Probabilistic risk assessment for snails, slugs, and endangered honeycreepers in diphacinone rodenticide baited areas on Hawaii, USA

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry 2005-06, Vol.24 (6), p.1557-1567
• Main Authors: Johnston, John J., Pitt, William C., Sugihara, Robert T., Eisemann, John D., Primus, Thomas M., Holmes, Melvin J, Crocker, Joe, Hart, Andy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Baits; Biological and medical sciences; Diphacinone; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Endangered species; Extinction; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastropoda; General aspects; Hawaii; Invertebrates; Lethal Dose 50; Mathematical models; Melamprosops phaeosoma; Models, Statistical; Mollusca; Mollusks; Mortality; Mortality risk; Pesticides; Phenindione - analogs & derivatives; Phenindione - poisoning; Poouli; Probabilistic; Rats; Risk; Risk Assessment; Rodentia; Rodenticide; Rodenticides; Rodenticides - poisoning; Rodents; Snails; Songbirds
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1897/04-255R.1

Three probabilistic models were developed for characterizing the risk of mortality and subacute coagulopathy to Poouli, an endangered nontarget avian species, in broadcast diphacinone‐baited areas on Hawaii, USA. For single‐day exposure, the risk of Poouli mortality approaches 0. For 5‐d exposure, the mean probability of mortality increased to 3% for adult and 8% for juvenile Poouli populations. For Poouli that consume snails containing diphacinone residues for 14 d, the model predicted increased levels of coagulopathy for 0.42 and 11% of adult and juvenile Poouli populations, respectively. Worst‐case deterministic risk characterizations predicted acceptable levels of risk for nonthreatened or endangered species such as northern bobwhite quail and mallards. Also, no acute toxicity was noted for snails and slugs that feed on diphacinone baits.