Winter diet and lead poisoning risk of Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga in southeast Spain |
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Authors: | Juan Manuel Pérez-García Jana Marco-Tresserras Adrian Orihuela-Torres |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Applied Biology, University Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain juanmapg@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1191-0187;3. Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4636-7647;4. Department of Applied Biology, University Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain;5. Laboratorio de Ecología Tropical y Servicios Ecosistémicos (EcoSs-Lab), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7186-3984 |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT Capsule: Diet analysis revealed high lead exposure for Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga wintering in southeast Spain. Aims: To describe the diet composition of the endangered Greater Spotted Eagle in a wintering area located in southeast Spain, and determine lead ammunition exposure through analysis of regurgitated pellets and prey remains. Methods: Between 2008 and 2018, a total of 26 pellets, 29 prey remains and 10 direct predation observations were collected in El Hondo Natural Park, Spain. All the pellets and 10 prey remains were analysed with X-ray in order to detect metal from ammunition. Results: Greater Spotted Eagles fed mainly on birds, with 18 different species accounting for 73.1% of prey items and 66.1% of biomass consumed. The most frequent species identified were Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (23.1%), rats Rattus spp. (15.4%) and Common Teal Anas crecca (8.9%). Ammunition was detected in 42.3% of regurgitated pellets and in 40.0% of prey remains analysed. Of those containing ammunition, lead shot was found in 63.9% of pellets and 25.0% of prey remains. Conclusion: High lead shot presence in pellets and prey remains of wintering Greater Spotted Eagles in southeast Spain warns of a high risk of lead poisoning. Factors such as feeding behaviour, the large space–time overlap between the raptor presence and the waterbird hunting season and non-compliance with the ban on the use of lead ammunition are likely contributing to high lead exposure. |
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