title: The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme: identifying chemical risks to top predators in Britain.
abstract: The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) is a long term (>40 y), UK-wide, exposure monitoring scheme that determines the concentration of selected pesticides and pollutants in the livers and eggs of predatory birds. This paper describes how the PBMS works, and in particular highlights some of the key scientific and policy drivers for monitoring contaminants in predatory birds and describes the specific aims, scope, and methods of the PBMS. We also present previously unpublished data that illustrates how the PBMS has been used to demonstrate the success of mitigation measures in reversing chemical-mediated impacts; identify and evaluate chemical threats to species of high conservation value; and finally to inform and refine monitoring methodologies. In addition, we discuss how such schemes can also address wider conservation needs.
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster, UK. leew@ceh.ac.uk
authors.forename: Lee A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Shore
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turk
authors.forename: M Glória
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Best
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006078:Government Programs; D020304:Raptors / Q000254:growth & development*; D012306:Risk; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants