Scope, Mission and Operating Guidelines
Wildlife Toxicology Advisory Group (Global)
Mission and purpose
The Wildlife Toxicology Advisory Group (WTAG) is an open global forum that exists to
serve as a scientific platform for SETAC members, being environmental scientists and
decision makers, and society as a whole, on scientific issues concerning wildlife toxicology in
the broadest sense. The mission of the WTAG is to improve and communicate the scientific
outcome of research related to wildlife toxicology, promote and advance the use of nondestructive, sub-lethal, ethical and scientifically sound methods, and when possible, animal
alternative models. The WTAG provides a forum to disseminate scientific outcomes to inform
environmental decision making. We accomplish this mission by:
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Serving as a neutral platform and focal point within SETAC and the larger
environmental community for collaborative identification, resolution and
communication of wildlife toxicology issues
Stimulating critical evaluation and discussion to establish the best available practices
in wildlife toxicology
Providing scientific guidance and support to ensure effective environmental decision
making
Encouraging involvement of stakeholders (including conservation associations) in the
development of the field of wildlife toxicology in order to facilitate the transfer of
significant findings and management recommendations.
Organising sessions and workshops (or other types of fora) at annual SETAC meetings
of various geographical units
Facilitating communication of wildlife toxicology issues through journals, articles,
websites and other means
Interaction with other relevant SETAC-Advisory Groups to encourage liaison
activities between members, and facilitate interdisciplinary information exchange
Scope
The scope of WTAG includes all aspects of wildlife toxicology with emphasis on bridging
between cross-disciplinary domains of ecology, toxicology, chemistry, landscape ecology and
others. All vertebrate species are considered as wildlife species, although fish are excluded,
as are domesticated and feral species. The main focus is on field-oriented studies, although it
is recognized that laboratory studies are needed to complement and corroborate field-derived
results.
The WTAG encourages the use of results of wildlife toxicological research in environmental
management and policy processes because: 1) wildlife may be specifically vulnerable to
contaminants due to bioaccumulation or specific sensitivity, 2) wildlife constitute a group of
environmental receptors characterized as charismatic and valued by people aesthetically (e.g.,
non-consumptive uses: birdwatching, ecotourism, etc.), 3) wildlife generally range at similar
spatial and temporal scales as considered in management and policy decisions, 4) wildlife are
a group of vertebrates that have attributes similar to humans in characterizing exposure and
hazards, and may be early indicators and sentinels of broad environmental problems, 5)
wildlife are a major focus of environmental risk assessment, are a valued resource with a
function within the wide concept of ecosystem services and some are protected (threatened or
endangered).
The WTAG considers wildlife toxicology in a global perspective, because wildlife do not
recognize political borders (e.g., migratory species, species with broad ranges). Furthermore,
WTAG acknowledges the fact that regulations and approaches may differ between regions,
and that exchange of knowledge and information between geographical units is key for further
development of this field .
Timing of WTAG
At SETAC Geographic Unit Annual Meetings and SETAC World Congresses, regular
sessions on wildlife toxicology have been organized. This has been a base for discussions on
further needs for a more structured approach in this field. There are additional developments
which may justify this:
 increasing global threats on the occurrence of wildlife species and further
acknowledgement of the role of contaminant exposure
 development in societal opinions on the use of animals in scientific research and the
regulation of their use (new regulation in EU) also affects wildlife studies
 specific new compounds that may affect wildlife in adverse ways (e.g., rodenticides,
insecticides, pharmaceuticals used in agriculture, veterinary or human medicine)
 wildlife being recognized and accepted as vectors for zoonotic diseases whereby
exposures to chemicals may exacerbate conditions (e.g., through immunosuppression)
 The utility of wildlife as environmental sentinels and models whereby many exposure
and molecular pathways are similar to humans.
Operating Principles and Guidelines
WTAG is an open forum that promotes consensus on the issues before it. The WTAG
Leadership has established ground rules to address how the group will function (below).
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To encourage participation within WTAG by an equal balance of members among
academia, government, business and non-profit sectors.
WTAG will conduct at least one (1) business meeting per year, coinciding with a
SETAC Geographic Unit Annual Meeting or World Congress.
The WTAG Leadership conducts conference calls on an as-needed basis, with the
frequency determined by the nature of issues and projects under consideration.
An agenda is prepared for each meeting of WTAG and circulated at least one (1) week
in advance. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted in the WTAG forum of the
SETAC Committees web site.
WTAG activities (debates, workshops, issue papers, etc.) are planned and performed
primarily by the member volunteers. Activities addressing issues and topics of
sufficient importance, complexity or visibility may require formation of standing
workgroups; others might be accomplished by ad hoc workgroups. The leadership
and life span of individual workgroups are determined by the WTAG membership.
The WTAG Scope, Mission and Operating Guidelines will be reviewed for
concurrence by the group’s membership every five (5) years. Changes in
documentation will be effected by the WTAG Leadership and approved by the full
membership, as needed.
WTAG will refrain from representing official SETAC positions without the prior
review and approval by the SETAC World Council of the information to be
communicated.
All members of WTAG will adhere individually and collectively to the SETAC
Constitution, By-Laws and Code of Ethics.
Organisation
 Membership in WTAG is open to any interested SETAC member. They can become a
WTAG member by selecting WTAG in their personal profile on the SETAC website. The
WTAG homepage provides links to the on-line community, acting as discussion platform
and location for draft documents and proposals.
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The WTAG will be led by a Steering Committee (SC). The SC will be comprised of 6 to
12 members. A Chair and two Co-Chairs will be elected by the WTAG SC members and
appointed by the SETAC World Council President. The Chair, Co-Chairs, and SC
members will hold positions for 2-year terms. If possible, the membership of the SC will
reflect the tripartite essence of SETAC. Furthermore, if possible the membership of the SC
will be balanced between the Geographical Units of SETAC.
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Each member on the SC has a very specific role and set of responsibilities. If members do
not perform their tasks, they may be dismissed from service on the SC. All SC members
should be SETAC members. Members of the SC are appointed by vote of the WTAG
membership.
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After a two year term, each SC member has to be elected again or replaced by another
member by the vote of the WTAG members. To ensure continuity in the work, after the
first two years of WTAG, not more than half of the SC should be renewed at once. If an
SC member resigns in between, a new member should be elected within a year.
Communication
Communication among members of the WTAG will be via email, a discussion forum on the
SETAC website, annual meetings within the Geographical Units (e.g., SETAC-EU annual
meeting, SETAC-NA annual meeting), and SETAC Regional Chapter meetings.
The WTAG will report the activities and outcome of the group to SETAC on a yearly basis.
Communication to other Advisory groups and the SETAC World Council will be
accomplished via the annual report to the SETAC office, submissions to the SETAC Globe,
advisory group and multi-advisory group meetings within the Geographical units, as well as
co-ordination through sessions at SETAC annual meetings. A network of advisory group
liaisons will also be encouraged.
Communication to the public-at-large will be organized via the SETAC website and
announcements in the Globe/papers in scientific journals (including non-SETAC journals).
Other AGs closely related to WTAG
The WTAG acknowledges the fact that part of its domain overlaps with other SETAC
Advisory Groups (AGs). Activities of the WTAG will be organised and coordinated in
concurrence with these other AGs, which are listed below. The Chair of the SC will liaise
with the chairs of the other AGs. In case of unforeseen conflicts the Chair of the SC will
report to the Chair of the SWC.
Amphibian and Reptile AG: this AG focuses specifically on amphibians and reptiles which
are also considered wildlife. The focus of the WTAG is broader, and includes other groups
(birds, mammals). The ARAG is an active AG with several sessions at SETAC meetings
and dedicated working groups. The WTAG will acknowledge this and activities will be
coordinated with the ARAG when deemed needed. The position of the ARAG as a
separate AG is not under discussion, its focus includes specific issues related to
amphibians and reptiles (e.g. inclusion of small scale landscape ecology).
Bioaccumulation Scientific Advisory Group (BSAG): this group focuses on bioaccumulation
of compounds in food webs, but has no focus on the wider aspects of wildlife toxicology.
Historically, this AG has focused principally on aquatic systems, although terrestrial food
webs are now being considered. The emphasis of this group is also oriented on uptake of
contaminants by lower trophic levels, which may not be the focal point of the WTAG.
Animal Alternative AG: this AG advises on the development of alternatives for animal use.
This mainly focuses on laboratory settings, especially on fish. No wildlife alternatives have
been developed that may be used under field conditions, although cell lines developed for
wildlife species are available for specific research questions. Some procedures have been
developed that reduce the number of avian test subjects in toxicity tests. We see that the
WTAG and the AAAG should coordinate to get all information on alternatives for animal
use in wildlife studies implemented. Within the wildlife community much experience is
available on alternatives in research (e.g. sample types, optimal study design to minimize
number of animals) which will be communicated with the AAAG.
Ecological Risk Assessment Advisory Group (ERAAG): Wildlife species are a focus for
many environmental risk assessments. Interaction with this AG will assist in providing
new information to advance the science of risk assessment and provide the means to share
data valuable in the interpretation of effects in the field. This may focus in the definition of
protection goals, based on (vulnerable) wildlife species, but also on methods and
framework for the assessment of actual risks under field conditions.
Ecosystem Services Advisory Group (ESAG): wildlife can be considered to provide
ecosystem services for instance in relation to eco-tourism or pest management in case of
raptors. In this light, the WTAG may interact with the ESAG in order to fully optimise the
role of wildlife in the assessment of risks that pollutants may pose for ecosystem services
and as such may enhance the scope of this field of interest.
Wildlife plays an important role in different aspects of ERA, which is shown by the fact that
five AGs are closely related to the (scientific) arena the WTAG covers. However, a
WTAG is justified by the fact that the full extent of the discipline is not covered by a
single AG. This ranges from methodological issues to ethical discussions, from
establishment of specific toxicity threshold levels to communication of wildlife related
issues to the public-at-large. Furthermore, wildlife is becoming a greater focal point in
ERA due to its vulnerability not only to traditional contaminants, but also to
pharmaceutical, personal care and other marketed products. It is acknowledged that the
success of the WTAG is in part linked to interaction with other advisory groups.