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Analysis of xenobiotica in predatory birds
Project
Project code: JKI-ÖPV-08-1399
Contract period: 01.10.2018
- 31.05.2021
Purpose of research: Experimental development
The entrance of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in different environmental compartments represents an often discussed issue due to the potential uptake of these chemicals by various wildlife species. For example birds of prey are mainly exposed to environmental chemicals via their diet. Top predators of a terrestrial food chain like red kite (Milvus Milvus), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) or Eurasian sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) are expected to be especially exposed to herbicides in the surrounding of agricultural land. On the other hand, species of the aquatic food chain like osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) are expected to be rather exposed to pharmaceuticals which enter the environment by effluents from waste water treatment plants, sewage sludge or animal manure. Especially chemicals with persistent and bioaccumulative properties are suspected to biomagnify in species of a high trophic position which might represent a risk for certain species. Knowledge about the exposure of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in different feeding guilds of birds of prey are expected from a retrospective analysis of liver tissues from birds which were found dead within Germany as well as from blood samples of nestlings during 2019-2020 from regions with expected high and low agricultural usage.
Section overview
Subjects
- Agroecology
- Genetic Resources
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analysis and Stored Products Protection (JKI-ÖPV)