A meta-analysis synthesizing the effects of pesticides on swim speed and activity of aquatic vertebrates

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2016-09, Vol.565, p.758-766
• Main Authors: Shuman-Goodier, Molly E., Propper, Catherine R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activity; Amphibian; Amphibians - physiology; Animals; ehavior; Fish; Fishes - physiology; Pesticides; Pesticides - classification; Pesticides - toxicity; Swim speed; Swimming; Time Factors; Water Pollutants, Chemical - classification; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.205

Pesticide contaminants are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and pose a threat to biodiversity. Pesticides also have diverse mechanisms of action that make it difficult to identify impacts on exposed wildlife. Behavioral measures represent an important link between physiological and ecological processes, and are often used to generalize sub-lethal effects of pesticide exposure. In order to bridge the toxicological and behavioral literature, and identify chemical classes that denote the largest threat, we conducted a meta-analysis summarizing the effects of pesticides on swim speed and activity of aquatic vertebrates. We found that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of pesticides reduced the swim speed of exposed amphibians and fish by 35%, and reduced overall activity by 72%. There were also differences in the magnitude of this effect across chemical classes, which likely reflect underlying physiological processes. Pyrethroids, carbamates, and organophosphates all produced a large decrease in swim speed, where as phosphonoglycines and triazines showed no overall effect. Pyrethroids, carbamates, organophosphates, organochlorines, and organotins also produced a large decrease in activity, while phosphonoglycines had no overall effect, and triazines had the opposite effect of increasing activity. Our results indicate that even sub-lethal concentrations of pesticides have a strong effect on critical behaviors of aquatic vertebrates, which can affect fitness and alter species interactions. We expect our synthesis can be used to identify chemical classes producing the largest sub-lethal effects for further research and management. [Display omitted] •Pesticide contaminants are widespread and affect aquatic vertebrate behavior.•We conducted a meta-analysis on the effects of pesticides on swim speed and activity.•Environmentally relevant pesticides reduced swim speed and activity levels.•Specific chemical classes may be targeted for further research and management.