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The source of almost all of the lead (Pb) found in meat from carcasses of wild-shot small game animals is often thought to be small embedded fragments of the lead shotgun pellets usually used by hunters to kill them. Available circumstantial evidence supports this conjecture, but an unknown proportion of the lead in game meat might be biologically-incorporated and absorbed by the game animal from ingested shotgun pellets and other environmental sources, such as soil and residues from mining. A critical test comparing lead concentrations in meat from animals known to have been killed using different types of shotgun ammunition has not been performed until now. We compared lead concentrations in samples of edible meat from carcasses of 27 wild-shot common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) from which only lead shotgun pellets were recovered post mortem with concentrations for 20 birds from which only iron pellets were recovered. Shotgun pellets were removed from the meat samples before analysis. The mean concentration of lead was about 30 times greater in the meat of pheasants shot with lead than those shot with iron and was similar to mean concentrations of lead reported previously from Europe-wide samples of meat from wild-shot small game animals, including pheasants, killed using unknown types of ammunition. These results support the hypothesis that changing the type of shotgun ammunition in use for hunting from lead to iron would greatly reduce the concentration of lead in meat from wild-shot small game.

Eutrophication and the predicted limited future availability of rock phosphate has triggered the increased development of phosphorus (P) recovery technologies, however, for remote regions, recovery solutions are still limited. Here, we report on a novel pilot-scale technology (FILTRAFLOTM-P reactor) to recover phosphate (PO43−) from wastewater effluent through a filtration/adsorption process in a rural setting. This unit employs enhanced gravitational filtration through adsorption media (here, a novel KOH deacetylated crab carapace based chitosan-calcite material (CCM)) with continuous self-backwashing. Trials were designed to assess how the FILTRAFLOTM-P unit would operate under ‘real’ conditions (both at low and high PO43− levels), and to ascertain the effectiveness of the adsorbent to recover phosphate from final effluent. High removal was achieved at low phosphate concentrations, bringing the residual effluent PO43− level below 1 mg/L (EU limit for sensitive water bodies), while phosphate was efficiently harvested (at more than 50%) at higher PO43− levels. Surface microprecipitation and inner-sphere complexation were postulated as the main PO43− adsorption mechanisms through XRD, XPS and EDX elemental mapping. Further, a quality assessment of the P-enriched CCM (which could be used as a potential soil amendment) was undertaken to consider elemental composition, microbiological assessment and quantification of organic micropollutants. Quality analysis indicated ∼2.5% P2O5 present, trace levels (well below legislative limits) of heavy metals and extremely low levels of organic pollutants (e.g., PCBs, pharmaceuticals). No detectable levels of target bacterial pathogens were observed. Pot trials showed that ryegrass cultivated with the addition of the CCM adsorbent achieved higher plant dry matter and P concentration when compared to unfertilised controls, with a slow-release kinetic pattern. This study showed that CCM used with the FILTRAFLOTM-P pilot reactor has high potential to recover phosphate from effluents and encourage resource recovery via bio-based management of waste.

As a lignocellulose biomass, waste conifer brash (waste treetops and branches) from felled afforested peatland sites can be converted to biochar through pyrolysis, thus creating a potentially useful product. Here, we propose that brash from ‘forest-to-bog’ peatland restoration sites through conversion to biochar, could be utilised for nutrient (PO43−-P and NH4+-N) removal at such restoration sites, or within the water sector. As a first step, we explore the factors involved in biochar production that will result in high nutrient adsorption efficiency and pyrolysis yield and low production cost (using a Plackett-Burman experimental design (PBD)). Central composite design (CCD) was used for further optimisation of pyrolysis time and temperature as the two most significant factors. Model predictions for an optimised biochar (OB) suggested pyrolysis conditions of 500 °C for 30 min could achieve the highest yield of 34.75 %, the lowest cost of 0.37 £ /kg, and the highest PO43−-P and NH4+-N removal of 9.9 % and 65.2 %, respectively. Additionally, the OB morphology, structure and surface chemistry were characterised using different instrumental techniques which showed typical features for a wood-based biochar. While the OB did remove NH4+-N from solution (due to the presence of negatively charged functional groups), it did not remove significant amounts of PO43--P, indeed it leached PO43--P back into solution. Therefore, an unmodified biochar produced from conifer brash did not fulfil the aim of removing these two key nutrient pollutants for use in improving water quality at restoration sites. To address this challenge, the surface chemistry of the OB could be functionalised to increase its affinity toward both PO43−-P and NH4+-N ions.

There is now increasing interest in the creation of a more ‘circular economy’, with a particular aim to eliminate waste – by design, within which products are optimised to be reused, restored or returned. Here, a sulphur functionalised microporous biochar was synthesised from an abundant biomass waste material (cherry kernels), for the selective removal of Pb(II) from landfill leachate as a representative heavy metal. The production process utilises renewable waste material and removes toxic chemicals. Characterisation of the biochar showed that pyrolysis and functionalisation formed an adsorbent with a microporous structure and rich surface chemical functionality. The adsorption process was optimised using a ‘response surface methodology – Box-Behnken Design’. Lead removal efficiency approached 99.9% under optimised experimental conditions, i.e., where the solution pH was 6.0, the biochar dose was 4.0 g/L and the contact time was 47 min. The adsorption process was best described using a Freundlich model. The maximum amount of Pb(II) adsorbed was 44.92 mg/g. The main adsorption mechanisms occurred through outer-sphere (electrostatic attraction) and inner-sphere complexation. Desorption studies showed that three successful regeneration cycles (with acidic deionised water) could be used post pyrolysis. The biochar removed 97% of Pb(II) from landfill leachate samples, as compared to 9.4%, and 7.6% for two commercial activated carbon adsorbents. These findings demonstrate the high selectivity of this biochar towards Pb(II) and its applicability even in the presence of high concentrations of many potentially interfering inorganic and organic ions and compounds.

The restoration of drained afforested peatlands, through drain blocking and tree removal, is increasing in response to peatland restoration targets and policy incentives. In the short term, these intensive restoration operations may affect receiving watercourses and the biota that depend upon them. This study assessed the immediate effect of ‘forest-to-bog’ restoration by measuring stream and river water quality for a 15 month period pre- and post-restoration, in the Flow Country peatlands of northern Scotland. We found that the chemistry of streams draining restoration areas differed from that of control streams following restoration, with phosphate concentrations significantly higher (1.7–6.2 fold, mean 4.4) in restoration streams compared to the pre-restoration period. This led to a decrease in the pass rate (from 100 to 75%) for the target “good” quality threshold (based on EU Water Framework Directive guidelines) in rivers in this immediate post-restoration period, when compared to unaffected river baseline sites (which fell from 100 to 90% post-restoration). While overall increases in turbidity, dissolved organic carbon, iron, potassium and manganese were not significant post-restoration, they exhibited an exaggerated seasonal cycle, peaking in summer months in restoration streams. We attribute these relatively limited, minor short-term impacts to the fact that relatively small percentages of the catchment area (3–23%), in our study catchments were felled, and that drain blocking and silt traps, put in place as part of restoration management, were likely effective in mitigating negative effects. Looking ahead, we suggest that future research should investigate longer term water quality effects and compare different ways of potentially controlling nutrient release.

This work describes the development, optimisation and validation of an analytical method for the rapid determination of 17 priority pharmaceutical compounds and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Rather than studying compounds from the same therapeutic class, the analyses aimed to determine target compounds with the highest risk potential (with particular regard to Scotland), providing a tool for further monitoring in different water matrices. Prioritisation was based on a systematic environmental risk assessment approach, using consumption data; wastewater treatment removal efficiency; environmental occurrence; toxicological effects; and pre-existing regulatory indicators. This process highlighted 17 compounds across various therapeutic classes, which were then quantified, at environmentally relevant concentrations, by a single analytical methodology. Analytical determination was achieved using a single-step solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The fully optimised method performed well for the majority of target compounds, with recoveries >71% for 15 of 17 analytes. The limits of quantification for most target analytes (14 of 17) ranged from 0.07 ng/L to 1.88 ng/L in river waters. The utility of this method was then demonstrated using real water samples associated with a rural hospital/setting. Eight compounds were targeted and detected, with the highest levels found for the analgesic, paracetamol (at up to 105,910 ng/L in the hospital discharge). This method offers a robust tool to monitor high priority pharmaceutical and EDC levels in various aqueous sample matrices.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a recognised threat to global health. Obtaining data on the prevalence of AMR in environmental bacteria is key to understanding drivers and routes of transmission. Here, 325 Shiga toxin negative deer faecal samples-gathered from across the Scottish mainland-were screened for the presence of AMR Escherichia coli and investigated for potential risk factors associated with AMR occurrence. E. coli with resistance to antimicrobials of clinical health concern, including carbapenems and 3rd generation cephalosporins, were targeted. Ninety-nine percent of samples yielded E. coli, and the prevalence of resistant E. coli at the level of faecal samples was 21.8% (n = 71) for tetracycline, 6.5% (n = 21) for cefpodoxime, 0.3% for ciprofloxacin (n = 1), with no recorded resistance to meropenem. Potential risk factors for tetracycline and cefpodoxime resistance were investigated. The presence of broadleaved woodlands was significantly associated with both AMR phenotypes, which may relate to land use within or around such woodlands. Associated risk factors varied across resistance phenotype and deer species, with proximity or density of horses an indicator of significantly decreased and increased risk, respectively, or tetracycline and cefpodoxime resistance in E. coli from roe deer, but not from red deer. Distance from wastewater treatment plants was a significant risk factor for tetracycline resistance in E. coli from red deer but not from roe deer. Data indicated that AMR E. coli can occur in wild deer populations that are not directly exposed to the selective pressure exerted by antimicrobial treatment. Overall, resistance to critically important antimicrobials was found to be low in the studied population, suggesting no immediate cause for concern regarding human health. Utilising existing culling frameworks, wild deer in Scotland could function well as a sentinel species for the surveillance of AMR in the Scottish environment.

Carcasses of common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) killed by hunters using shotguns are widely used or sold in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for human consumption. Almost all of the birds are shot using shotgun pellets composed principally of lead (Pb). Lead shotgun pellets often fragment on impact within the bodies of gamebirds, leaving small lead particles in the meat that are difficult for consumers to detect and remove and from which a greater proportion of lead is likely to be absorbed. Chronic exposure to even low levels of lead is associated with negative health effects in humans and especially in groups particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead, which include young children and pregnant women. Our study used a high-resolution computerised tomography X-ray scanner to locate, in three dimensions, metal fragments embedded within carcasses of eight pheasants sold for human consumption in the UK. Small radio-dense fragments (

International audience; Ratios of barium and strontium concentrations in skeletal samples (e.g. in the logarithmic form lg(Ba/Sr)), are a possible alternative or supplementary marker to stable carbon isotope ratios (δ$^{13}$C) for identification of marine food consumption. Previous studies have compared lg(Ba/Sr) values between different species of animals with differing diets, but few studies have been performed where animals of the same species consumed known diets ranging from completely terrestrial to completely marine. Additionally, how seaweed consumption affects dental and bone Ba, Sr and other trace element concentrations has not yet been directly investigated.In this study, tooth enamel from modern sheep (n = 15) that consumed known diets containing varying amounts of terrestrial grasses and seaweeds were analysed for their Sr, Ba, Ca, V, Mn, Co, Ni, As, and U concentrations. Additionally, δ$^{13}$C values were analysed to enable comparison of δ$^{13}$C and trace element ratios as markers of marine plant food consumption. The consumed vegetation types (grasses and seaweeds) were also analysed for trace element ratios, as were soils and sands from areas where the animals were pastured. To investigate how decay processes (i.e., diagenesis) may affect lg(Ba/Sr) in archaeological tooth enamel, teeth of 22 sheep from seven archaeological sites (ranging from ca. 5000 to 1000 years old) on the Orkney Islands, Scotland, were also analysed.The results show that tooth enamel from seaweed-eating sheep had significantly different lg(Ba/Sr) (−2.4 to −1.6) and δ$^{13}$C values (−6.7‰ to −3.3‰) when compared to terrestrial-feeding sheep (lg(Ba/Sr) 0.6 to −0.5; δ$^{13}$C −15.5‰ to −14.7‰), with a linear correlation between lg(Ba/Sr) and δ$^{13}$C (R2 = 0.94). Vegetation, soil and sand results confirmed the assumed dependence of enamel lg(Ba/Sr) values on the (bioaccessible) Ba and Sr concentrations of the consumed matter. The archaeological samples had elevated relative amounts of U, V, As, Mn, Co, and Ni, attributable to diagenesis. However, the lg(Ba/Sr) values of the archaeological enamel followed the trend established using the modern samples, indicating that diagenesis did not cause significant changes in lg(Ba/Sr) in these samples. In conclusion, lg(Ba/Sr) values in enamel appear to be a useful indicator of the relative amount of marine food consumed, including seaweeds. This may be particularly advantageous for samples and locations where δ$^{13}$C is unreliable or ambiguous as an indicator of marine food consumption.

Here, Box-Behnken design (BBD) approaches were utilised to optimise synthesis methodology for the chitosan-calcite rich adsorbent (CCM) made from fishery-food waste material (crab carapace), using low-temperature activation and potassium hydroxide (KOH). The effect of activation temperature, activation time and impregnation ratio was studied. The final adsorbent material was evaluated for its phosphorus (P) removal efficiency from liquid phase. Results showed that impregnation ratio was the most significant individual factor as this acted to increase surface deacetylation of the chitin (to chitosan) and increased the number of amine groups (–NH2) in the chitosan chain. P removal efficiency approached 75.89% (at initial P concentration of 20 mg/L) under optimised experimental conditions, i.e. where the impregnation ratio for KOH:carapace (g/g) was 1:1, the activation temperature was 105 °C and the activation time was 150 min. Predicted responses were in good agreement with the experimental data. Additionally, the pristine and CCM material were further analysed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technique (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Characterisation showed enhancements in surface chemistry (introducing positively charged amine groups), textural properties and thermal stability of the CCM. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11356-019-07570-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Veterinary pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, are emerging contaminants of concern worldwide. Avian scavengers are exposed to pharmaceuticals through consumption of livestock carcasses used for feeding wildlife for conservation purposes at supplementary feeding stations. Here we tested the hypothesis that griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) would be more exposed to antibiotics (i.e., quinolones) when feeding on livestock carcasses from intensive farming than when they rely on carcasses from extensive farming or wild animals. We sampled 657 adult griffon vultures captured between 2008 and 2012. In addition, we sampled tissues from domestic livestock supplied at feeding stations in the study area between 2009 and 2019; pig (n = 114), sheep (n = 28), cow (n = 1) and goat (n = 2). Samples were analysed by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). Quinolones were detected in plasma from 12.9% of the griffon vultures analysed. Quinolone prevalence in griffon vultures varied significantly among feeding stations but was also affected by the total amount of carcasses supplemented, especially the mass of pig carcasses. These results aligned with a 21.1% quinolone prevalence in pig carcasses sampled at feeding stations, wherein enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin levels of up to 3359 ng/g and 1550 ng/g, respectively, were found. Given enrofloxacin pharmacokinetics in pig tissues, 5.3% of the analysed pigs may have died no more than one day after treatment. Quinolone presence in vultures was negatively associated with blood lead levels, which mostly originates from lead ammunition and indicates a higher consumption of game animal carcasses. Carcass disposal for feeding avian scavengers must always assess and manage the risks posed by veterinary pharmaceuticals, especially when livestock provided may have died soon after treatment., Some of the carcass sampling was also undertaken in collaboration with TRAGSATEC through contract REF. TEC0004566 and with the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Aigua, Urbanisme i Habitatge of the Generalitat Valenciana.

In 2020, nine major UK shooting and rural organisations proposed a voluntary transition from the use for hunting of lead shotgun ammunition to non-lead alternatives. The major food retailer Waitrose & Partners has announced its intention to move to not supplying game meat products from animals killed using any kind of lead ammunition and the National Game Dealers Association announced a plan for a similar policy to be implemented in 2022. The SHOT-SWITCH research project, which is intended to monitor the progress of these voluntary initiatives, began in the 2020/2021 shooting season. The project monitors changes in the proportions of wild-shot common pheasants Phasianus colchicus available to consumers in Great Britain that had been killed using lead and non-lead shotgun ammunition, as assessed by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry to identify the composition of shotgun pellets recovered from carcasses. In 2020/2021, 99.4% of the pheasants sampled had been killed using lead ammunition. We report here further results from this study for the 2021/2022 season. We found that 99.5% of the 215 pheasants from which shotgun pellets were recovered had been killed using lead ammunition. We conclude that the shooting and rural organisations’ joint statement and two years of their considerable efforts in education, awareness-raising and promotion, have not yet had a detectable effect on the ammunition types used by hunters who supply pheasants to the British game meat market.

Knowledge of the uptake and fate of mercury (Hg) compounds in biota is important in understanding the global cycling of Hg and its transfer pathways through food chains. In this study, we analysed total mercury (T-Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in 117 livers of Scottish birds of prey that were found across Scotland and submitted for post-mortem examination through the Raptor Health Scotland project between 2009 and 2019. Statistical comparisons focussed on six species (barn owl, Tyto alba; Eurasian common buzzard, Buteo buteo; golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos; hen harrier, Circus cyaneus; Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus; and tawny owl, Strix aluco) and showed that golden eagles had a statistically lower fraction of MeHg compared to other raptor species. Further investigation using stable carbon and stable nitrogen isotope ratio measurements carried out for the golden eagles (n = 15) indicated that the increased presence of inorganic mercury (iHg) correlated with a marine influence on the primarily terrestrial diet. Additional bioimaging (n = 1) with laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry indicated the co-location of Hg and selenium (Se) within the liver tissue and transmission electron microscopy showed evidence of nanoparticles within the range of 10–20 nm. Further analysis using single particle – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (n = 4) confirmed the presence of Hg nanoparticles. Together, the evidence suggests the presence of mercury selenide (HgSe) nanoparticles in the liver of some golden eagles that, to our knowledge, has never been directly observed in terrestrial birds of prey. This study points to two alternative hypotheses: these golden eagles may be efficient at breaking down MeHg and form HgSe nanoparticles as a detoxification mechanism (as previously observed in cetaceans), or some golden eagles with elevated iHg may have accumulated these nanoparticles by foraging on stranded cetaceans or seabirds.

Throughout South Asia, cattle are regularly treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their carcasses are left for scavengers to consume. Residues of the NSAID diclofenac in cattle carcasses caused widespread mortality and catastrophic population declines in three species of Gyps vulture during the 1990s and 2000s. Diclofenac is now banned, but other NSAIDs are used in its place. Different lines of evidence, including safety testing in Gyps vultures, have shown that some of these other NSAIDs are toxic, or probably toxic, to vultures. The NSAID nimesulide is widely available and commonly used, and has been found in dead vultures with signs of renal failure (i.e. visceral gout) and without the presence of diclofenac and/or other vulture-toxic NSAIDs. Nimesulide is therefore probably toxic to vultures. Here, we report safety testing of nimesulide in Gyps vultures. In a controlled toxicity experiment, we gave two vultures the maximum likely exposure of nimesulide calculated from initial pharmacokinetic and residue experiments in cattle. Two other control birds were given an oral dose of water. Both vultures dosed with nimesulide died within 30 h, after showing outward signs of toxicity and increases in biochemical indicators of renal failure. Post-mortem examinations found extensive visceral gout in both vultures. Both control vultures survived without biochemical indicators of renal failure. With this evidence, we call for an immediate and comprehensive ban of nimesulide throughout South Asia to ensure the survival of the region’s Critically Endangered vultures. More generally, testing the impacts of drugs on non-target species should be the responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry, before their veterinary use is licensed.

Shell from the seafood processing industry is an under-utilised waste resource worldwide. Calcite, the major component of shell is commonly used in wastewater treatment for the removal of phosphorus (P). Here, mussel and oyster shell-based adsorbents (MSB and OSB) were used for removal of P as phosphate (PO43−) from aqueous solution and secondary wastewater, following preparation through chemical calcination at 700 °C. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to identify the effects of various operating parameters (e.g., pH, dosage, contact time, initial concentration of P ions, co-existing ions), while a desorption study helped to understand the availability of the bonded P. The optimal contact time for PO43− removal was 120 min using both adsorbents with the dose at 200 mg. Characterisation of the adsorbent was performed using SEM-EDX, pHpzc, BET, FTIR and XRD. The XRD analysis showed that both calcite and lime were present on the surface of the shell particles. P was adsorbed effectively through inner-sphere complexation and surface microprecipitation mechanisms, while an enhanced maximum P adsorption capacity of 12.44 mg/g for MSB and 8.25 mg/g for OSB was reached. The Redlich-Peterson isotherm model fitted well with the equilibrium isotherm data (R2 ≥ 0.97) which also suggested a heterogenic surface. The desorption study (on the saturated adsorbent) found that ~97% of bonded P could be plant available in soil. These results suggest that a shell-based adsorbent can serve as a promising material for P removal from real wastewater effluent and subsequently could be used as a soil conditioner. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Background Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are a common wild definitive host for liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) that have been the subject of limited diagnostic surveillance. This study aimed to explore the extent to which coprological diagnoses for F. hepatica in red deer in the Scottish Highlands, Scotland, are associated with variability among hosts and habitats. Methods Our analyses were based on coproantigen ELISA diagnoses derived from faecal samples that were collected from carcasses of culled deer on nine hunting estates during two sampling seasons. Sampling locations were used as centroids about which circular home ranges were quantified. Data were stratified by season, and associations between host, hydrological, land cover and meteorological variables and binary diagnoses during 2013–2014 (n = 390) were explored by mixed effect logistic regression. The ability of our model to predict diagnoses relative to that which would be expected by chance was quantified, and data collected during 2012–2013 (n = 289) were used to assess model transferability. Results During 2013–2014, habitat and host characteristics explained 28% of variation in diagnoses, whereby half of the explained variation was attributed to differences among estates. The probability of a positive diagnosis was positively associated with the length of streams in the immediate surroundings of each sampling location, but no non-zero relationships were found for land cover or lifetime average weather variables. Regardless of habitat, the probability of a positive diagnosis remained greatest for males, although males were always sampled earlier in the year than females. A slight decrease in prediction efficacy occurred when our model was used to predict diagnoses for out-of-sample data. Conclusions We are cautious to extrapolate our findings geographically, owing to a large proportion of variation attributable to overarching differences among estates. Nevertheless, the temporal transferability of our model is encouraging. While we did not identify any non-zero relationship between meteorological variables and probability of diagnosis, we attribute this (in part) to limitations of interpolated meteorological data. Further study into non-independent diagnoses within estates and differences among estates in terms of deer management, would improve our understanding of F. hepatica prevalence in wild deer.

We undertook short case studies of how (i) dieldrin and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) affected populations of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and other birds of prey in Britain and (ii) diclofenac impacted vulture populations across in south-east (SE) Asia. In both cases, high levels of (contaminated-mediated) acute mortality largely drove the population crashes and resulted in near extinctions of raptor species in several countries. Impaired, or naturally low, rates of reproduction likely limited recovery rates. The studies illustrate the huge, long-lived impacts that contaminants can have on bird populations. They changed our scientific understanding of the importance of different exposure routes and influenced how we now conduct monitoring and risk assessment. They also demonstrated the value of long-term population monitoring and archived specimens for identifying the causal factors and mechanisms behind the population crashes.

The use of abundant natural wastes as environmentally friendly products promotes a circular green economy and cleaner production. The potential use of natural waste materials without additional processing for the removal of priority pharmaceuticals from water was investigated. Here, the performance of selected low-cost biosorbents (biochar, macro-algae and wood chippings) was evaluated using two extensively prescribed model pharmaceuticals: diclofenac (DCF) and trimethoprim (TMP). The physicochemical properties of the biosorbents were examined (to shed light on likely biosorption mechanisms) using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zero point of charge (pHzpc) measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Experimental data from kinetic studies fitted a pseudo-second order model, and multiple diffusion steps limited the mass transfer of analytes. Intra-partile diffusion was the rate limiting step for biochar, while macro-algae and wood chippings were limited (mainly) by adsorptive attachment. The equilibrium data for most of the studied systems best fitted a Langmuir model, while the Freundlich model provided a better fit for TMP with wood chippings. At μg∙L−1 initial pharmaceutical loading levels, the maximum biosorption capacity for DCF was attained with biochar (7.25 × 103 μg g−1), while macro-algae performed best for TMP (7.14 × 104 μg g−1). Both chemical and physical interactions were likely responsible for the biosorption of pharmaceuticals. High removal efficiencies were achieved at the low initial loadings studied, indicating the potential application of those sustainable low-cost biosorbents at low (environmentally relevant) pharmaceutical concentrations.

Functionalised biochar (WpOH) was prepared from wild plum kernels using simultaneous pyrolysis and microwave potassium hydroxide (KOH) functionalisation. This was then applied to the removal (from water) of an ionisable pharmaceutical - naproxen (NPX). Characterization of the WpOH was carried out using pHpzc, SEM/EDX, BET, FTIR, XRD, and the principle adsorption mechanisms were thoroughly studied. A pseudo-second order kinetic model best described the reaction kinetic behaviour, and the Langmuir isotherm provided the best fit to the results. The maximum adsorptive interaction (73.14 mg/g) occurred between pH 5 and 7 through electrostatic attraction (the main interaction mechanism) between the negatively charged NPX and the positively charged WpOH functional groups. In addition, hydrogen-bonding and electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) interactions were important. In a competitive study, using NPX and carbamazepine (a basic/amphoteric drug), the different nature/structure of the two compounds resulted in slight competitive adsorption. The results demonstrate the potential for wild plum kernel biochar to be used in the efficient removal of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals from water.

Seaweeds are potentially a valuable resource for the food, drink and pharmaceutical sectors. The effective utilization of seaweed usually requires post-harvest dehydration in order to prevent decomposition, increase shelf life and aid the extraction of certain chemical constituents. Drying is an expensive, time-consuming and energy-intensive process. Here, the presence of a range of nutritionally important compounds was studied in five brown seaweeds (Fucus spiralis, Laminaria digitata, Fucus serratus, Halidrys siliquosa, Pelvetia canaliculata) after oven-drying at 40 and 60 °C, freeze-drying and microwave-drying at 385, 540 and 700 W. Antioxidant potential (total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity and radical scavenging activity), soluble protein, lipid, amino acid and fatty acid profiles were determined in each case. Overall, results showed that low-temperature drying, such as freeze-drying and oven-drying at 40 °C, produced products with higher concentrations of nutritionally important chemicals, as well as stronger antioxidant activities. Results suggest that concentrations of nutritionally important chemicals and antioxidant activity are influenced by both the drying treatment and seaweed species used. Where rapid drying techniques are found to be beneficial to levels of specific chemicals, microwave-drying could be a useful alternative to oven-drying, as it helps overcome issues associated with prolonged duration drying (contamination and oxidation). No single drying procedure could be identified as consistently superior for all species or all compounds of interest—indicating that the appropriate drying technique should be selected and optimized for each seaweed species whilst also taking into account potential end-use of the final product.

Fertilisation with animal manure has been shown to affect crop chemical and isotopic composition, indicating that if manuring effects are not taken into account, there is a risk of overestimating consumer trophic levels in palaeodietary studies. The effect of fertilisation with seaweed, a common fertiliser in the past in coastal areas, has been the subject of several hypotheses, but until now has not been studied in this particular context. In this study the impact of fertilising bere, an ancient type of Scottish barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), with 25 t/ha and 50 t/ha seaweed, in comparison to a modern commercial mineral fertiliser and to no fertilisation, was investigated in a field trial on the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) and elemental concentrations (B, Mg, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Mo, Cd and Pb) of grain, husk and straw samples were determined. Significant differences were found between treatment groups, including increases in δ15N values of 0.6 ± 0.5‰ (average ± 1σ for five replicate plots) in grain, and 1.1 ± 0.4‰ in straw due to seaweed fertilisation. Elevated concentrations of Sr in grain and husk samples (factors of 1.2–1.4) indicate the geographic tracer 87Sr/86Sr may also be affected. Fertilisation with seaweed thus needs to be considered for archaeological interpretations of chemical and isotopic compositions of crop and skeletal material for accurate palaeodietary and provenance reconstructions, particularly in coastal areas. Further implications of these results for studies concerning the effects of sea spray, radiocarbon-dating, and for dietary reconstructions using trace elements are also identified.

Phosphorus (P) recovery from wastewater will become increasingly vital in the future in terms of the protection of valuable freshwater resources (i.e., from eutrophication) and due to rapidly dwindling terrestrial rock phosphate stocks. Effective management of P as a critical resource will require new integrated approaches and techniques to efficiently recover P from wastewater (liquid phase), ideally in a form that can be readily used in agriculture for fertilizer. This chapter will present a comparative review of the performance of adsorbents, adsorption mechanisms, desorption, and P plant availability potential regarding cost-effective adsorbents synthesized within the principles of a more “circular economy.” In addition, considerations regarding scale-up, technique costs, and legislative perspectives will be explored with respect to large-scale P-recovery systems. Finally, to encourage further applied P-recovery based research, several adsorption case studies at pilot-, full-, and large-scale using integrated-hybrid P-removal systems (e.g., membrane/adsorbent reactors, biological nutrient removal with tertiary reactive media adsorption, and algal hybrid processes) will be highlighted, while noting key knowledge gaps and future priorities in this field.

There are significant negative effects of exposure to spent lead ammunition on wildlife and human health. A joint statement was issued by nine UK shooting and rural organisations on 24th February 2020 intended to encourage a voluntary transition to non-lead shotgun ammunition within five years “in consideration of wildlife, the environment and to ensure a market for the healthiest game products”. We dissected carcasses of wild-shot common pheasants Phasianus colchicus sold or offered for human consumption in Britain in the shooting season between 1st October 2020 and 1st February 2021 to recover shotgun pellets. The principal metallic element composing one pellet from each bird was identified using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The results showed that 99% of the 180 pheasants from which shotgun pellets were recovered had been killed using lead shotgun ammunition, compared with 100% in a much smaller study conducted in the 2008/2009 shooting season. We conclude that the shooting and rural organisations’ joint statement, and their subsequent promotional actions, have not yet had a detectable effect on the ammunition types used by shooters supplying pheasants to the British game market.

Redwater fever is an economically important disease of cattle in the United Kingdom caused by the protozoan parasite Babesia divergens. Control efforts are dependent on accurate local historic knowledge of disease occurrence, together with an accurate appreciation of current underlying risk factors. Importantly, the involvement of red deer in the transmission of this pathogen in the UK remains unclear. We employed a polymerase chain reaction approach combined with DNA sequencing to investigate Babesia infections in livestock and red deer at a UK farm with a history of tick-borne disease. This revealed several B. divergens-infected cattle that were not displaying overt clinical signs. Additionally, 11% of red deer on the farmland and surrounding areas were infected with this parasite. We also found that 16% of the red deer were infected with Babesia odocoilei, the first time this parasite has been detected in the UK. The finding of B. divergens in the red deer population updates our knowledge of epidemiology in the UK and has implications for the effective control of redwater fever.

Pharmaceuticals are considered emerging contaminants in terms of impacts on wildlife. One chemical group of concern is euthanasia agents used in veterinary medicine. Here we present data on the occurrence of barbiturate intoxication using samples collected from 2004 to 2020 of suspected wildlife and domestic animal poisoning cases in Spain (n = 3210). Barbiturate intoxication was seen in 3.4% (45/1334) of the total number of confirmed intoxicated animals. Barbiturates were detected in 0.2% (1/448) of baits containing detectable poisons. The most frequently detected barbiturate was pentobarbital (42/45, 93.3%), but we also detected phenobarbital, barbital, and thiopental (2.2% prevalence for each). Avian scavengers were most frequently affected by barbiturate intoxication (n = 36), especially Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) (n = 28). Median pentobarbital concentrations detected in intoxicated griffon vultures was 27.3 mg kg−1 in gastric content and 38.1 mg kg−1 in liver, which highlights the acute effect of the chemical soon after ingestion. At least two large intoxication events affecting griffon vultures were related to the consumption of carcasses from euthanized livestock. We also found phenobarbital in a prepared bait linked to the intoxication of one Eurasian buzzard (Buteo buteo). This study highlights the need for stronger regulation of barbiturates to avoid secondary intoxications due to improper disposal of euthanized livestock., This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [CGL 2013–40975-R] and contracts for the forensic analysis of wildlife poisoning events held with the regions of Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Basque Country, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Catalonia, La Rioja, Madrid and Navarra. PRC benefited from a contract with reference PTA 2017-14583-I financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and CSIC.

We assessed the spatial variation in concentrations of ten metals in faeces of the lesser black-backed gull (LBBG) Larus fuscus wintering at seven localities in South-West Spain. We found high concentrations of metals in gull faeces, with several elements (As, Cu, Mo, Pb, Zn) locally exceeding (by 2 to 11 times) derived Lowest Effect Level (LEL) values. We also found strong spatial variation, related to the main pollution sources associated with the different sites. Faeces from Chipiona Port (Gulf of Cádiz) showed the highest levels of As; Cetina saltpans (Bay of Cádiz) ranked first for Pb, Zn and Mo, which was consistent with historic mining and industrial pollution; Doñana ricefields showed the highest levels of Mn, a highly available element in flooded areas; while landfills ranked first for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Ni, potentially associated with electronic waste. Furthermore, we demonstrate how faecal analysis can be used to quantify biovectoring of metals into specific localities, using LBBG movement ecology and census data. At Fuente de Piedra, a shallow, closed-basin lake important for waterbirds, we show that metal inputs by LBBG have increased in recent years, and long-term deposition (e.g., of Pb) may impact aquatic communities and ecological processes in this Ramsar site.

The limited understanding of the effect of pre-and post-harvest techniques still hinders the full exploitation of seaweed. Here, the effect of harvest site, long term storage and species on the elemental composition, fatty acid profile, lipid content, and antioxidant properties were determined in eight intertidal seaweed species common to Scotland, harvested for potential food application and stored for up to 128 weeks. Result showed that the most significant variation was due to species, with no statistical link found for the combined interaction effect of both storage duration and harvest site in most cases, except for the antioxidant parameters and some selected elements, which was limited to some seaweed species. Overall, our result showed that the chemical profiles of the seaweed species studied were remarkably consistent and unaffected by long term storage. Thus, suggesting that seaweeds sampled from Scotland could be a valuable resource for the development of functional foods.

Ingestion of lead (Pb) derived from ammunition used in the hunting of game animals is recognised to be a significant potential source of Pb exposure of wild birds, including birds of prey. However, there are only limited data for birds of prey in Europe regarding tissue concentrations and origins of Pb. Eurasian buzzards (Buteo buteo) found dead in the United Kingdom during an 11-year period were collected and the concentrations of Pb in the liver and femur were measured. Concentrations in the liver consistent with acute exposure to Pb were found in 2.7% of birds and concentration in the femur consistent with exposure to lethal levels were found in 4.0% of individuals. Pb concentration in the femur showed no evidence of consistent variation among or within years, but was greater for old than for young birds. The Pb concentration in the liver showed no effect of the birds’ age, but varied markedly among years and showed a consistent tendency to increase substantially within years throughout the UK hunting season for gamebirds. The resemblance of the stable isotope composition of Pb from buzzard livers to that of Pb from the types of shotgun ammunition most widely-used in the UK increased markedly with increasing Pb concentration in the liver. Stable isotope results were consistent with 57% of the mass of Pb in livers of all of the buzzards sampled being derived from shotgun pellets, with this proportion being 89% for the birds with concentrations indicating acute exposure to Pb. Hence, most of the Pb acquired by Eurasian buzzards which have liver concentrations likely to be associated with lethal and sublethal effects is probably obtained when they prey upon or scavenge gamebirds and mammals shot using Pb shotgun pellets., Mónica Martinez-Haro was supported by the JCCM and the European Regional Development Fund (SBPLY/17/180501/000514).

International audience; Seaweed consumption by wild, feral and domesticated animals in coastal areas world-wide is currently likely widely underestimated. Seaweed consumption on the Orkney Islands by domesticated animals has become an established part of the archaeological literature, but the extent of seaweed consumption elsewhere is still largely unknown in archaeological contexts. The identification of small amounts of seaweed consumption by collagen δ13C and δ15N values remains problematic, as it is unclear to what extent seaweed consumption is reflected in skeletal tissues, and how results may vary between different tissues. In this study, modern sheep consuming known seaweed (predominantly kelp) and terrestrial diets on the Orkney Islands were analysed for δ13Ccollagen, δ15Ncollagen, δ13Cbone apatite and δ13Cenamel to provide a reference for archaeological studies. Seaweed and terrestrial vegetation were also analysed for δ13C and δ15N (n = 122). Seaweed δ15N values did not differ significantly from terrestrial vegetation on North Ronaldsay, indicating that δ15N is not a reliable indicator of seaweed consumption. In contrast, we confirmed that δ13C is a suitable marker for substantial seaweed consumption in all studied tissues in herbivorous diets in the absence of C4 plants. The consumption of both seaweed and terrestrial vegetation led to a large degree of variability in δ13C results (- 19.1 to - 11.5‰) within one herd kept under a consistent management system, due to differences in the amount of seaweed consumed by the individual sheep. However, when only small amounts of seaweed are consumed (

Peatland restoration is undertaken to bring back key peatland ecosystem services, including carbon storage. In the case of drained, afforested blanket peatlands, restoration through drain blocking and tree removal may impact upon aquatic carbon concentrations and export, which needs to be accounted for when considering the carbon benefits of restoration. This study investigated concentrations and export of aquatic carbon from a drained, afforested blanket bog catchment, where 12% of the catchment underwent drain blocking and conifer removal (termed 'forest-to-bog' restoration), and from two control catchments: one in open bog and one that remained afforested. Using a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design, we found no significant increases in concentrations or export of aquatic carbon (DOC, POC or DIC) in the first year following forest-to-bog restoration (i.e. across the whole post-restoration period). However, increased DOC concentrations were observed in the first summer (2015) post-restoration, and seasonally increased DOC export was noted during storm events in the autumn of the same year. The lack of significant effects of forest-to-bog restoration on aquatic carbon export may be a consequence of the small proportion of the catchment (12%) undergoing management. In terms of management, the removal of more of the forestry residues (i.e., brash) may help to mitigate effects on aquatic carbon, by removing a potential DOC and POC source. Restoring small areas at a time (≤12%) should result in minimal aquatic carbon export issues, in contexts similar to the current study.

Despite the now well recognised impact of diclofenac on vultures across the Indian subcontinent, this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was registered in 2013 for livestock treatment in Spain, Europe’s main vulture stronghold. We assessed the risk of exposure to diclofenac and nine other NSAIDs in avian scavengers in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) after the onset of diclofenac commercialization. We sampled 228 livestock carcasses from vulture feeding sites, primarily pig (n = 156) and sheep (n = 45). We also sampled tissues of 389 avian scavenger carcasses (306 Eurasian griffon vultures, 15 cinereous vultures, 11 Egyptian vultures, 12 bearded vultures and 45 other facultative scavengers). Samples were analysed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LCMS). Seven livestock carcasses (3.07%) contained NSAID residues: flunixin (1.75%), ketoprofen, diclofenac and meloxicam (0.44% each). NSAID residues were only detected in sheep (4.44%) and pig (3.21%) carcasses. Fourteen dead avian scavengers (3.60%) had NSAID residues in kidney and liver, specifically flunixin (1.03%) and meloxicam (2.57%). Flunixin was associated with visceral gout and/or kidney damage in three (0.98%) dead Eurasian griffons. To date, diclofenac poisoning has not been observed in Spain and Portugal, however, flunixin would appear to pose an immediate and clear risk. This work supports the need for well managed carrion disposal, alongside appropriate risk labelling on veterinary NSAIDs and other pharmaceuticals potentially toxic to avian scavengers., The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Morris Animal Foundation within the project D16ZO-046-MAF-AvianScaven, TRAGSATEC through contract Ref. TEC0004566 and CGL2013–40975-R project from I + D + I National Plan funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. We also acknowledge that the Portuguese samples were received due to FCT/MCTES financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020), through national funds.

Throughout South Asia, cattle are regularly treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their carcasses are left for scavengers to consume. Residues of the NSAID diclofenac in cattle carcasses caused widespread mortality and catastrophic population declines in three species of Gyps vulture during the 1990s and 2000s. Diclofenac is now banned, but other NSAIDs are used in its place. Different lines of evidence, including safety testing in Gyps vultures, have shown that some of these other NSAIDs are toxic, or probably toxic, to vultures. The NSAID nimesulide is widely available and commonly used, and has been found in dead vultures with signs of renal failure (i.e. visceral gout) and without the presence of diclofenac and/or other vulture-toxic NSAIDs. Nimesulide is therefore probably toxic to vultures. Here, we report safety testing of nimesulide in Gyps vultures. In a controlled toxicity experiment, we gave two vultures the maximum likely exposure (MLE) of nimesulide calculated from initial pharmacokinetic and residue experiments in cattle. Two other control birds were given an oral dose of water. Both vultures dosed with nimesulide died within 30 h, after showing outward signs of toxicity and increases in biochemical indicators of renal failure. Post-mortem examinations found extensive visceral gout in both vultures. Both control vultures survived without biochemical indicators of renal failure. With this evidence, we call for an immediate and comprehensive ban of nimesulide throughout South Asia to ensure the survival of the region's Critically Endangered vultures. More generally, testing the impacts of drugs on non-target species should be the responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry, before their veterinary use is licensed.

Pharmaceuticals (a class of emerging contaminants) are continuously introduced into effluent-receiving surface waters due to their incomplete removal within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This work investigated the presence and distribution of eight commonly used human pharmaceuticals in the River Dee (Scotland, UK), a Scottish Environment Protection Agency priority catchment that is a conservation site and important raw water source. Grab sampling and passive sampling (Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler, POCIS) was performed over 12 months, targeting: paracetamol, ibuprofen, and diclofenac (analgesics/anti-inflammatories); clarithromycin and trimethoprim (antibiotics); carbamazepine and fluoxetine (psychoactive drugs); and 17α-ethynylestradiol (estrogen hormone). Sampling sites spanned from the river's rural source to the heavily urbanised estuary into the North Sea. Ibuprofen (ranging 0.8-697 ng/L), paracetamol (ranging 4-658 ng/L), trimethoprim (ranging 3-505 ng/L), diclofenac (ranging 2-324 ng/L) and carbamazepine (ranging 1-222 ng/L) were consistently detected at the highest concentrations through grab sampling, with concentrations generally increasing down river with increasing urbanisation. However, POCIS revealed trace contamination of most compounds throughout the river (commonly0.5 ng/L), indicating pollution may be related to diffuse sources. Analysis of river flows revealed that low flow and warm seasons corresponded to statistically significantly higher concentrations of diclofenac and carbamazepine, two compounds of environmental and regulatory concern. Below the largest WWTP, annual average fluxes ranged 0.1 kg/yr (clarithromycin) to 143.8 kg/yr (paracetamol), with 226.2 kg/yr for total target compounds. It was estimated that this source contributed70% of the total mass loads (dissolved phase) of the target compounds in the river. As the River Dee is an important raw water source and conservation site, additional catchment monitoring is warranted to safeguard water quality and assess environmental risk of emerging contaminants, particularly in relation to unusual weather patterns, climate change and population growth.

Capsule: Using ring recovery records collected in Britain and Ireland from 1935 to 2015, we investigated philopatry and dispersal in Black Guillemots Cepphus grylle ringed as nestlings and ...

During the restoration of degraded bogs and other peatlands, both habitat and functional recovery can be closely linked with nutrient cycling, which is reflected in pore- and surface-water chemistry. Several peatland restoration studies have shown that the time required for recovery of target conditions is slow (>10 years); for heavily-impacted, drained and afforested peatlands of northern Scotland, recovery time is unknown. We monitored pore- and surface-water chemistry across a chronosequence of formerly drained, afforested bog restoration sites spanning 0-17 years, using a space-for-time substitution, and compared them with open blanket bog control sites. Our aims were to measure rate of recovery towards bog conditions and to identify the best suite of water chemistry variables to indicate recovery. Our results show progress in recovery towards bog conditions over a 0-17 year period post-restoration. Elements scavenged by trees (Mg, Na, S) completely recovered within that period. Many water chemistry variables were affected by the restoration process itself, but recovered within 11 years, except ammonium (NH4+), Zn and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) which remained elevated (when compared to control bogs) 17 years post restoration. Other variables did not completely recover (water table depth (WTD), pH), exhibiting what we term "legacy" effects of drainage and afforestation. Excess N and a lowered WTD are likely to slow the recovery of bog vegetation including key bog plants such as Sphagnum mosses. Over 17 years, we measured near-complete recovery in the chemistry of surface-water and deep pore-water but limited progress in shallow pore-water. Our results suggest that at least >17 years are required for complete recovery of water chemistry to bog conditions. However, we expect that newer restoration methods including conifer harvesting (stem plus brash) and the blocking of plough furrows (to increase the WTD) are likely to accelerate the restoration process (albeit at greater cost); this should be evaluated in future studies. We conclude that monitoring pore- and surface-water chemistry is useful in terms of indicating recovery towards bog conditions and we recommend monitoring WTD, pH, conductivity, Ca, NH4+, phosphate (PO43-), K, DOC, Al and Zn as key variables.

The black guillemot Cepphus grylle has been identified as a species likely to interact with marine renewable energy devices, specifically tidal turbines, with the potential to experience negative impacts. This likelihood is primarily based on the species being a diving seabird, and an inshore, benthic forager often associating with tidal streams. These behavioural properties may bring them into contact with turbine blades, or make them susceptible to alterations to tidal current speed, and/or changes in benthic habitat structure. We examine the knowledge currently available to assess the potential impacts of tidal stream turbines on black guillemot ecology, highlight knowledge gaps and make recommendations for future research. The key ecological aspects investigated include: foraging movements, diving behaviour, seasonal distribution, other sources of disturbance and colony recovery. Relating to foraging behaviour, between studies there is heterogeneity in black guillemot habitat use in relation to season, tide, diurnal cycles, and bathymetry. Currently, there is also little knowledge regarding the benthic habitats associated with foraging. With respect to diving behaviour, there is currently no available research regarding how black guillemots orientate and manoeuvre within the water column. Black guillemots are considered to be a non-migratory species, however little is known about their winter foraging range and habitat. The effect of human disturbance on breeding habitat and the metapopulation responses to potential mortalities are unknown. It is clear further understanding of black guillemot foraging habitat and behaviour is needed to provide renewable energy developers with the knowledge to sustainably locate tidal turbines and mitigate their impacts.

Veterinary medicines can be extremely damaging to the environment, as seen with the catastrophic declines in Gyps vulture in South Asia due to their secondary exposure to diclofenac in their primary food source. Not surprisingly, concern has been raised over other similar drugs. In this study, we evaluate the toxicity of carprofen to the Gyps vulture clade through plasma pharmacokinetics evaluations in Bos taurus cattle (their food source) and Gyps africanus (a validated model species); tissue residues in cattle; and the effect of carprofen as a secondary toxicant as both tissue-bound residue or pure drug at levels expected in cattle tissues. Carprofen residues were highest in cattle kidney (7.72 ± 2.38 mg/kg) and injection site muscle (289.05 ± 98.96 mg/kg of dimension of 5 × 5 × 5 cm). Vultures exposed to carprofen as residues in the kidney tissue or pure drug equivalents showed no toxic signs. When exposed to average injection site concentrations (64 mg/kg) one of two birds died with evidence of severe renal and liver damage. Toxicokinetic analysis revealed a prolonged drug half-life of 37.75 h in the dead bird as opposed to 13.99 ± 5.61 h from healthy birds dosed intravenously at 5 mg/kg. While carprofen may generally be harmless to Gyps vultures, its high levels at the injection site in treated cattle can result in lethal exposure in foraging vultures, due to relative small area of tissue it is found therein. We thus suggest that carprofen not be used in domesticated ungulates in areas where carcasses are accessible or provided to vultures at supplementary feeding sites.

Hypersaline ecosystems are under increasing threat due to anthropogenic pressures such as environmental pollution and biological invasions. Here we address the ecotoxicological implications of the Artemia franciscana (Crustacea) invasion in saltpans of southern Spain. This North American species is causing the extinction of native Artemia populations in many parts of the globe. The bioaccumulation of trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in native populations (A. parthenogenetica) from Cabo de Gata and Odiel saltpans and invasive Artemia from Cádiz saltpan was studied at different salinities. Furthermore, in Odiel, the most polluted study site, we also analysed the bioaccumulation of trace elements by Chironomus salinarius larvae (Diptera) and Ochthebius notabilis adults (Coleoptera). High levels of trace elements were detected in the studied saltpans, many of them exceeding the recommended threshold guidelines for aquatic life. Bioaccumulation of trace elements by Artemia was lowest at the highest salinity. The invasive A. franciscana showed higher potential to bioaccumulate trace elements than its native counterpart (in particular for As, Cd, Ni and Cr). In Odiel, O. notabilis stood out as showing the highest potential to bioaccumulate As and Cu. Results showed that the shift from a native to an alien Artemia species with a higher bioaccumulation capacity may increase the transfer of trace elements in hypersaline food webs, especially for waterbirds that depend on Artemia as food. Thus, our study identifies an indirect impact of the Artemia franciscana invasion that had not previously been recognised., This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness research project CGL2013-47674-P to MIS. Financial support was also provided by the Portuguese ‘Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia’ (FCT) through MARE (UID/MAR/04292/2013), from the programs POPH (Portuguese Operational Human Potential Program) and QREN (Portuguese National Strategic Reference Framework) (FSE and national funds of MEC), and through the PhD grant of AJPC (SFRH/BD/108224/2015). MMH is funded by Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and the European Regional Development Fund (SBPLY/17/180501/000514).

High levels of human activity have affected the quality and usability of the natural landscape, leading to habitat degradation, loss of connectivity between sites, and reduced chances of long-term survival for individual species. In line with conservation policy, ecological restoration practitioners try to improve degraded sites by means of reestablishing species lost from these sites, thereby returning ecological functionality and maintaining biological diversity. It may appear difficult to integrate the long-term potential impacts of climate change within restoration strategies. However, more refined climate projections and species distribution models provide us with better understanding of likely scenarios, enabling us to consider future proofing as an integral part of the design of restoration sites, aiding plant conservation. We believe that it is possible to go one step further with a closer integration of restoration and conservation objectives. We introduce the novel concepts of “protorefuges” and “protorefugia”—restoration sites that threatened species can be translocated to, where the restoration design can be specifically adapted to help reduce the decline of threatened species at the leading and trailing edges (respectively) of bioclimatic envelope shifts. This is particularly relevant for nuclear decommissioning sites, which may be free from human activity for decades to centuries.