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Assessing Contamination Profiles in Livers from Road-Killed Owls.

Maria Dulsat-Masvidal1, Rui Lourenço2, Rafael Mateo3

  • 1Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
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Summary

Owls act as environmental sentinels, with contaminant levels varying by species, age, and habitat. Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs were highest in top predators, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were more common in urban-associated owls.

Keywords:
BiomonitoringBirdsContaminantsOrganic contaminantsWildlife toxicology

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Wildlife Health

Background:

  • Raptors, particularly owls, serve as crucial sentinel species for environmental contaminant monitoring due to their high trophic levels and broad foraging ranges.
  • Understanding contaminant exposure patterns in owls is vital for assessing ecosystem health and identifying potential risks to wildlife and humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the levels and patterns of various organic contaminants in five species of road-killed owls from Alentejo, Portugal.
  • To evaluate how species, age, and sex influence the bioaccumulation of contaminants like organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Main Methods:

  • Carcasses of five owl species (eagle owl, long-eared owl, little owl, tawny owl, barn owl) were collected after being found road-killed.
  • Livers were analyzed for 81 organic contaminants, including OCPs, PFAS, PCBs, PAHs, pharmaceuticals, in-use pesticides, and organophosphate esters (OPEs).
  • Principal component analysis was used to identify differences in contaminant patterns among species, age groups, and sexes.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-one out of 81 contaminants were detected; organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were prevalent, followed by perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).
  • Eagle owls and long-eared owls exhibited higher concentrations of OCPs, PCBs, and PFOS, correlating with their higher trophic positions.
  • Tawny owls, barn owls, and little owls showed higher levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), linked to their use of urban and roadside habitats.

Conclusions:

  • Contaminant exposure patterns varied significantly among owl species, reflecting differences in diet and habitat preferences, even among species with similar diets.
  • Adult owls had higher concentrations of OCPs and PCBs than juveniles, indicating accumulation over time.
  • The study highlights the utility of owls as bioindicators, revealing distinct contamination profiles influenced by ecological niche and life history traits.