The aim of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity of abamectin to the neotropical cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii. To this end, acute and chronic bioassays were conducted with the commercial formulation Vertimec® 18 EC. In addition, the toxicity of water samples taken from a microcosm experiment evaluating the effects of a single application (144μga.i./L) and two applications (2×36μga.i./L) of Vertimec® 18 EC, in the presence or absence of a tadpole species (Lithobates catesbeianus), was also assessed. The acute LC50-48h for immobilization was 1.47μga.i./L and chronic NOEC-8d for survival and fertility (number of neonates per female) were 169 and 84nga.i./L, respectively. Irrespective of the presence of tadpoles, water samples from the microcosms applied with the single concentration of 144μga.i./L remained toxic until the end of the experiment, even when samples were diluted 32 times with culture medium. Water in the repeated pesticide treatment showed a similar toxic response after both applications. Toxicity of water samples from the microcosms was lower than that expected based on the generated LC50 values, which is explained by a potential reduced bioavailability of the test compound resulting from absorbance to organic material. Potential side-effects on C. silvestrii related with the use of Vertimec® 18 EC in Brazil and the suitability of this species for tropical toxicity testing are discussed.

As compared to other aquatic taxonomic groups, few studies have been conducted so far evaluating the potential risks of pesticides to amphibians. Furthermore, most existing studies with amphibians consist of acute laboratory toxicity tests that mostly only evaluated single peak pesticide exposure. In the present study, potential chronic effects of single and repeated abamectin applications on the survival and development of L. catesbeianus tadpoles under (semi-) field conditions were evaluated. To this end, tadpoles were housed in microcosms treated with single or repeated applications of abamectin (as the commercial product Vertimec® 18 EC). The single application level corresponded to the previously established laboratory 96 h LC50 of the test organism, whereas the repeated application was based on abamectin concentrations likely to occur in runoff water from agricultural areas where Vertimec® 18 EC is applied. Under semi-field conditions, toxicity after the single application was greater than would be expected from the laboratory toxicity value. Although the repeated application did not exert direct effects on tadpole survival, the observed delay in development may have pronounced effect on the fitness and survival of anuran populations in edge-of-field water bodies.