Non-omnia moriantur—toxicity of mancozeb on dead wood microarthropod fauna

Abstract

The effect of Dithane M-45 (dithiocarbamate fungicide; active substance: mancozeb) was studied on microarthropod fauna inhabiting dead wood. Although the exposure was almost never 100% lethal for the majority of observed taxa, almost all (Mesostigmata, Oribatida, some Uropodina, Actinedida, Collembola and Diplopoda) showed very high correlation between concentration of the fungicide and mortality (r > 0.86). Only Stigmaeidae showed low correlation (r = 0.293). For the majority of taxa LC(50 )values were close to the concentrations used during agrochemical activities in woods. Only Trachytes aegrota showed full susceptibility to the fungicide within the range of recommended field concentrations used in forestry (characterised by the low LC(95 )value). Tolerance of mesostigmatid and oribatid mites was found to differ between juveniles and adults, but not consistently. Related Uropodina species varied in susceptibility to the fungicide.

Effects of diflubenzuron and mancozeb on soil microarthropods: a long-term study

“…Previously, we reported that the majority of taxa of microarthropods found in wood dust show some tolerance to short-term exposure to mancozeb (AdAmski et al 2007). Data presented in the present paper can lead to the conclusion that a single pesticide spraying does not necessarily lead to massive mortality of invertebrates.…”

“…Similar results were also observed ) on control and pesticideexposed plots. Data are means ± SD by other authors, who reported the susceptibility of springtails to several pesticides (Joy et al 2005(Joy et al , vig et al 2006, and by our group, where more than 50% of these arthropods would theoretically die if the fungicide was sprayed over their habitats (AdAmski et al 2007). In the present study we did not observe any significant decrease in the abundance of springtails during short-term and long-term exposure (Fig.…”

“…Previously we reported that none of the tested wood-inhabiting actinedid families was fully susceptible to mancozeb, but that there was a high correlation between the concentration of the used pesticide and mortality (AdAmski et al 2007). In the present work we did not observe any significant change in the abundance of these mites in soil.…”

“…In a previous paper we reported the effect of the dithiocarbamate fungicide mancozeb on wood dust fauna (AdAmski et al 2007). We showed that the majority of species reveal some susceptibility to the pesticide (i.e.…”

“…Although the majority of these xenobiotics settle down on the forest canopy, some of the sprayed chemicals reach the soil and affect the animals inhabiting it. Since pesticides are not 100% specific, they cause lethal and sublethal effects within non-target species (AdAmski & Ziemnicki 2004, AdAmski et al 2007) and their lethality may show stage-dependence (chArmillot et al 2001) and cross-resistance (reuveny & cohen 2004). Therefore, we decided to look more closely at the longterm toxicity of pesticides to soil fauna.…”