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12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
A conceptual model for assessing risks in a Mediterranean Natura 2000 Network site
Joaquim A Macedo-Sousa1, Amadeu M V M Soares, José V Tarazona
1CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. jamsousa@ua.pt <jamsousa@ua.pt>
The Science of the Total Environment
|November 8, 2008
Summary
A new model assesses agricultural chemical risks to endangered birds in protected areas. It considers species
Area of Science:
- Ecotoxicology
- Environmental Risk Assessment
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Millions of tons of chemicals contaminate the environment annually, impacting biodiversity.
- European biodiversity policy relies on the Birds and Habitats Directives, establishing the Natura 2000 Network.
- Current protected area management plans lack mandatory ecotoxicological assessments for chemicals used within their boundaries.
- Existing risk assessment protocols are generic and do not account for regional specificities, such as Mediterranean ecoregion characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a conceptual model for assessing agricultural chemical risks to conservation-priority bird species within Natura 2000 Network sites.
- To provide an example assessment for a cereal steppe in the Iberian Peninsula.
- To incorporate species-specific biotic parameters into high-tier risk assessments.
Main Methods:
- Identification of hazards from herbicides, sewage sludge used as fertilizer, and veterinary pharmaceuticals in livestock waste.
- Inclusion of biotic parameters for key bird species: great bustard (Otis tarda), lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), and Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus).
- Modeling chemical transfer through realistic trophic chain scenarios, considering diverse feeding behaviors (species-specific and age-specific).
- Proposal of a probabilistic approach for transparent risk assessment and improved risk communication.
Main Results:
- A conceptual model has been developed to assess agricultural chemical risks to specific bird species in protected areas.
- The model accounts for species' unique biological traits and dietary habits.
- Trophic pathways are realistically simulated to trace chemical transfer.
Conclusions:
- The proposed model offers a more refined and transparent method for evaluating agricultural chemical impacts on vulnerable bird populations.
- This approach addresses the limitations of generic risk assessments by incorporating regional and species-specific data.
- Enhanced risk assessment and communication are crucial for effective conservation of biodiversity within Natura 2000 sites.
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