Doi: https://doi.org/10.13157/arla.72.2.2025.sc4
Authors: Carmen M. CAÑIZARES-LARA, Silvia ESPíN, Antonio Juan GARCÍA-FERNÁNDEZ, Javier MARTíNEZ, Isabel NAVAS, Marina GARCíA-DEL RÍO and Santiago MERINO
E-mail: carmencanizareslara@gmail.com
Published: Volume 72.2, July 2025. Pages 311-327.
Language: English
Keywords: Caribbean diet, endemic birds, feathers, Haemoparasites, location, pesticides and Tropical areas.
Summary:
Organochlorine pesticides are environmental contaminants showing high toxicity, volatility, persistence and bioaccumulation on the environment and organisms. These compounds can affect vertebrate immune systems, rendering animals more susceptible to infections but can also reduce parasitic infections by decreasing the populations of vectors transmitting parasites. The study analyzes the presence and variation of organochlorine pesticides in feathers of several tropical bird species of the Dominican Republic from three different sampling areas. In addition, Additionally, was obtained data on blood parasite infections of these birds to investigate potential interactions between parasites and pesticides. Feather samples from different individuals of the same species and sampling area were pooled to reach the minimum mass needed for the pesticide analyses. In total 31 samples were analysed: 12 of Palmchat Dulus dominicus from 32 individuals, four of Hispaniolan Woodpecker Melanerpes striatus from ten individuals, six of Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus from nine individuals, six of Common Ground-dove Columbina passerina from 20 individuals, one of Banaquit Coereba flaveola from 22 individuals and two of Hispaniolan Mangos Anthracothorax dominicus from 19 individuals. It was found 11 different organochlorine pesticides (concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 25.52ng/g). In addition, five different blood parasite types were detected by molecular analyses in samples from 128 individuals of bird species (all except the Mango hummingbirds). Blood parasite presence varied among bird species. However, were not detected any significant interaction between pesticide accumulation and blood parasite infection in data from the four more abundant bird species in the sample. Pesticides banned in the Dominican Republic more than 20 years ago are still detected in groups of feathers from all the bird species and areas analysed although there were no significant differences in their concentration between species or sampling areas.
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