Environmental Toxicology
Environmental Toxicology
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Hazard and Risk of Anticoagulant Rodenticides to Predatory and Scavenging Wildlife
Invasive mammalian predators are the most damaging group of animals affecting global biodiversity. When introduced on remote islands, alien rodent species can devastate local biota and have been linked to approximately 30% of all extinctions. In addition, rodents can also consume and spoil crops, and serve as disease vectors that affect humans. Starting in the 20th century, rodenticides were...
Immune System Changes and Susceptibility to Disease in Birds Exposed to Environmental Contaminants
Disease dynamics in wildlife are commonly related to changes or increases in environmental stressors that are placed upon an animal. Environmental pollutants are known to affect the immune system of wildlife, resulting in impaired resistance to infection and potential increases in disease outbreaks. In collaboration with: Jill Jenkins, Ph.D USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center; Julia Lankton...
Do pesticide coatings on agricultural seeds pose a threat to earthworms and to the birds that eat them?
Earthworms are a vital part of a healthy, functioning soil ecosystem and are also an important protein-rich food source for wildlife, including many species of birds and mammals. In an agricultural setting, the presence of earthworms can increase crop yields by 25%, but can also expose earthworms to pesticides. Seed treatment is the principal application method for neonicotinoid insecticides, one...
Identifying the Genetic Basis of Avian Susceptibility to Mercury
The Challenge: Mercury is a highly toxic element found throughout our environment. Although it occurs naturally in some environments, human industrial pollution has greatly increased the amount of mercury and the range of environments in which mercury is found. Recent studies have confirmed clear differences in the sensitivity of various bird species to methylmercury. Because the causes of these...