256 blood samples of Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) chicks nesting in area of intensive commercial agriculture with historical frequent use of pesticides, in South-eastern Spain. We studied year-to-year variations in OCP concentrations and their relation with land use configuration around raptor nests by Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM). Results OCPs were detected in 100% samples surveyed in 2003 and 2004, while dropped to 27% in 2005, 6.8% in 2006 and 6.3% in 2007, coinciding with the ban of OCPs. The presence of the main OCPs was related to agricultural practices. In particular, endosulfan and lindane were related to irrigated crops and urban areas, while DDT-related compounds and dieldrin were associated with dry land farming. Conclusions OCP concentrations in blood samples of Eurasian Eagle-owls may respond quickly to the implementations of new regulations about the use of agricultural products. This raptor was confirmed as a good sentinel species allowing rapid detection of changes in pesticides use.