Response of bobwhite quail and gray-tailed voles to granular and flowable diazinon applications

Abstract

We used gray-tailed voles (Microtus canicaudus) and northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) as experimental model species to field test whether small mammals and birds respond differently to equivalent concentrations of a pesticide applied in granular and flowable formulations. In mid-May 1998, we placed voles into 15, 0.2-ha enclosures planted with a mixture of pasture grasses. In mid-July, we placed quail into the same enclosures with the voles. In late July, we applied the organophosphorus insecticide diazinon in five treatments; a control (all habitats sprayed with water), liquid formulation of diazinon at 0.55 kg/ha, liquid formulation of diazinon at 1.11 kg/ha, broadcast of granular diazinon at 1.11 kg/ha, and broadcast of granular diazinon at 2.22 kg/ha. The diazinon treatment in liquid and granular formulations did not depress population size or growth rate, or survival rate of voles. We found a significant difference in the survival rate of the quail between the controls and treatments; granular diazinon caused a measurable decline of quail survival, whereas the liquid application at an equivalent rate did not significantly affect quail survival. Analysis of our results suggests that ground-feeding birds are more susceptible to granular insecticides than flowable applications, but voles were not susceptible to either formulation at the rate we used.