The sensitivity of Australian animals to 1080 poison. I. Intraspecific variation and factors affecting acute toxicity

Abstract

The calculated sensitivity (LD50) of a species to 1080 poison (sodium fluoroacetate), used for control of vertebrate pests, is affected by the experimental procedures employed. Variation can be minimized if the most obvious sources are avoided, as described in this paper. Very young mammals and female waterfowl in breeding condition may be more sensitive to 1080 than other members of their populations. No other substantial differences in sensitivity were found between males and females, immatures and adults, or within and between different populations of six species of birds and mammals in eastern Australia.