title: Effect of temperature on toxicity of a natural pyrethrin pesticide to green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis).
abstract: Metabolic rates of reptiles vary with body temperature; therefore, the sensitivity of reptiles to a particular dose level of a pesticide might be expected to vary as well. The purpose of the present study was twofold: To evaluate the effects of temperature on the toxicity to green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis) of a single concentration of a natural pyrethrin pesticide via percutaneous exposure, and to compare the effects of temperature (20 vs 35 degrees C) on the toxicity of different concentrations of pyrethrins to green anoles. When lizards were exposed to a solution that contained 300 mg/L of pyrethrins, the mortality of lizards maintained at 15 and 20 degrees C was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the mortality of lizards maintained at 35 and 38 degrees C. In addition, the median lethal concentrations of pyrethrins for lizards maintained at 20 and 35 degrees C were 77.6 and greater than 300 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, temperature clearly influenced the sensitivity of lizards to pyrethrin pesticides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078, USA. talentl@okstate.edu
authors.forename: Larry G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Talent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D009026:Mortality; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D011722:Pyrethrins