esticides are causing the widespread decline of grassland birds throughout the United States, a recent study suggests. The study, led by Dr. Pierre Mineau of Environment Canada, examines twenty-three years of data, from 1980 to 2003. It examines a variety of possible reasons grassland birds declined during this time including farming intensity, crop composition, herbicide use, insecticide use, and habitat alteration.
During recent decades, grassland birds have experienced range reductions and declining populations. The speed at which North American birds are declining is greater than in other areas of the world. Although habitat protection has long been promoted as a key to conservation, Dr. Mineau stresses that to successfully reverse the decline of grassland birds, we must change they extent to which we use pesticides.
Cynthia Palmer, manager of the Pesticides Program at American Bird Conservancy stresses that restriction of pesticide use and habitat protetion must go hand in hand:
"We are still concerned about loss of habitat in agriculture, range management, and urban development. This study by no means diminishes the importance of habitat fragmentation and degradation. But it suggests that we also need to rein in the use of lethal pesticides in agriculture, and that we need to be especially careful about any new pesticides we introduce into these ecosystems such as the neonicotinoid insecticides. It reminds us that the poisonings of birds and other wildlife chronicled a half century ago by famed biologist and author Rachel Carson are by no means a thing of the past."
During recent decades, grassland birds have experienced range reductions and declining populations. The speed at which North American birds are declining is greater than in other areas of the world. Although habitat protection has long been promoted as a key to conservation, Dr. Mineau stresses that to successfully reverse the decline of grassland birds, we must change they extent to which we use pesticides.
Cynthia Palmer, manager of the Pesticides Program at American Bird Conservancy stresses that restriction of pesticide use and habitat protetion must go hand in hand:
"We are still concerned about loss of habitat in agriculture, range management, and urban development. This study by no means diminishes the importance of habitat fragmentation and degradation. But it suggests that we also need to rein in the use of lethal pesticides in agriculture, and that we need to be especially careful about any new pesticides we introduce into these ecosystems such as the neonicotinoid insecticides. It reminds us that the poisonings of birds and other wildlife chronicled a half century ago by famed biologist and author Rachel Carson are by no means a thing of the past."
Hd Animal Amazing Photos
Hd Animal Amazing Photos
Hd Animal Amazing Photos
Hd Animal Amazing Photos
Hd Animal Amazing Photos
Hd Animal Amazing Photos
Hd Animal Amazing Photos
