Toxic Threats from the Fern Pteridium aquilinum: A Multidisciplinary Case Study in Northern Spain

Résumé fourni par la source

Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern) poses a global threat to biodiversity and to the health of both animals and humans due to its toxic metabolites and aggressive ecological ex-pansion. In northern Spain, particularly in regions of intensive livestock farming, these risks may be exacerbated, calling for urgent assessment and monitoring strategies. In this study, we implemented a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the toxicological and ecological relevance of P. aquilinum through four key actions: (a) quantification of pterosins A, and B, in young fronds (croziers) using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS); (b) analysis of in vivo genotoxicity of aqueous extracts using Drosophila melanogaster as a model or-ganism; (c) a large-scale survey of local livestock farmers to assess awareness and per-ceived impact of bracken; and (d) the development and field application of a drone-based mapping tool to assess the spatial distribution of the species at the regional level. Our results confirm the consistent presence of pterosins A and B in croziers, with concentrations ranging from 0.17-2.20 mg/g dry weight for PtrB and 13.39-257 µg/g for PtrA. Both metabolite concentrations and genotoxicity levels were found to correlate with latitude, and importantly, with each other. All tested samples exhibited genotoxic activ-ity, with notable differences among them. The farmer survey (n = 212) revealed that only 50% of respondents were aware of the toxic risks posed by bracken, indicating a need for targeted outreach. The drone-assisted mapping approach proved to be a promising tool for identifying bracken-dominated areas and provides a scalable foundation for future ecological monitoring and land management strategies. Altogether, our findings em-phasize that P. aquilinum is not merely a local concern but a globally relevant toxic spe-cies whose monitoring and control demand coordinated scientific and policy-based ef-forts.

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