title: Modelling the impact of toxic and disturbance stress on white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) populations.
abstract: Several studies have related breeding success and survival of sea eagles to toxic or non-toxic stress separately. In the present investigation, we analysed single and combined impacts of both toxic and disturbance stress on populations of white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), using an analytical single-species model. Chemical and eco(toxico)logical data reported from laboratory and field studies were used to parameterise and validate the model. The model was applied to assess the impact of ∑PCB, DDE and disturbance stress on the white-tailed eagle population in The Netherlands. Disturbance stress was incorporated through a 1.6% reduction in survival and a 10-50% reduction in reproduction. ∑PCB contamination from 1950 up to 1987 was found to be too high to allow the return of white-tailed eagle as a breeding species in that period. ∑PCB and population trends simulated for 2006-2050 suggest that future population growth is still reduced. Disturbance stress resulted in a reduced population development. The combination of both toxic and disturbance stress varied from a slower population development to a catastrophical reduction in population size, where the main cause was attributed to the reduction in reproduction of 50%. Application of the model was restricted by the current lack of quantitative dose-response relationships between non-toxic stress and survival and reproduction. Nevertheless, the model provides a first step towards integrating and quantifying the impacts of multiple stressors on white-tailed eagle populations.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Korsman
authors.forename: Aafke M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.forename: H J Rob
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lenders
authors.forename: Ruud P B
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Foppen
authors.forename: A Jan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hendriks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003634:DDT / Q000633:toxicity*; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*; D020307:Eagles; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls