title: The Anthelmintic Ingredient Moxidectin Negatively Affects Seed Germination of Three Temperate Grassland Species.
abstract: In animal farming, anthelmintics are regularly applied to control gastrointestinal nematodes. There is plenty of evidence that also non-target organisms, such as dung beetles, are negatively affected by residues of anthelmintics in faeces of domestic ungulates. By contrast, knowledge about possible effects on wild plants is scarce. To bridge this gap of knowledge, we tested for effects of the common anthelmintic formulation Cydectin and its active ingredient moxidectin on seed germination. We conducted a feeding experiment with sheep and germination experiments in a climate chamber. Three wide-spread plant species of temperate grasslands (Centaurea jacea, Galium verum, Plantago lanceolata) were studied. We found significant influences of both, Cydectin and moxidectin, on germination of the tested species. Across species, both formulation and active ingredient solely led to a decrease in germination percentage and synchrony of germination and an increase in mean germination time with the formulation showing a more pronounced response pattern. Our study shows for the first time that anthelmintics have the potential to negatively affect plant regeneration. This has practical implications for nature conservation since our results suggest that treatments of livestock with anthelmintics should be carefully timed to not impede endozoochorous seed exchange between plant populations.
authors.affiliation: Regional and Environmental Sciences, Geobotany, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eichberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, Justus Liebig University, Gießen, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wohde
authors.affiliation: Regional and Environmental Sciences, Geobotany, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Regional and Environmental Sciences, Geobotany, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rausch
authors.affiliation: Regional and Environmental Sciences, Geobotany, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scherrmann
authors.affiliation: Regional and Environmental Sciences, Geobotany, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scheuren
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, Justus Liebig University, Gießen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf-Alexander
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Düring
authors.affiliation: Department of Landscape Ecology, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Donath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D031179:Centaurea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D032061:Galium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D065948:Grassland; D018942:Macrolides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D010943:Plantago / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D018942:Macrolides; C027837:moxidectin