Poster Details
TINY TOXIN, SNAIL SURPLUS: THE CONSEQUENCES OF NANOPESTICIDE EXPOSURE
The use of nanoagrochemicals is becoming common in agriculture. However, runoff can cause these pesticides to enter aquatic environments where their impacts are not well characterized. This study looked at the effects of a copper nanoparticle pesticide on two freshwater snail species, Lymnaea and Physella in a long-term wetland mesocosm experiment. After weekly exposure for nine months at low concentrations (35 mg/week) total snail abundance was assessed and an in vitro laboratory study was conducted to see if the copper nanopesticide interfered with the reproduction process. Egg clutches were collected from the mesocosms and hatching success was examined under controlled conditions. Compared to the controls, we found that total snail abundance was 2.8 times higher (P=0.03), egg clutch weight was significantly decreased (-51%, P<0.001), while the number of embryos and hatching success did not vary. These results suggest that copper nanopesticide exposure can stimulate the reproduction process but not directly interfere with hatching success despite a strong reduction in clutch weight.
Christina Bergemann (Primary Presenter/Author), Duke University, cmbergemann@gmail.com;
Brittany Perrotta ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Baylor University, bperrotta16@gmail.com;
Marie Simonin ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Duke University, simonin.marie@gmail.com;
Ryan S. King ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Baylor University, Ryan_S_King@baylor.edu;
Emily Bernhardt ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Duke University, ebernhar@duke.edu;