Consistent effects of pesticides on community structure and ecosystem function in freshwater systems.

ABSTRACT: Predicting ecological effects of contaminants remains challenging because of the sheer number of chemicals and their ambiguous role in biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships. We evaluate responses of experimental pond ecosystems to standardized concentrations of 12 pesticides, nested in four pesticide classes and two pesticide types. We show consistent effects of herbicides and insecticides on ecosystem function, and slightly less consistent effects on community composition. Effects of pesticides on ecosystem function are mediated by alterations in the abundance and community composition of functional groups. Through bottom-up effects, herbicides reduce respiration and primary productivity by decreasing the abundance of phytoplankton. The effects of insecticides on respiration and p

SUBMITTER: Rumschlag SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7730384 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature