Spatial variation in non-target effects of the insecticides chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and pirimicarb on Collembola in winter wheat

Abstract

Contiguous winter wheat ®elds of similar cropping history and soil type were used in a study of the responses of Collembola to summer sprays of cypermethrin and pirimicarb in southern England. Chlorpyrifos was included in the study as a toxic standard. Epigeic arthropods were captured by suction sampling and crop-inhabiting species obtained by dissecting wheat ears. Eight genera of Collembola responded signi®cantly to the insecticide treatments. Collembolan abundance decreased after chlorpyrifos was applied but increased after use of cypermethrin. Negative effects of cypermethrin and pirimicarb on Collembola were not detected in this study. Effects of chlorpyrifos varied spatially as a result of faunal heterogeneity among the ®elds, despite apparent homogeneity of the site. Some species known to be susceptible to chlorpyrifos were absent from one or more of the ®elds. The implications of these ®ndings for the interpretation of non-target pesticide effects and the potential use of Collembola as bioindicators in ®eld studies with pesticides are discussed.

Patterns in Soil Fertility and Root Herbivory Interact to Influence Fine-Root Dynamics

“…The mechanisms controlling these distributions are variable and may include oviposition effects, responses to patterns in soil moisture, resource availability, texture, and chemistry, and responses to patterns in plant growth (Ettema and Wardle 2002). In this study, the insecticide we used likely reduced populations of all soil organisms, as chlorpyrifos applications generally result in reduced densities of earthworms (USDA 2001), Collembola (Frampton 1999, Pereira et al 2005, mites (Cabrera et al 2004, Pereira et al 2005; but see Michereff-Filho et al [2004] for contrasting results), and soil arthropods in general (Wang et al 2001, Dawson et al 2003, Pereira et al 2005; but see Clements et al [1988] for contrasting results for Carabidae). The effect of increasing microsite fertility on soil fauna is more difficult to predict.…”

Design of the farm‐scale evaluations of genetically modified herbicide‐tolerant crops

“…In the initial stages of the FSE data from the Game Conservancy and Allerton Research and Educational Trust (Boatman and Brockless, 1998), on D-vac samples in fields of winter oil-seed rape during 1994-96 were used to estimate CVs for a half-field design for the following major invertebrate groups: Collembola (38%), Aphids (45%), Homoptera adults (46%), Thysanoptera (55%), Parasitica (59%), Staphylinid larvae (47%), Coleoptera (65%), and Coleoptera larvae (128%). Also, Frampton (1999) reports some suction sample data in winter wheat for total Collembola (51%). These values support the use of a CV ¼ 50% for the initial recommendation of sample size.…”

Options for Soil Health Measurement in Vineyards and Deciduous Fruit Orchards, with Special Reference to Nematodes

“…Framptom (1999) investigated the effects of the insecticides pirimicarb, chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin on Collembola in winter wheat. Collembola were found to be susceptible to organophosphate insecticides, but not to cypermethrin, which limits their use as indicators of pesticide usage.…”

“…Collembola were found to be susceptible to organophosphate insecticides, but not to cypermethrin, which limits their use as indicators of pesticide usage. An additional undesired characteristic of Collembola is their spatial variability (Framptom, 1999).…”

“…Within the boundaries of using soil mesofauna as bioindicators, three different groups of mesofauna, namely Collembola (Framptom, 1999), mites (Ruf, 1998) and nematodes (Neher, 2001), have been measured for their potential use as biological indicators of soil health. Nematodes (both plant parasitic and free living) have been assessed most frequently for their use as indicators and are amongst the simplest metazoa (Bongers & Ferris, 1999).…”