Toxicity of the herbicide propanil (Propanil Trust® 500ec) to embryos and tadpoles of three anuran species

Abstract

Propanil is an herbicide used to control weeds that can affect non-target organisms such as anurans. The aim of this study was to assess the lethal (median lethal concentration, LC50) and sublethal effects (delays in development, total length and maximum swimming distance) of Propanil (Propanil Trust® 500EC) on embryos and tadpoles of three species of anurans under laboratory and microcosm conditions, which include some field components (sediments and vegetal materials). The most sensitive species was Rhinella humboldti (embryos: laboratory LC50= 9.14 mg/L and microcosm LC50= 83.92 mg/ha; tadpoles: laboratory LC50= 5.09 mg/L and microcosm LC50= 44.52 mg/ha), whereas the most resistant was Hypsiboas crepitans (embryos: laboratory LC50= 19.58 mg/L and microcosm LC50= 179.53 mg/ha; tadpoles: laboratory LC50= 16.54 mg/L and microcosm LC50= 190.72 mg/ha). Engystomops pustulosus showed an intermediate sensitivity. In general, in laboratory the LC50 indicated a high lethality and were found significant changes in the total length and maximum swimming distance of the organisms exposed to Propanil, as opposed to the microcosm results, although the time of embryonic development did not show differences between treatments. Comparing the LC50, it was established that tadpoles were more sensitive to the herbicide than embryos. In conclusion, the Propanil was toxic to embryos and tadpoles in laboratory tests but had a low effect in microcosms. This demonstrates that the field components of the microcosms and the lack of solution renewals notably decrease the toxicity of Propanil on the anurans studied.

Keywords

• agroquímicos
• anfibios
• CL50
• Colombia
• efectos subletales.