Field studies on terrestrial mammals that integrate exposure, (biochemical) effects as well as data on the individual and population level, are scarce. Furthermore, wildlife toxicology traditionally involves sacrificed animals. However, increasing ethical concerns - especially for mammalian species - gave rise to the need for non-destructive methods. Non-destructive methods involve minimal stress to populations and permit successive biomonitoring of the same populations and individuals. Moreover, they are suited to investigate pollution in endangered species or threatened populations. While non-destructive methods are regularly used in marine mammals, there is no such trend in terrestrial mammalian ecotoxicology.
We use the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) as a model species to develop non-destructive methods for biomonitoring and to investigate persistent pollutant levels in the terrestrial ecosystem. The present study is the first to investigate organochlorine compounds, heavy metals and brominated flame retardants in this small insectivorous mammal.
This research is carried out in collaboration with the Evolutionary Biology Group and the Toxicological Centre (University of Antwerp). Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen (Birdprotection Flanders, www.vogelbescherming.be) and it's wildlife rescue centres are a partner in the collection of hedgehog carcasses.
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