Testing effects of pesticides on macroinvertebrate communities in outdoor stream mesocosms using carbaryl as example test item

Abstract

Background: In mesocosms, the fate and effects of chemicals can be investigated under more realistic conditions than in laboratory-scale experiments and most mesocosm studies for higher-tier risk assessment are conducted in lentic test systems. However, particularly for the assessment of EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) and gammarids (Amphipoda), which are considered to be ecologically vulnerable macroinvertebrates, lotic systems seem to be more appropriate. Within this pilot study, eight newly constructed stream mesocosms were tested for their suitability in the effect assessment of plant protection products (PPP). By using the insecticide carbaryl as an example test item, five concentrations without replicates were tested under a worst case exposure scenario and three stream mesocosms served as controls. Results: 15 out of the 51 invertebrate taxa found during the study belonged to EPT taxa, while the common lotic amphipod Gammarus sp. (G. pulex and G. roesili) was the most dominant taxa. Estimation of minimum detectable differences based on mean abundances and variance of taxa in the eight mesocosms before application indicate that for five arthropoda taxa and two non-arthropoda taxa, an analysis of effects would have probably would have been possible in a typical test design for a higher-tier study with more test units. Five of these taxa were typical stream taxa, i.e. mayflies, caddisflies and gammarids. With respect to the effects of carbaryl, multivariate analysis (principal response curve) indicates long-term effects on the macroinvertebrates community over several weeks for the highest carbaryl concentration (120 µg a.i./L). Potential effects were observed for the amphipod Gammarus sp., the mayfly Ephemera danica and the caddisfly family Limnephilidae. Conclusions: Through this study it was shown that the stream mesocosms provided suitable habitats for potential sensitive and vulnerable taxa, including those typical for lotic systems. To enable a reliable statistical analysis of the effects within the higher-tier ecological risk assessment, the number of stream mesocosms needs to be enhanced. In addition, colonisation and sampling should be improved to increase the number of taxa with sufficiently high abundances for evaluation.

Toxic Effects of Carbaryl Exposure on Juvenile Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer)

“…The liver in fish serves as the primary detoxification organ, tasked with neutralizing and clearing exogenous compounds [ 27 ]. Under the stress of exposure to the pesticide carbaryl, antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT play a crucial role.…”

Influencia de las prácticas agrícolas en los ensambles de macroinvertebrados en la Patagonia (Argentina)

“…As expected, in the present study macroinvertebrate assemblages at UNR showed a higher abundance and richness of taxa sensitive to organic contamination such as Trichoptera (Glossosomatidae and Hydropsychidae) and Ephemeroptera (Leptophlebiidae, Baetidae and Caenidae) than at DNR. These groups are widely accepted as bioindicators of good water quality (Brasil et al 2014;Kubendran et al 2017;Thamsenanupap et al 2021) and are highly sensitive to agricultural pollution, including nutrients and pesticides (Schulz et al 2002;Beketov 2004;Thiere and Schulz 2004;Beuter et al 2019;Vilenica et al 2020;Rojas-Peña et al 2021).…”

Assessment of the Impacts of Gaba and Ache Targeting Pesticides on Freshwater Invertebrate Family Richness in English Rivers

“…Exposure to chemical pollutants including metals, petrochemicals, and pesticides have been shown to cause population level impacts on riverine invertebrate communities (Clements, 1994;Scoggins et al, 2007;Beketov et al, 2009;Byrne et al, 2013). Specifically with regards to pesticides, impacts on invertebrate communities, these have been noted worldwide, including from South America, Africa, USA and Europe (Schriever et al, 2007;Beketov et al, 2013;Chiu et al, 2016;Hunt et al, 2017;Macchi et al, 2018;Beuter et al, 2019;Ganatra et al, 2021). Pesticides shown to impact on riverine invertebrate communities around the world largely belong to the pyrethroid and organophosphate classes (Schriever et al, 2007;Beketov et al, 2013;Chiu et al, 2016;Hunt et al, 2017;Macchi et al, 2018;Ganatra et al, 2021).…”