Rodenticide Residue Monitoring at Midway Atoll Over Two Years

More than 570 environmental samples document brodifacoum rodenticide residues following an eradication attempt on Midway Atoll. The dataset includes residue measurements from invertebrates, vertebrates, water, soil, and plants, collected over a two-year period with fine-scale intervals. Research was conducted by the USDA National Wildlife Research Center to inform conservation management and nontarget species protection.

Use Cases

• Analyze brodifacoum residue persistence over time in different compartments like invertebrates and vertebrates.
• Model the peak and decline of rodenticide concentrations in soil and water samples post-application.
• Assess potential exposure risks to specific vertebrate species, such as geckos, fish, and birds, using residue data.
• Compare residue levels across environmental compartments to understand contamination pathways.

Strengths

• Contains over 570 environmental samples, providing a substantial observational record.
• Data spans more than two years with fine-scale sampling intervals, enabling detailed temporal analysis.
• Covers multiple environmental compartments including invertebrates, vertebrates, water, soil, and plants.

Limitations

• The exact number of rows and column structure is unknown, complicating direct programmatic use.
• As a 17.4 MB ZIP file, the dataset is relatively small and may not support large-scale statistical modeling.
• Focus is on a single rodenticide (brodifacoum-25D) and a specific geographic location, limiting generalizability.

Provenance

Source

USDA National Wildlife Research Center, collected as part of a cooperating agency role.

Collection Method

Environmental samples were collected and tested for brodifacoum residues following a rodent eradication bait application.

Time Range

Sampling occurred over more than two years, with detailed monitoring for at least one year post-application.

Freshness

Last updated March 2026, indicating recent maintenance.

Geography

Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, United States.