List of potential focal bird species pesticides in Switzerland
Background
If a pesticide does not pass the first step of the ecotoxicological risk assessment for birds, a refined risk assessment is required. This involves the use of more realistic exposure estimates and the use of “focal species”.
These species are, other than the fictitious first-tier species, real bird species actually occurring and feeding in the crop at the time of pesticide application. Therefore, using focal species, realism can be added to the risk assessment.
Michela Gandolfi & Thomas S. Reichlin – contact: michela.gandolfi@acw.admin.ch Research Station Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW, CH
ACW | 2012
The use of focal species the Guidance Document pesticides to birds 2009), however, no focal in this document. The different crops can vary of Europe. Thus, focal evaluated at a national In parallel to several other Swiss experts have potential focal species crops in Switzerland.
Crop type Stage Food type Crop
Field crops Bare soil Soil arthropods All
Weed seeds All
Weed seeds All
Worms All
Sowing Crop seeds Cereals, sugar beet, oilseed rape, vegetables
Maize, beans, peas, sunflowers, potatoes
Emergence Soil arthropods All
Weed seeds All
Seedlings Cereals
Sugar beet, oilseed rape, vegetables, maize,
beans, peas, sunflowers, potatoes
Vegetation All arthropods All
Weed seeds Cereals, maize, sugar beet, potatoes
Beans, peas, sunflowers
Oilseed rape
Vegetables
Harvest All arthropods Cereals, maize, sugar beet, oilseed rape
Beans, peas, sunflowers
Weed seeds All
Orchards All Soil arthropods All
Foliar arthropods All
Weed seeds All
Worms/ fruits All
Vineyards All All arthropods All
Weed seeds All
Worms / berries All
Berries All Soil arthropods All
Weed seeds All
Worms / berries All
Foliar arthropods Only bushes
Ornamentals All Soil arthropods Flowers/bushes
Grassland
Foliar arthropods Only flowers/bushes
Weed seeds Flowers/bushes
Grassland
A g ro s c o p e
SETAC 2012, Berlin, WE 050
Table 1: Potential focal bird species for refined risk assessments of pesticides
Photo sources:
1) Wood Pigeon, www.naturfoto.cz , by Jan Sevcik; 2) Black Redstart, by Michelle & Peter Wong; 3)
5) Goldfinch, www.birdfood.co.uk; 6) Yellowhammer, by Andy Bright, 7) Fieldfare, www.hedgelandtales.blogspot.com; 8) 1
5 6
Worms All
species for a refined risk assessment of
: michela.gandolfi@acw.admin.ch
Wädenswil ACW, CH-8820 Wädenswil; www.agroscope.ch
Methods
The approach used for determining the potential focal bird species relevant for Switzerland, and details about the method are presented in the Poster WE 049.
Results
The list of the potential focal bird species for different cultures and growth stages relevant for Switzerland are reported in Table 1.
Conclusion
The determined focal species could be used in the future to achieve a crop-specific and more realistic estimation of the risks of pesticides on birds living in agricultural areas in Switzerland.
A comparison of the focal species in different species is recommended by
Document for risk assessment of and mammals (EFSA focal species are defined The relevant focal species in vary among different parts focal species have to be national level.
other European countries, have also investigated the species relevant for different
Focal species Black Redstart (spring) Yellohammer (autumn) Goldfinch (spring)
Summary
For refinement of the risk of pesticides to birds, more realistic exposure estimates are needed, including the use of focal species.
The poster presents the potential focal bird species that are relevant for Switzerland in different crops.
A comparison of focal species between countries will be crucial for a coordinated and harmonized refined risk assessment procedure within European zones.
Acknowledgement - The authors thank the ornithologists Simon Birrer of the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach and Michael Schaad of the Swiss A comparison of the focal species in different European countries should allow to reach a better and more comparable refined risk assessment procedure in the EU. As pesticides are now evaluated and registered in zones (southern, central and northern zone), a harmonization may be achieved at least within each zone.
Goldfinch (spring) Linnet (autumn) Fieldfare Cereals, sugar beet, oilseed rape, vegetables Skylark
ize, beans, peas, sunflowers, potatoes Wood Pigeon Yellohammer Linnet Skylark beet, oilseed rape, vegetables, maize, Wood Pigeon
Yellohammer Skylark Greenfinch Common Quail Wood Pigeon ilseed rape, potatoes White Wagtail Yellohammer Greenfinch Common Redstart Blue Tit Goldfinch Fieldfare Black Redstart Goldfinch Starling White Wagtail Greenfinch Fieldfare Blue Tit Fieldfare White Wagtail Blue Tit Greenfinch
Goldfinch Institute Sempach and Michael Schaad of the Swiss Association for the Protection of Birds (SVS/BirdLife) for their valuable cooperation.
pesticides in Switzerland.
Michelle & Peter Wong; 3) Greenfinch, wikipedia; 4) Blue Tit, www.fatfinch.wordpress.com;
, www.hedgelandtales.blogspot.com; 8) Starling nestlings, by Michela Gandolfi; 9) Skylark, by Markus Jenni
2 3 4
8 9 7
Fieldfare
