Comparison of pesticide contamination between captive-reared and wild grey partridges: insights into environmental exposure disparities.

Pesticide contamination is often cited as a key factor in the global decline of farmland birds. However, the majority of studies on pesticide exposure in non-target fauna are not representative of what happens in nature because they are limited to artificial conditions. The aim of this study was to define and compare, for the first time, pesticide contamination in grey partridges (Perdix perdix) from two different contexts, i.

Neonicotinoids: Still present in farmland birds despite their ban.

Neonicotinoids (neonics) are the most widely used insecticides worldwide and are considered to be of low risk to non-target organisms such as vertebrates. Further, they are reported to be rapidly excreted and metabolized, reducing their potential toxicity. Nevertheless, growing evidence of adverse effects of neonics on farmland bird species raise questions about the purported harmless nature of these pesticides.

Pesticide impacts on avian species with special reference to farmland birds: a review.

For decades, we have observed a major biodiversity crisis impacting all taxa. Avian species have been particularly well monitored over the long term, documenting their declines. In particular, farmland birds are decreasing worldwide, but the contribution of pesticides to their decline remains controversial.

Feeding on grains containing pesticide residues is detrimental to offspring development through parental effects in grey partridge.

Numerous toxicological studies have shown that ingestion of pesticides can induce physiological stress in breeding birds, with adverse consequences on egg laying parameters and offspring quality through parental effects. However, previous studies do not mimic current levels of pesticide residues in typical landscapes, and they do not consider potential cocktail effects of pesticides as they occur in the wild. Herein, we explored whether realistic pesticide exposure affected reproduction parameters and offspring condition through parental effects in Grey partridge.