Persistence of 2,4-D and its effects on benthic macroinvertebrates following spring treatment of Eurasian Watermilfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum L. in two lakes in southeastern Wisconsin, USA.
The purpose of this study was to determine the persistence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) applied to two lakes (one mesotrophic and one eutrophic) for the control of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM), and to determine the impacts of 2,4-D on benthic macroinvertebrates in one of the lakes. One lake was treated with a liquid formulation, and the other with a slow release granular formulation of 2,4-D. Concentrations of 2,4-D in the water column were highest 1 and 2 days post-treatment and declined to below detection limits by 7 and 10 days post-treatment. We observed negative correlations between days post-treatment and taxa richness, and between days post-treatment and abundance of three of 12 taxonomic groups of macroinvertebrates. Lake managers need to balance control of EWM with possible impacts of 2,4-D to nontarget organisms.
Department of Biological Sciences, 320 Upham Hall, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 800W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI, 53190, USA, harrahye@uww.edu.
E A
EA
Harrahy
D S
DS
Edwards
C J
CJ
Hedman
D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects*; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014922:Wisconsin
D006540:Herbicides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid