Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155688
Document author version
Title (Primary) Potential propagation of agricultural pesticide exposure and effects to upstream sections in a biosphere reserve
Author Schneeweiss, A.; Schreiner, V.C.; Reemtsma, T.; Liess, M.; Schäfer, R.B.
Source Titel Science of the Total Environment
Year 2022
Department ANA; OEKOTOX
Volume 836
Page From art. 155688
Language englisch
Topic T9 Healthy Planet
Keywords Pollution; Edge effect; Trait; Taxonomic diversity; Functional diversity; Invertebrate
Abstract In the last decades, several studies have shown that pesticides frequently occur above water quality thresholds in small streams draining arable land and are associated with changes in invertebrate communities. However, we know little about the potential propagation of pesticide effects from agricultural stream sections to least impacted stream sections that can serve as refuge areas. We sampled invertebrates and pesticides along six small streams in south-west Germany. In each stream, the sampling was conducted at an agricultural site, at an upstream forest site (later considered as “refuge”), and at a transition zone between forest and agriculture (later considered as “edge”). Pesticide exposure was higher and the proportion of pesticide-sensitive species (SPEARpesticides) was lower in agricultural sites compared to edge and refuge sites. Notwithstanding, at some edge and refuge sites, which were considered as being least impacted, we estimated unexpected pesticide toxicity (sum toxic units) exceeding thresholds at which field studies suggested adverse effects on freshwater invertebrates. We conclude that organisms in forest sections within a few kilometres upstream of agricultural areas can be exposed to ecologically relevant pesticide levels. In addition, although not statistically significant, the abundance of pesticide-sensitive taxa was slightly lower in edge compared to refuge sites, indicating a potential influence of adjacent agriculture. Future studies should further investigate the influence of spatial relationships, such as the distance between refuge and agriculture, for the propagation of pesticide effects and focus on the underlying mechanisms.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26127
Schneeweiss, A., Schreiner, V.C., Reemtsma, T., Liess, M., Schäfer, R.B. (2022):
Potential propagation of agricultural pesticide exposure and effects to upstream sections in a biosphere reserve
Sci. Total Environ. 836 , art. 155688 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155688