Detecting Cryptic Exposure and Effects of Neurotoxic Insecticides to Migratory Birds

检测神经毒性杀虫剂对候鸟的隐秘暴露和影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03494
• 负责人: Morrissey, Christy
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=745826
• 关键词: Detecting; Cryptic; Exposure; Effects; Neurotoxic

Many migratory and farmland associated bird species are exhibiting precipitous population declines across North America. One of the main putative causes is the role of pesticides affecting birds using agricultural landscapes. Conventional agricultural practices in North America have increased reliance on agrochemicals over the past 35 years to maintain or increase production yields in highly simplified landscapes. Migrating and farmland associated birds can be exposed to toxic insecticides through ingestion of treated seeds or granules, sprayed soils or contaminated prey items and water. Since avian migration is a complex process that requires integration of multisensory information for successful orientation and navigation and rapid refueling at the staging sites, even subtle, insidious perturbations from insecticide exposure could delay a bird's migration, change their route, and reduce their survival and chance to reproduce. However, studies remain inconclusive about the magnitude of pesticide effects relative to landscape and habitat alterations that have co-occurred. Remarkably, few studies have explicitly tested whether pesticides could be directly responsible for processes underpinning species losses in agricultural habitats. My goal is to begin disentangling whether insecticides are playing a disproportionate role in the decline of avifauna in North America relative to habitat alterations toward simplified landscapes alone. Through comprehensive GIS desktop exercises, field studies, and captive experiments using many common farmland bird species (eg. grassland sparrows and blackbirds, aerial insectivorous swallows and introduced European starlings) as well as cutting edge technologies (sensitive pesticide residue analysis, automated telemetry, eDNA metabarcoding and bioacoustic analyses), I will explore the multiple aspects of sublethal insecticide exposures and effects. The research will explore the complex processes that underpin stable bird populations and communities, provide new insight into the root causes of global farmland bird declines, and pinpoint viable solutions that can aid conservation efforts.  It will also create a platform for a rich training experience for students to prepare them for diverse careers in ecology, ecotoxicology and conservation biology fields.

在北美，许多迁徙和农田的鸟类正在经历精确人群的下降。主要原因之一是使用农业景观影响鸟类的农药的作用。在过去的35年中，北美的常规农业实践对农业化学物质的缓解增加了，以维持或增加高度简化的景观产量。可以通过摄入经过处理的种子或颗粒，喷涂的土壤或被污染的猎物和水来暴露于迁移和农田的鸟类。由于鸟类迁移是一个复杂的过程，需要将多感觉信息整合到成功的方向和导航，并在分期地点进行快速加油，甚至从杀虫剂暴露中进行微妙，阴险的扰动，可能会延迟鸟类的迁移，改变其路线，减少其存活率和繁殖机会。然而，研究对于相对于景观和栖息地改变的农药作用的大小尚无定论。值得注意的是，很少有研究明确测试农药是否可以直接负责农业栖息地中物种损失的过程。我的目标是开始解开杀虫剂是否在北美的阿维法纳（Avifauna）的衰落中起着不成比例的作用，而与仅针对简化景观的栖息地改变。 Through comprehensive GIS desktop exercises, field studies, and captive experiments using many common farmland bird species (eg. grassland sparrows and blackbirds, aerial insectivorous swallows and introduced European starlings) as well as cutting edge technologies (sensitive pesticide retention analysis, automated telemetry, eDNA metabarcoding and bioacoustic analysis), I will explore the multiple aspects of sublethal insecticide暴露和效果。这项研究将探讨基础稳定的鸟类种群和社区的复杂过程，为全球农田鸟类下降的根本原因提供新的见解，并确定可以帮助保护工作的可行解决方案。它还将为学生创建一个平台，以便学生为他们的生态学，生态学和保护生物学领域的潜水职业做好准备。