29
Apr
Pesticides Linked to Altered Gut Microbiota in Farmland Bird of Prey, Raising Biodiversity Concerns
(Beyond Pesticides, April 29, 2025) A study in Environment International finds pesticide-induced alterations in the gut microbiota of a farmland raptor species. In collecting blood and cloacal samples from Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus) nestlings, the authors “shed light on an overlooked collateral effect of pesticides, i.e., a general modification of gut bacterial assemblages,†which can lead to an imbalance of microorganisms (dysbiosis) and the promotion of potential pathogens, as well as negatively impact the health of birds of prey. “Additionally, our findings support the ‘One Health‘ framework, stressing the interconnectedness of wildlife, ecosystem, and human health, particularly in pesticide-affected agricultural areas,†the researchers share. “The gut microbiota is crucial for host health and can be impacted by various environmental disruptions, yet the effects of multiple pesticide exposures on farmland organisms’ microbiomes remain largely unexplored,†the authors state. In the study, they “assessed microbiota changes in a wild apex predator exposed to multiple pesticides in agricultural landscapes,†which “provides evidence of pesticide impacts on wildlife gut microbiota, highlighting links between pesticide exposure and changes in microbiota composition,†the researchers note. The Montagu’s harrier, as an apex predator, serves as a ‘bio-sentinel’ or bioindicator species for assessing ecosystem health. “As top-level predators […]
