Glucs, Z. E., Smith, D. R., Tubbs, C., Bakker, V. J., Wolstenholme, R., Dudus, K., … & Finkelstein, M. E. (2020). Foraging behavior, contaminant exposure risk, and the stress response in wild California condors (Gymnogyps californianus). Environmental Research, 109905.

Study Highlights:

Wild California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are frequently exposed to lead via lead-based ammunition ingestion, and recent studies indicate significant exposure to organochlorines for condors feeding on beach-cast marine mammals.

This study investigated the influence of contaminant exposure on condor glucocorticoid response, measured through plasma corticosterone and urate glucocorticoid metabolites.

Behavioral variables associated with increased lead and organochlorine exposure risk were positively associated with glucocorticoid metabolites.

Because abnormal glucocorticoid response to stress is associated with reduced reproduction and survival, this study highlights the need for further investigations into sub-lethal impacts of contaminant exposures in scavenging species worldwide.

This research was also featured in a news story by The Wildlife Society: Lead causes sublethal stress levels in condors