Hazard identification and ecological risk assessment of pesticide exposure in wildlife using GPS telemetry: Case study on endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoos

Wildlife toxicology faces increasing threats from pesticide use, yet the impacts on biodiversity remain unclear, as current toxicity thresholds often rely on laboratory data that do not reflect environmental exposure. Here we present a two-step methodology integrating ecotoxicology and movement ecology to investigate pesticide exposure in endangered Carnaby's cockatoos (Zanda latirostris). Using GPS telemetry and satellite tracking, this study identified pesticide exposure sites and quantified the likelihood and consequences of exposure. A total of 26 pesticides were detected in forage sources (agricultural seed), with 80% of seed samples having one or more pesticides detected. The Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) was exceeded for multiple pesticides including imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, difenoconazole and metalaxyl. Results have highlighted the risks that granivorous birds face being exposed to insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides in agroecosystems. This methodology is broad in scope and applicable across species, providing the ecological realism missing in laboratory-based studies.