Food shortage amplifies negative sublethal impacts of low-level exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid on stream mayfly nymphs

8Citations
Citations of this article
31Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Interactions of pesticides with biotic or anthropogenic stressors affecting stream invertebrates are still poorly understood. In a three-factor laboratory experiment, we investigated effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid, food availability, and population density on the New Zealand mayfly Deleatidium spp. (Leptophlebiidae). Larval mayflies (10 or 20 individuals) were exposed to environmentally realistic concentrations of imidacloprid (controls, 0.97 and 2.67 μg L-1) for nine days following five days during which individuals were either starved or fed with stream algae. Imidacloprid exposure had severe lethal and sublethal effects on Deleatidium, with effects of the lower concentration occurring later in the experiment. The starvation period had delayed interactive effects, with prior starvation amplifying imidacloprid-induced increases in mayfly impairment (inability to swim or right themselves) and immobility (no signs of movement besides twitching appendages). Few studies have investigated interactions with other stressors that may worsen neonicotinoid impacts on non-target freshwater organisms, and experiments manipulating food availability or density-dependent processes are especially rare. Therefore, we encourage longer-term multiple-stressor experiments that build on our study, including mesocosm experiments involving realistic stream food webs.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Hunn, J. G., Macaulay, S. J., & Matthaei, C. D. (2019). Food shortage amplifies negative sublethal impacts of low-level exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid on stream mayfly nymphs. Water (Switzerland), 11(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/w11102142

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free