“This contamination was much higher in vineyards relative to other crops, emphasizing that contaminants may especially put birds at risk in these specific agroecosystems.”
A new study has unveiled that wild birds residing in vineyards are highly vulnerable to contamination by triazole fungicides, more so than in other agricultural landscapes.
The exposure of these birds to field-realistic levels of these fungicides was found to disrupt their hormones and metabolism, potentially affecting their reproductive capabilities and overall survival.
Dr. Frédéric Angelier, a Senior Researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research, explains:
“We found that birds can be highly contaminated by triazoles in vineyards. This contamination was much higher in vineyards relative to other crops, emphasizing that contaminants may especially put birds at risk in these specific agroecosystems.”
Triazoles are widely used fungicides applied to agricultural crops, including wheat, to combat fungal pests by interfering with their cell membranes.
While previous studies on wildlife decline have examined the impact of various agricultural practices, the role of vineyards has been largely overlooked.
However, vineyards cover a significant portion of land in certain European countries and are associated with extensive fungicide usage (up to 5-7 times more than in other crops). Consequently, vineyards are relevant agroecosystems for assessing the effects of fungicides on wild birds.
To investigate this issue, Dr. Angelier and colleagues conducted field experiments to measure actual fungicide levels and combined them with controlled laboratory experiments to assess the impact of these fungicides on specific aspects of bird health.
Laboratory studies on pesticide effects on wildlife often use higher concentrations than those encountered in real-world scenarios to elicit stronger reactions.
However, in this research, the team measured the actual fungicide contamination in birds residing in vineyards, as well as birds from other ecosystems such as forests, cities, and crop fields.
They then replicated the fungicide concentrations found in vineyards under controlled laboratory conditions to examine the sub-lethal effects on bird physiology and health.
“In that respect, our research helps to better understand how wild birds are affected by pesticides in a realistic world,” adds Dr Angelier. “Impacts to reproduction and survival could lead to a loss of biodiversity or services (such as birds eating other pests).”
These findings highlight the particular susceptibility of wild birds in vineyards to contamination by triazole fungicides and emphasize the importance of considering the potential effects on bird populations in such agricultural landscapes.
Image Credit: FREDERIC ANGELIER