Use of grit supplements by waterbirds: an experimental assessment of strategies to reduce lead poisoning |
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Authors: | Monica Martinez-Haro Andy J Green Pelayo Acevedo Rafael Mateo |
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Institution: | 1.Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM),Ciudad Real,Spain;2.Department of Wetland Ecology,Estación Biológica de Do?ana, EBD (CSIC),Sevilla,Spain;3.Biogeography, Diversity, and Conservation Research Team, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science,University of Málaga,29071,Málaga,Spain |
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Abstract: | The ingestion of spent Pb shot due to confusion with grit or inadvertently with food particles causes Pb poisoning in a large
number of waterbirds, this being one of the main causes of mortality for some species. Lead ammunition for hunting is being
progressively banned in more countries, while grit supplementation has been proposed as a management measure to reduce the
ingestion of deposited Pb shot. Studies of grit selection with waterfowl in semi-captivity and in the wild were undertaken
to evaluate preferences in the colour and geochemical composition of grit, whether it was available dry or in water, its position
within the wetland and the relationship between grit ingestion and feeding behaviour. Grit ingestion was higher when food
was included in the treatments. In the absence of food, red grit was taken in higher amounts than grey in semi-captivity but
not in the wild. Siliceous grit was taken in a higher amount than calcareous when offered dry, but not in water. No differences
in the amount of ingested grit were found among different positions within the wetland. The number of feeding attempts in
plots supplemented with grit was higher than in those without grit, although the highest numbers of feeding birds were found
in plots supplemented with food. Grit ingestion in waterfowl is intimately associated with feeding behaviour. To optimize
the effectiveness of grit supplementation to reduce the risk of Pb poisoning in waterfowl, calcareous and siliceous grit may
be combined and applied in feeding sites or mixed with bait to attract birds. |
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