title: Evaluating aquatic invertebrate vulnerability to insecticides based on intrinsic sensitivity, biological traits, and toxic mode of action.
abstract: In the present study, the authors evaluated the vulnerability of aquatic invertebrates to insecticides based on their intrinsic sensitivity and their population-level recovery potential. The relative sensitivity of invertebrates to 5 different classes of insecticides was calculated at the genus, family, and order levels using the acute toxicity data available in the US Environmental Protection Agency ECOTOX database. Biological trait information was linked to the calculated relative sensitivity to evaluate correlations between traits and sensitivity and to calculate a vulnerability index, which combines intrinsic sensitivity and traits describing the recovery potential of populations partially exposed to insecticides (e.g., voltinism, flying strength, occurrence in drift). The analysis shows that the relative sensitivity of arthropods depends on the insecticide mode of action. Traits such as degree of sclerotization, size, and respiration type showed good correlation to sensitivity and can be used to make predictions for invertebrate taxa without a priori sensitivity knowledge. The vulnerability analysis revealed that some of the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa were vulnerable to all insecticide classes and indicated that particular gastropod and bivalve species were potentially vulnerable. Microcrustaceans (e.g., daphnids, copepods) showed low potential vulnerability, particularly in lentic ecosystems. The methods described in the present study can be used for the selection of focal species to be included as part of ecological scenarios and higher tier risk assessments.
authors: Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Andreu
authors: A
authors: Rico
authors: Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Van den Brink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016208:Databases, Factual; D017753:Ecosystem; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016014:Linear Models; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D007306:Insecticides; D015222:Sodium Channels; D002802:Cholinesterases
keywords: Ecological risk assessment; Invertebrates; Pesticides; Species traits; Vulnerability