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Centro de Investicación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD): Pesticide effects on migratory landbirds of Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico Objectives: Evaluate the effects of organophosphate and carbamate pesticide exposure in migratory landbirds of coastal Sinaloa and Sonora through the use of non-lethal biomarkers (cholinesterase inhibition in blood). Specific objectives include: (1) sample blood of abundant migratory landbirds common to Bahía Sta. María and the Colorado River delta; (2) determine the cholinesterase inhibition in each sample through the Ellman reaction and the procedure of Hooper; and (3) investigate the patterns of pesticide use in adjacent agricultural districts at the time of collection. Project Description: Migratory landbirds are exposed to a variety of threats in their wintering, breeding, and stopover habitats. Pollution is one of the least known threats, probably due to the difficulty in measuring its effects on birds. In this project CIAD will use a methodology specifically designed to measure the impacts of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides on migratory landbirds. These impacts will be measured by the percent of cholinesterase inhibited in blood samples. Blood samples of migratory landbirds will be collected in Bahía Sta. María, Sinaloa and in the Colorado River delta, Sonora. CIAD will select common species in order to compare values between these two sites, since both are influenced by large agricultural districts. A significant result of this project will be to determine the levels of cholinesterase inhibition of migratory landbirds before they cross the border to the United States, particularly learning where on their migration they tend to experience the greatest exposure (Sinaloa or Sonora). Contact: |
