Tracking equipment to test the effects of pesticides on migration movements of wild birds and butterflies

新烟碱类杀虫剂是世界上使用最广泛的杀虫剂，与家养蜜蜂种群的迅速减少有关，导致全球对传粉媒介健康和粮食安全的担忧。新烟碱类杀虫剂主要用作种子包衣，但只有约5%的化学物质被植物吸收，而其余的化学物质会污染土壤和水，并在环境中持续存在数年。除蜜蜂外，人们对新烟碱类杀虫剂对其他占据农业栖息地的物种（如候鸟和蝴蝶）的亚致死效应知之甚少。对圈养鸣禽的研究发现，其他污染物（甲胺磷、多氯联苯）会破坏迁徙方向，但新烟碱类尚未得到测试。在这项新颖的研究中，我们使用创新的跟踪技术来测试新烟碱类对白冠麻雀，萨凡纳麻雀和帝王蝶迁徙运动的影响。动物将配备一个微型编码纳米标签（< 1g）设备，可以被覆盖安大略省西南部的数十个“MOTUS”自动无线电遥测塔现有的广泛网络检测到（约5公里内）。所要求的设备，纳米标签和手动接收器，将支持三所大学的三个合作项目。首先，我们的初步研究表明，圈养的白冠麻雀即使接触到小剂量的吡虫啉，活动也会显著减少，体重也会下降。为了进行实地试验，将在春季迁徙时捕捉个体，并用非常小但与环境有关的口服吡虫啉对实验鸟进行治疗。与对照鸟相比，迁徙方向将首先在圈养中使用标准的“Emlen”漏斗测试进行监测，然后在野外使用纳米标签跟踪释放后的迁徙运动。其次，我们正在研究新烟碱对萨凡纳麻雀的影响，通过跟踪标记幼鸟羽化后的扩散运动和秋季迁徙的开始，这些幼鸟来自玉米/大豆农场，使用新烟碱与天然草甸。我们在雏鸟粪便样本以及土壤和昆虫样本中检测了吡虫啉水平，并将测试高暴露于新烟碱类杀虫剂是否会对扩散运动产生负面影响或延迟秋季迁徙的开始。第三，我们将利用纳米标签跟踪在新烟碱处理植物和对照植物上饲养的黑脉金斑蝶的迁徙方向。迫切需要这些研究来确定人口下降的驱动因素，并为新烟碱管制提供信息。加拿大卫生部有害生物管理管理局（PMRA）计划在未来两年内完成对新烟碱类药物的全面重新评估；完成我们的研究并将其纳入PMRA评估和建议是很重要的，因为我们研究的是蜜蜂以外的非目标动物。

Neonicotinoids are the most widely used insecticide in the world and have been linked to rapid declines in domesticated bee populations, leading to global concern around pollinator health and food security. Neonicotinoids are applied primarily as a seed coating but only about 5% of the chemical is absorbed by the plant while the remainder contaminates the soil and water and persists for years in the environment. Other than bees, very little is known about the sublethal effects of neonicotinoids on other species that occupy agricultural habitat such as migratory birds and butterflies. Studies of captive songbirds have found that other contaminants (acephate, PCBs) disrupt migration orientation but neonicotinoids have not yet been tested. In this novel research, we use innovative tracking technology to test the effects of neonicotinoids on the migratory movements of White-crowned Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, and Monarch Butterflies. Animals will be equipped with a miniature coded NanoTag (< 1g) device that can be detected (within ~5 km) by the existing and extensive network of dozens of 'MOTUS' automated radio-telemetry towers that blanket southwestern Ontario. The equipment requested, NanoTags and manual receivers, will support three collaborative projects across three universities. First, our pilot studies have shown that, in captivity, White-crowned Sparrows exposed to even small doses of imadacloprid, significantly reduce activity and lose body mass. To conduct field tests, individuals will be caught on spring migration and experimental birds will be treated with a very small but environmentally relevant oral dose of imadacloprid. Migration orientation, compared to control birds, will be monitored first in captivity using a standard ‘Emlen’ funnel test and then in the wild using NanoTags to track migration movements after release. Second, we are studying the effects of neonicotinoids on Savannah Sparrows by tracking the post-fledging dispersal movements and onset of fall migration in tagged juveniles that originated from corn/soybean farms using neonicotinoids vs natural meadows. Imadacloprid levels are tested in nestling fecal samples as well as soil and insect samples, and we will test if higher exposure to neonicotinoids has a negative effect on dispersal movements or delays onset of fall migration. Third, we will use NanoTags to track the migration orientation of Monarch Butterflies that have been reared on neonicotinoid treated plants versus control plants. These studies are urgently needed to identify drivers of population declines and to inform neonicotinoid regulations. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is scheduled to complete a full re-evaluation of neonicotinoids over the next two years; it is important that our research be completed and included in the PMRA assessment and recommendations because we address non-target animals other than bees.