Assessment of lead exposure in Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) from spent ammunition in central Spain

Abstract Over a period of 19 years, we studied 237 breeding attempts of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti) in Doñana National Park (southwestern Spain), including 29 pairs with at least one immature member, to investigate age-related effects on population fecundity. Without considering effect of territory quality, adult pairs were significantly more productive than immature pairs. Highly significant differences in breeding performance among territories were independent of age-classes of birds occupying them. Low-quality territories were more frequently occupied by immature pairs, whereas high-quality territories were occupied mostly or exclusively by adult birds. Therefore, age and territory quality appear to be interrelated. We found no effect on average population fecundity due to breeding by immature pairs.

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Influence of Contamination by Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Breeding of the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry ◽

10.1897/07-308 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol preprint (2007) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Mauro Hernandez ◽

Luis González ◽

Javier Oria ◽

Roberto Sánchez ◽

Beatriz Arroyo

Keyword(s):

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Organochlorine Pesticides ◽

Spanish Imperial Eagle ◽

Imperial Eagle ◽

Aquila Adalberti

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Taphonomic study of leporid remains accumulated by the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

Geobios ◽

10.1016/j.geobios.2006.11.009 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 91-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Lluís Lloveras ◽

Marta Moreno-Garcia ◽

Jordi Nadal

Keyword(s):

Spanish Imperial Eagle ◽

Imperial Eagle ◽

Aquila Adalberti

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Causes and spatio-temporal variations of non-natural mortality in the Vulnerable Spanish imperial eagle Aquila adalberti during a recovery period

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605307414119 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 495-502 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Luis Mariano González ◽

Antoni Margalida ◽

Santi Mañosa ◽

Roberto Sánchez ◽

Javier Oria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Region ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Power Lines ◽

Natural Mortality ◽

The West ◽

Small Game ◽

West Central ◽

Spanish Imperial Eagle ◽

Imperial Eagle ◽

Aquila Adalberti

AbstractThe analysis of 267 records of non-natural mortality of the Spanish imperial eagle Aquila adalberti over a 16-year period (1989-2004) shows an annual rate of 15.1 individuals found dead per year and that electrocution (47.7%) and poisoning (30.7%) were the most frequent causes of mortality. Most cases (91.7%) were of human origin, and of those 92.3% were accidental. Just over half (50.2%) were related to the transmission of electricity and human activity (collisions and electrocution), and 40.7% related to game practices and livestock protection (control of predators). No differences between sexes were found but subadults were electrocuted more frequently than expected whilst adults were poisoned more frequently. In breeding areas poison was the most frequent cause of mortality, whereas electrocution was the most common cause of death in dispersal areas. Poisoning occurred more frequently than expected in the Northern and Southern regions compared to the West-Central region. Electrocution was significantly more frequent in the West-Central region, and less common in the Southern region. The increase in electrocutions over the last few years is associated with previous non-permanent corrections on electricity power lines, whilst the increase in the cases of poisoning appears to be associated with the use of illegal poison in predator control by small game practices and for livestock protection. Permanent corrections in power lines and more research and awareness effort in the small game sector are recommended to reduce human-induced mortality in this Vulnerable species.

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