A preliminary study on risk analysis of pesticides to insectivorous birds inhabiting cotton based agro-ecosystem of Punjab, Pakistan
2006
Hussain, I. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). National IPM Programme) | Naureen, H. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). National IPM Programme) | Ahmed, I.
Effect of pesticides was studied by estimating the cholinesterase (ChE) enzyme activity in two insectivorous bird species i.e. jungle babbler (Turdoides striatus) and Indian wren warbler (Prinia subjlava) inhabiting the cotton based agro-ecosystem of Multan and the agro-ecosystem of Chakwal, an area where pesticide use is believed to be at very low scale. Morphometric data of the sampled populations revealed comparatively larger body weights in the birds captured from the control area as compared to those of the cotton area. There was suppression in the brain ChE enzyme activities in both the bird species captured during the cotton season as compared to the other sets of data i.e. non-cotton season and control values. The inhibition of ChE enzyme activity in jungle babbler was at 10.2% (cotton vs. non-cotton). 29.6% (non- cotton vs. control) and 36.8% (cotton vs. control). In Indian wren warbler this inhibition was 6.2% (cotton vs. non-cotton) , 39.29% (non-cotton vs. control) and 42.9%. (Cotton vs. control). The present levels of ChE inhibition in jungle babbler and Indian wren warbler provided evidence that insectivorous birds inhabiting the cotton based agro- ecosystem of Punjab are at considerable level of threat from the pesticides in use. This preliminary report suggest further investigations on determination of pesticide residues level in the avifauna, reproductive potential and viability of the insectivorous bird species in this ecosystem.
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