The impact of pesticides on the macroinvertebrate community in the water channels of the Río Negro and Neuquén Valley, North Patagonia (Argentina)

Abstract

Agriculture represents the second most important economic activity in the North Patagonian Region of Argentina and non-selective insecticides are still being used with significant implications to the quality of the environment. The range of concentrations (μg/L) determined for azinphosmethyl, chlorpyrifos, and carbaryl in drainage channels were from non-detected to 1.02, 1.45, and 11.21, respectively. Macroinvertebrate abundance and taxon richness in drainage channels were significantly lower in November compared to the other sampling months (October, February). The decrease in taxon richness observed in November was associated with chlorpyrifos and azinphosmethyl peak concentrations. The most remarkable changes were the decrease in sensitive taxa such as Baetidae and the increase in some tolerant taxa such as Chironomidae and Gastropoda.For all three pesticides, the acute hazard quotient exceeded the risk criteria for invertebrates. The effects of the three pesticides on aquatic organisms, characterized by joint probability curves, showed that the LC of 10% of the species were exceeded five and three times by the concentrations of azinphosmethyl and chlorpyrifos during the study period, respectively. However, the correlation between the pesticide concentrations and both taxon richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates at each site (irrigation and drainage channels) was indicative that only chlorpyrifos was negatively correlated with both parameters (Spearman r - 0.61, p = 0.0051 and Spearman r - 0.59, p = 0.0068 for taxon richness and abundance correlation, respectively). We conclude that macroinvertebrate assemblages in drainage channels were highly affected by chlorpyrifos levels.

Homogenization of Macroinvertebrate Assemblages and Asiatic Clam Corbicula fluminea Invasion in a River of the Arid Patagonian Plateau, Argentina

“…Assessing the impact of invasion on aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages is important due to their crucial role in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of freshwater ecosystems (Wittmann et al, 2012;Zhang et al, 2014;Macchi et al, 2018). Macroinvertebrates regulate the geophysical condition of the sediments, participate in the decomposition of debris and the cycling of organic matter and nutrients, and regulate the primary producer communities (Pereira et al, 2012;Batzer and Boix, 2016;Zimmer et al, 2016;Boyero et al, 2021).…”

Chlorpyrifos removal: Nb/boron-doped diamond anode coupled with solid polymer electrolyte and ultrasound irradiation

“…Inhibitory effects on soil microbial functional diversity have been reported (Fang et al 2009). CP levels in Argentinian irrigation channels have been associated to a significant reduction of macroinvertebrate abundance and taxon richness (Macchi et al 2018). Freshwater crabs Barytelphusa guerini exposed to CP exhibited restlessness, escape behavior, increased scaphognathite activity, topsy-turving response and increased oxygen consumption.…”

“…Occurrence of this pesticide has been widely recorded. Concentrations up to 1.45 µg L − 1 have been measured in drainage channels of a 110-Ha section of an agricultural area near the Neuquén River (Argentina), with repeated exceedance of the LC 50 of monitored macroinvertebrates (Macchi et al 2018). The analysis of water samples collected from traditional wells, boreholes, and a lake in Burkina Faso between 2014 and 2016 showed that the threshold limit of 0.1 µg L − 1 has been exceeded two times in drinking water sources, while CP detection in water was systematically associated with a risk for the environment (Lehmann et al 2018).…”

Miniaturization of an extraction protocol for the monitoring of pesticides and polar transformation products in biotic matrices

“…Gaillard et al (2016a) estimated PPP concentrations of up to 20 µg.L -1 in streams located in headwater agricultural catchments. Moreover, PPPs can affect the health of wild organisms such as macroinvertebrates (MIs) (Macchi et al 2018), amphibians (Slaby et al 2019), fish (Clasen et al 2018), and birds (Stanton et al 2018;Brain and Anderson 2019), and biodiversity in general (McLaughlin and Mineau 1995;Geiger et al 2010). Bioaccumulation and bioamplification along the trophic chain are of particular concern as they may result in increased contamination levels in top predators (Konwick et al 2006;Rostron 2010).…”