How Toxicology Research Helps Save At-Risk Species
Protecting endangered species is not a simple task. While we can advocate for habitat restoration and protective measures, the biggest threats to native species are often invisible to the general public. Factors like chemicals in the soil, pesticides, or disease silently spreading through populations can push vulnerable species close to extinction.
The role of wildlife toxicology is to identify these factors, study their effect on our native populations, and determine a solution. The field has become an essential part of protecting threatened and endangered species across the United States.
What is Wildlife Toxicology?
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, toxicology is a “discipline dedicated to evaluating the potential risks of various exposures and promoting the safety of humans, animals, and the environment”. When we apply that term to wildlife, we get a study of external threats to native wildlife populations.
Wildlife toxicologists study how threats move through an ecosystem and the effect they have on the survival and reproduction of native species. This work helps determine why a species is declining, whether its habitat, pollutants, parasites, or a combination of threats.
Identifying Hidden Threats in the Environment
So, what does a wildlife toxicologist do?
Their job is to identify potential threats to native species in their area, analyze their effect, and determine the solutions needed to combat them. This often involves:
- Collecting soil, water, and vegetation samples
- Capturing wildlife to study and obtain tissue samples
- Conducting necropsies on deceased animals
- Run chemical analyses to detect toxins
- Test for parasites or pathogens
- Assess exposure trends and patterns
- Develop recovery plans for at-risk species
- Test new wildlife treatments
A wildlife toxicologist’s job is multi-disciplinary; they may be in the field, in the lab, or working with agencies to develop medication.
Applying Research to Conservation
The first step in conservation for a wildlife toxicologist is to determine the cause of a species’ decline. Often, this can be:
- Pesticides or herbicides
- Industrial chemicals and heavy metals
- Parasites
- Emerging diseases
- Habitat and food loss
Once the threat is identified, they can help guide actionable strategies to combat it. This may involve recommending changes to land management or pesticide use, developing treatments, or supporting state and federal agencies in creating species recovery plans. In many cases, wildlife toxicology research forms the scientific basis that conservation policies use to justify their plans.
Examples from the Texas Tech Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory
At the Texas Tech Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Dr. Ron Kendall and his team of researchers work diligently to support wildlife conservation in Texas. Here are a few examples of how their research is shaping Texas wildlife in practical ways:
Bobwhite Quail
In 2010, in the Rolling Plains region of Texas, many hunters and ranchers began noticed a lack of Northern bobwhite quial, despite favorable rainfall and habitat that year. This spurred many organizations, including the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, Park Cities Quail, and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to fund a research study into the population decline. After years of research, Dr. Kendall and his team discovered the cause: parasitic eyeworms and cecal worms. In 2012, the team began focusing its research on these parasites and, with the help of the U.S. FDA, developed a medicated feed to treat the quail in the region.
Monarch Butterflies
The monarch butterfly is the state butterfly of Texas for a reason. The butterfly population typically thrives in Texas, but over the last 20 years or so, its population has declined by over 90%. The researchers at the TTU Wildlife Laboratory chose to act on this problem, discovering habitat loss as the main reason for the decline. With grants from BASF, the laboratory developed objectives to establish milkweed sites across the Rolling Plains with the aim of increasing habitat areas and studying the butterflies further.
How You Can Support Wildlife Protection
Scientific research plays a hugely important role in wildlife conservation, but individuals can contribute too. Here’s how you can make a difference today:
- Support habitat restoration projects
- Reduce pollutants—don’t litter or dispose of harmful chemicals outside
- Report any unusual wildlife activity or population declines to local wildlife agencies
- Support research institutions that study wildlife health
Small actions can make a big difference. We share the planet with our wildlife; it’s our job to protect them.
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Wildlife toxicology provides the scientific insight needed to understand why species populations decline and how to help them recover. At the TTU Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, we’re here to protect our native species, maintain biodiversity, and keep Texas wildlife thriving.
