Case Study 1B - Winter cereals (Spain)

Cumulative exposure of wildlife to plant protection products (PPP) in an agricultural system (winter cereals)

Institutions: UKCEH, UCLM

CS Coordinators: David Surgeon, Stephen Short, Melanie Gibbs, Rafael Mateo, Manuel Ortiz-Santaliestra

  • Objectives / Hypothesis

Investigate the role of pesticides on avian declines from direct and indirect effects associated with multiple exposures affecting reproductive performance.

  • Description of the case study

The CS 1B aims to assess the exposure of birds and invertebrates to triazole pesticides through various pathways (direct application, seed treatment, residue ingestion) and evaluate the potential effects on their populations and biodiversity.

Case Study Goal

  • Exposure assessment - PPP exposure from:

    • Estimated application depending on crop type

    • Availability of pesticide-treated seeds (autumn)

    • PPP residues in plants and soils

    • PPP residues in invertebrates, hunted partridges, and blood of passerine birds

  • Effect assessment 

    • Parameters related to the mechanisms of toxicity of triazoles (cholesterol, steroid hormones, ecdysteroids)

    • Productivity (clutch and brood sizes relative to adult density)

  • Biodiversity monitoring

    • Densities of most relevant bird species (transects)

    • Diversity of invertebrate community (trapping, suction sampling)

  • Species

  • Involved stakeholders

  1. National farmers’ association (ASAJA)

  2. National association of crop protection (AEPLA)

  3. Hunters

  4. Nature-conservation NGOs

  5. Environment and agriculture regional and national authorities

  • Locations

Description:

  • 60 sampling points in Spain’s northern and southern plateaus

  • gradient from conventional to organic farming