How to translate text using browser tools
1 January 2012 PATTERNS OF MORTALITY IN FREE-RANGING CALIFORNIA CONDORS (GYMNOGYPS CALIFORNIANUS)
Bruce A. Rideout, Ilse Stalis, Rebecca Papendick, Allan Pessier, Birgit Puschner, Myra E. Finkelstein, Donald R. Smith, Matthew Johnson, Michael Mace, Richard Stroud, Joseph Brandt, Joe Burnett, Chris Parish, Jim Petterson, Carmel Witte, Cynthia Stringfield, Kathy Orr, Jeff Zuba, Mike Wallace, Jesse Grantham
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

We document causes of death in free-ranging California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) from the inception of the reintroduction program in 1992 through December 2009 to identify current and historic mortality factors that might interfere with establishment of self-sustaining populations in the wild. A total of 135 deaths occurred from October 1992 (the first post-release death) through December 2009, from a maximum population-at-risk of 352 birds, for a cumulative crude mortality rate of 38%. A definitive cause of death was determined for 76 of the 98 submitted cases, 70%(53/76) of which were attributed to anthropogenic causes. Trash ingestion was the most important mortality factor in nestlings (proportional mortality rate [PMR] 73%; 8/11), while lead toxicosis was the most important factor in juveniles (PMR 26%; 13/50) and adults (PMR 67%; 10/15). These results demonstrate that the leading causes of death at all California Condor release sites are anthropogenic. The mortality factors thought to be important in the decline of the historic California Condor population, particularly lead poisoning, remain the most important documented mortality factors today. Without effective mitigation, these factors can be expected to have the same effects on the sustainability of the wild populations as they have in the past.

Bruce A. Rideout, Ilse Stalis, Rebecca Papendick, Allan Pessier, Birgit Puschner, Myra E. Finkelstein, Donald R. Smith, Matthew Johnson, Michael Mace, Richard Stroud, Joseph Brandt, Joe Burnett, Chris Parish, Jim Petterson, Carmel Witte, Cynthia Stringfield, Kathy Orr, Jeff Zuba, Mike Wallace, and Jesse Grantham "PATTERNS OF MORTALITY IN FREE-RANGING CALIFORNIA CONDORS (GYMNOGYPS CALIFORNIANUS)," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 48(1), 95-112, (1 January 2012). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-48.1.95
Received: 13 December 2010; Accepted: 1 August 2011; Published: 1 January 2012
KEYWORDS
California condor
Cathartidae
lead toxicosis
mortality
pathology
reintroduction
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top