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. 2024 Feb 17;46(3):93.
doi: 10.1007/s10653-024-01874-y.

A nose for trouble: ecotoxicological implications for climate change and disease in Saiga antelope (S. t. tatarica)

S T Mullineaux  1 , J M McKinley  2 , N J Marks  3 , R Doherty  2 , D M Scantlebury  3
Affiliations

A nose for trouble: ecotoxicological implications for climate change and disease in Saiga antelope (S. t. tatarica)

S T Mullineaux et al. Environ Geochem Health. .

Abstract

In recent decades, Saiga antelope (Saiga t. tatarica) mass die-offs have become more common. The mass die-off of 2015 in central Kazakhstan, recorded 140,000 individual deaths across multiple herds. Previously, research has shown atmospheric humidity, the bacterium Pasteurella multocida serotype B, and resultant haemorrhagic septicaemia, were the primary cause. However, other synergistic factors may have impacted this process. Here we use a multivariate compositional data analysis (CoDA) approach to assess what other factors may have been involved. We show a pollutant linkage mechanism where relative humidity and dewpoint temperature combine with environmental pollutants, potentially toxic elements (e.g., Hg, As), complex carbon compounds (e.g., Acetone, Toluene), and inorganic compounds (e.g., CHx, SO2) which affected the Saiga during the calving season (start and peak) and at the onset of the mass die-off. We suggest a mechanism for this process. Upon arrival at their carving grounds, the Saiga experienced a sudden precipitation event, a spike in temperatures, and resultant high humidity occurs. The infectious bacterium P. multocida serotype B then spreads. Further, environmental pollutants contained within steppe soils are released to the air, forming localised smog events, these synergistically combine, and mass die-off occurs.

Keywords: Compositional data analysis (CoDA); Environmental pollution; Epidemiological; Saiga mass die-off; Smog.

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Conflict of interest statement

We have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Proposed mechanism for the retention and release of pollutants in the steppe
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Proposed mechanism for the effects of migration, pregnancy, pollutants, smog, and bacterial infection, given the Saiga’s specialised anatomy. STGN: start of calving season; PKGN: peak of calving season; ONSET: onset of mass die-off event
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Complex heatmap-dendrogram of environmental pollutants, tonnes per year between 2000 and 2015 (clr transformed), pairings used for ilr balances (colour key and histogram indicates spearman’s correlation value)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Principal Component Analysis (PCA) biplots for STGN (start of calving season), PKGN (peak of calving season), containing either clr or ilr transformed environmental pollutant variables and meteorological data from each event. Each plot contains principal component (PC) one and two and show associations between variables. The variables for humidity (RHUMID) and dewpoint (DEWP) are key for the interpretation of each plot, in A they cluster in the left and top left of the plot, in B the left and top left of the plot, in C the left of the plot, in D the left of the plot. Name key in supplementary material
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
ONSET (onset of mass die-off) in containing either clr or ilr transformed environmental pollutant variables and meteorological data from each event. Each plot contains principal component (PC) one and two and show associations between variables. The variables for humidity (RHUMID) and dewpoint (DEWP) are key for the interpretation of each plot, A the bottom left and central part of the plot, and in B the bottom left and central part of the plot. Name key in supplementary material
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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