Arnemo, Jon Martin

Berglund, Åsa M. M.

Bignert, Anders

Borg, Hans

Bröjer, Caroline

Ecke, Frauke

Helander, Björn

Holm, Karin

Hörnfeldt, Birger

Lanzone, Michael

Miller, Tricia

Nordström, Åke

Rodushkin, Illia

Räikkönen, Jannikke

Singh, Navinder J.

Ågren, Erik

Environmental Science & Technology

Frauke Ecke

Navinder J. Singh

Jon M. Arnemo

Anders Bignert

Björn Helander

Åsa M. M. Berglund

Hans Borg

Caroline Bröjer

Karin Holm

Michael Lanzone

Tricia Miller

Åke Nordström

Jannikke Räikkönen

Ilia Rodushkin

Erik Ågren

Birger Hörnfeldt

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Sublethal Lead Exposure Alters Movement Behavior in Free-Ranging Golden Eagles

Brage INN

Lead poisoning of animals due to ingestion of fragments from lead-based ammunition in carcasses and offal of shot wildlife is acknowledged globally and raises great concerns about potential behavioral effects leading to increased mortality risks. Lead levels in blood were correlated with progress of the moose hunting season. Based on analyses of tracking data, we found that even sublethal lead concentrations in blood (25 ppb, wet weight), can likely negatively affect movement behavior (flight height and movement rate) of free ranging scavenging Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Lead levels in liver of recovered post-mortem analyzed eagles suggested that sublethal exposure increases the risk of mortality in eagles. Such adverse effects on animals are probably common worldwide and across species, where game hunting with lead-based ammunition is widespread. Our study highlights lead exposure as a considerably more serious threat to wildlife conservation than previously realized and suggests implementation of bans of lead ammunition for hunting.</p

Sublethal Lead Exposure Alters Movement Behavior in Free-Ranging Golden Eagles

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Brage INN

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