Environmental Impact of Triclopyr on Habitat Quality in Boreal Rights‐of‐Way

Abstract

The indirect effects of herbicides on habitat quality in boreal ecoregions remain poorly understood. Herbicides are commonly applied on boreal rights‐of‐way to control vegetation below power lines, where they can indirectly enter the soil ecosystem after leaf abscission. Key soil processes such as litter decomposition and soil nutrient cycling can be influenced by altering litter chemistry and/or impacting decomposer species. Disruption of these soil processes could lead to changes in ecosystem health of boreal systems. The indirect impacts of triclopyr on habitat quality of treated boreal rights‐of‐way were examined through litter mass loss and quality (carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratios) and the response of boreal invertebrates (Folsomia candida and Oppia nitens) in microcosms and avoidance tests. Litter breakdown rates were not significantly different within a year of treatment. However, we did observe nitrogen profile differences between field‐treated and untreated samples, which likely resulted from triclopyr‐induced repression of natural leaf senescence processes. At field application rates, there were no differences in survival and reproduction rates of F. candida, which is key in litter breakdown. The triclopyr concentrations that caused 50% of tested F. candida and O. nitens to avoid treated litter were above field application rates. Therefore, field application rates of triclopyr are not expected to impair habitat quality and ecosystem services of boreal ecoregions based on the parameters we evaluated. Our study improves understanding of the effects of herbicide application on habitat quality and is critical for responsible herbicide use on boreal rights‐of‐way. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2955–2967. © 2022 SETAC