Effects of the herbicide atrazine on aquatic insect community structure and emergence
Dewey, SL
HERO ID
11145260
Reference Type
Journal Article
Year
1986
Language
English
| HERO ID | 11145260 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 1986 |
| Title | Effects of the herbicide atrazine on aquatic insect community structure and emergence |
| Authors | Dewey, SL |
| Journal | Ecology |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Page Numbers | 148-162 |
| Abstract | The herbicide atrazine was applied to 0.045-ha experimental ponds in two concentrations of 0, 20, 100, and 500 Mg/L each. Physical, chemical, and biological variables measured and aquatic insect community structure was monitored in the eight ponds using submerged funnel emergence traps. Atrazine had no effect on water temperature or oxygen concentration. Mean turbidity did increase significantly with atrazine concentration, but turbidity be correlated with abundance or species richness of emerging insects. Macrophyte production decreased with increasing herbicide concentration; however, the macroalga Chara sp. showed resistance 100 Mg/L. The benthic insect community was also negatively affected by atrazine. Abundance emerging individuals of the chironomid Labrundinia pilosella was significantly reduced at concentrations as low as 20 Mg/L, while other, less abundant species showed similar declines. insect species richness (S), species equitability (/'), and total emergence all declined significantly atrazine addition. In general, abundances of nonpredatory insects were greatly reduced with addition of atrazine (20 Mg/L), while predatory insects showed no response to the herbicide. In emergence periods of several herbivorous insect species shifted to an earlier time in atrazine-ponds; the shift was statistically significant for Oxyethira pallida. The lowest concentration at which atrazine affected aquatic insects in the pond systems (is one order of magnitude lower than the lowest concentration previously shown to have a direct effect on the midge Chironomus tentans in single-species laboratory experiments. Furthermore, of the differential response of predatory and nonpredatory insect species to atrazine in this is suggested that the effects of the herbicide on the insect community in the experimental ponds be primarily indirect, presumably through reduction of the food of nonpredators (periphyton, macrophytes) and, to some extent, their habitat (macrophytes). |
| Doi | 10.2307/1938513 |
| Wosid | WOS:A1986AYM5900017 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |
| Keyword | aquatic insects; atrazine; community structure; emergence phenology; experimental ponds; indirect effects of |