Insect population responses to environmental stress and pollutants

Pimentel, David

doi:10.1139/a94-001

Cited by 33 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…contain relatively high amounts of these metals ). Cd and Zn are known to have a relatively high mobility in the soil-plant system and they are easily taken up by plants (Jarvis et al 1976;Pimentel 1994) and transferred to ants via aphid honeydew (Stary and Kubizna´kova´1987;Nuorteva 1990). Air pollution typically increases aphid numbers around the pollution sources (Helio¨vaara and Va¨isa¨nen 1989b), and aphids enable viable ant populations even in relatively heavily polluted sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollution-related changes in diets of two insectivorous passerines

2005

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Insectivorous birds living in polluted areas are not only exposed to pollutants but they may also be affected by changes in their invertebrate food. The populations of many invertebrate species are affected by environmental pollution and such changes may lead to differences in the diet of insectivorous birds. We examined nestling food quality (invertebrate composition and heavy metal levels) and breeding performance of two cavity-nesting passerines, the Great tit, Parus major, and the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, in an area with long-term heavy metal pollution by a copper smelter. There were no differences in feeding frequencies or the amount of food that parents provided to their nestlings between polluted and unpolluted sites, but food quality in a polluted area differed from that of the control area in both bird species. P. major took more beetles and variable "flying insects" and less caterpillars (of smaller size) and moths in the polluted area as compared to the unpolluted one. F. hypoleuca ate more beetles and larvae and less moths and spiders in the polluted area. Breeding success of P. major was better when the nestling diet contained a large proportion of caterpillars and the relationship was especially strong in the polluted area. On the contrary, F. hypoleuca broods succeeded equally well with variable diets. Our data suggest that a more opportunistic forager, F. hypoleuca, is less vulnerable to a changing invertebrate composition caused by human environmental impacts than a caterpillar specialist, P. major. In a heavy metal polluted area, F. hypoleuca seems to be more sensitive to a decreased amount of Ca rich food items (e.g. snails) while P. major suffers especially from the lack of carotenoid rich caterpillars. Our results emphasize the importance of secondary environmental changes, like food quality, in addition to direct impacts of pollutants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollution-related changes in diets of two insectivorous passerines

2005

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“…Recommended dosages of insecticides used on crops have been reported to suppress growth and yield in both cotton and strawberry crops (ICAITI, 1977;Reddy et al, 1987;Trumbel et al, 1988). The increase in susceptibility of some crops to insects and diseases following normal use of 2,4-D and other herbicides has been demonstrated (Oka and Pimentel, 1976;Pimentel, 1994). Furthermore, when weather and/or soil conditions are inappropriate for pesticide application, herbicide treatments may cause yield reductions ranging from 2 to 50% (Pimentel et al, 1993a).…”

Section: Crop and Crop Product Lossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Environmental and Economic Costs of the Application of Pesticides Primarily in the United States’

Pimentel

2005

Environ Dev Sustain

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756

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An obvious need for an updated and comprehensive study prompted this investigation of the complex of environmental costs resulting from the nation's dependence on pesticides. Included in this assessment of an estimated $10 billion in environmental and societal damages are analyses of: pesticide impacts on public health; livestock and livestock product losses; increased control expenses resulting from pesticide-related destruction of natural enemies and from the development of pesticide resistance in pests; crop pollination problems and honeybee losses; crop and crop product losses; bird, fish, and other wildlife losses; and governmental expenditures to reduce the environmental and social costs of the recommended application of pesticides.The major economic and environmental losses due to the application of pesticides in the USA were: public health, $1.1 billion year )1 ; pesticide resistance in pests, $1.5 billion; crop losses caused by pesticides, $1.4 billion; bird losses due to pesticides, $2.2 billion; and groundwater contamination, $2.0 billion.

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“…In low-urbanized areas, higher predation levels and higher frequencies of extremely low minimum temperatures can maintain a low abundance of dipterans (McIntyre, Rango, Fagan, & Faeth, 2001). At the other extreme of the gradient, urban pollution combined with maximum temperatures and lowest humidity levels have been associated to decreases in insect abundance (Alstad, Edmundo, & Weinstein, 1982;Pimentel, 1994). In addition, suburban areas have a multiplicity of contrasting land uses (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%