The Sensitivity of Australian Animals to 1080 Poison .9. Comparisons Between the Major Groups of Animals, and the Potential Danger Nontarget Species Face From 1080 Poisoning Campaigns

Abstract

The sensitivity of a species to 1080 poison is difficult to predict from toxicity data for other, closely related species. LD*50s of practical use for evaluating the risk species might face from 1080-poisoning campaigns can be obtained for untested members of some groups by the use of either values for similar species, regression equations involving body weight, or the lower 95% confidence limits of the distribution of LD*50S of members in each group. Among the 171 species for which there are data there was considerable variability in the time until signs of poisoning became apparent (0.1 h- >7 days), the time to death (0.1 h- >21 days) and the time until animals began to show signs of recovery (2 h-18 days). Marsupial carnivores generally showed signs earlier and died or recovered quicker than eutherian carnivores, eutherian herbivores and the marsupial herbivores of eastern Australia, even though the last three groups have lower LD*5OS. Reptiles and amphibians generally were the slowest to show signs of poisoning, to die or to recover, and had the highest LD50s . All species in Australia for which toxicity data are available were ranked according to the percentage of their body weight they would have to eat of various poison baits to receive an LD*5O. Many non-target species require lower percentages than the target animals but the actual consumption of lethal bait may be affected by various factors. Finally, an evaluation is given of the major groups of animals potentially most at risk in 1080-poisoning campaigns in Australia, based on their susceptibility to 1080.