近日，加拿大萨斯喀彻温大学Christy A. Morrissey及其研究团队的最新发现表明，一种新烟碱类杀虫剂可以降低能量储备，并延迟鸣禽的迁徙。相关论文于2019年9月13日发表在《科学》杂志上。

研究人员结合实验剂量和自动无线电遥测手段，在大范围尺度上跟踪吡虫啉暴露的鸣禽的迁徙活动。在迁徙中途期间，摄取野外实际量的吡虫啉（1.2或3.9毫克/千克体重）的白冠麻雀（Zonotrichia leucophrys）会导致食物消耗、重量和脂肪的快速减少并且显著影响它们的离开概率。与对照组相比，高剂量处理后的鸟类在捕获区域停留的中位数延长了3.5天，这可能是因为需要重新获得能量储备或者从中毒中恢复。迁移延迟可能会影响生存和繁殖。因此，这些结果证实了亚致死量农药暴露与候鸟种群不良后果之间的联系。

据悉，新烟碱类物质是广泛用作种子处理的神经毒性杀虫剂，但对其在农业区域觅食的迁徙鸟类的影响知之甚少。

附：英文原文

Title: A neonicotinoid insecticide reduces fueling and delays migration in songbirds

Author: Margaret L. Eng, Bridget J. M. Stutchbury, Christy A. Morrissey

Issue&Volume: Vol 365, Issue 6458

Abstract: 

Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic insecticides widely used as seed treatments, but little is known of their effects on migrating birds that forage in agricultural areas. We tracked the migratory movements of imidacloprid-exposed songbirds at a landscape scale using a combination of experimental dosing and automated radio telemetry. Ingestion of field-realistic quantities of imidacloprid (1.2 or 3.9 milligrams per kilogram body mass) by white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) during migratory stopover caused a rapid reduction in food consumption, mass, and fat and significantly affected their probability of departure. Birds in the high-dose treatment stayed a median of 3.5 days longer at the site of capture after exposure as compared with controls, likely to regain fuel stores or recover from intoxication. Migration delays can carry over to affect survival and reproduction; thus, these results confirm a link between sublethal pesticide exposure and adverse outcomes for migratory bird populations.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw9419

Source:https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6458/1177