Bird health and sperm quality in relation to environmental levels of neonicotinoids

Presentation cancelled by author

Bird health and sperm quality in relation to environmental levels of neonicotinoids

(Oral)

Ségolène Humann-Guilleminot
segolene.humann@vogelwarte.ch

Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
,
Łukasz J. Binkowski
Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Poland
,
Gaëtan Glauser
Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
,
Lukas Jenni
Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
,
Fabrice Helfenstein
Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

DOI: 10.17011/conference/eccb2018/107788

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Neonicotinoids pesticides are commonly used in agriculture. They are administered mainly prophylactically as seed coating, but can also be sprayed in some cultures. Several characteristics of these molecules make them prone to be transported from the field of application to the surrounding areas. As a consequence, neonicotinoid insecticides represent an environmental risk to non-treated land with potential consequences for non-target species. In this context, we visited 62 farms over the Swiss lowland agricultural area managed under three types of agricultural practices: conventional, integrated production called “IP-Suisse” and organic. We collected soil and vegetation samples in cultivated fields as well as in ecological focus areas (EFAs). Additionally, we captured between 5 and 20 house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in each visited farms, with the aim to examined whether neonicotinoid concentrations in soils and plants are related to indices of the birds’ health (body mass, blood and sperm redox status, sperm quality) and/or neonicotinoid concentrations in the birds’ plumage.

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INTRO:
In this study, Humann-Guilleminot and colleagues assessed levels of neonicotinoid pesticides in environments impacted by agricultural activity. In addition, the authors examined the consequences of exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of these widespread contaminants on health and sperm performance in house sparrows. High-quality studies uncovering the sub-lethal ecological impacts of environmental pollutants in wildlife are timely and important. I recommend that this conference Abstract be accepted and look forward to seeing the presentation.

MERITS:
(see above)
CRITIQUE:
My only suggested revisions are minor text edits. Below are passages that I have edited to fix apparent spelling/grammatical errors:

'Neonicotinoid pesticides are commonly used in agriculture' - Remove plural for 'neonicotinoid'

'but can also be sprayed' - Remove 'in some cultures'

'transported from the field of application to the surrounding area' - Remove plural for 'area'

'neonicotinoid pesticides represent an environmental risk' - Probably best to be consistent and use 'pesticides' here as well

'house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in each visited farm' - Remove plural for 'farm'

'with the aim to examine whether' - Change 'examined' to 'examine'

DISCUSSION:
Something to consider for future studies: Given that behaviour can be especially vulnerable to disruption by trace levels of environmental pollutants (Melvin and Wilson, 2013), I think that a consideration of the potential for pesticide exposures to alter fitness-related behaviours (e.g., activity, foraging, reproduction) in your sparrows would be a valuable addition to your suite of endpoints.

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INTRO:
Neonicotinoids pesticides are used regularly in agriculture and may impact the health of exposed wildlife. The authors looked at total 63 frames that employ one of three different types of agriculture practices to distribute neonicotinoids pesticides (conventional, integrated production and organic). At these sites, the authors collected soil and vegetation samples, as well as house sparrows (Passer domesticus). They then looked at the correlation between neonicotinoid concentration in the soil, vegetation and birds. In addition, the also measured the health of birds by measuring, body mass, blood and sperm redox status and sperm quality.
MERITS:
This study looks at the impacts of a commonly used pesticide on the health of wildlife (house sparrow) in real-world situations, across three different agriculture practices. The results of this study are important in determining current risk agriculture practices pose for wildlife.
CRITIQUE:
The points and the layout of the manuscript are very good. I only have minor critiques.

1) If you have space in the abstract, it would be good to identify how these pesticide might impact bird health (is it a EDC?), as well as, how it might enter their system (bioaccumulation through invertebrates and plants?). The potential for these things to bioaccumulate seems to me to be the premise behind the correlation across soil-plant-bird.

2) A little more information about what the three different agriculture practices are, and how they are different would be helpful.

3) An explanation of what is meant by ecological focus areas.

4) If possible, some indication of what the results are would also be good.
DISCUSSION:
As mentioned above, I think this sounds like a really important topic.