Mid-term effects of exposure to fungicide-treated seeds in feral rock pigeons (Columba livia)
Abstract
The feeding response of feral rock pigeons (Columba livia) to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) seed treated with the fungicide "Maneb" (manganese ethylene-bisdithiocarbamate) was assessed under aviary conditions. Bird preferences for dry or moist seed were also recorded. In all cases, non-treated (49.14 g birdE1 dayE1) rather than treated seed (32.97 g birdE1 dayE1) was selected, and wheat rather than barley (48.16 compared to 33.95 g birdE1 dayE1 respectively). Dry seed was consumed in preference to moist seed (47.53 g birdE1 dayE1 compared to 15.08 g birdE1 dayE1) a preference noted both when treated and non-treated seed was consumed. The birds fed exclusively on treated seed showed a reduction in body weight; no significant differences were recorded in those fed either untreated or mixed seed. Water consumption was three times greater in pigeons fed exclusively on treated seed.Downloads
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the print and online versions of this journal are the property of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. You may read the basic information and the legal text of the licence. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 licence must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the final version of the work produced by the publisher, is not allowed.