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Agrochemicals increase trematode infections in a declining amphibian species

Author

Listed:
  • Jason R. Rohr

    (University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA
    Penn State Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA)

  • Anna M. Schotthoefer

    (College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA)

  • Thomas R. Raffel

    (University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA
    Penn State Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA)

  • Hunter J. Carrick

    (School of Forest Resources, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA)

  • Neal Halstead

    (University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA)

  • Jason T. Hoverman

    (Wildlife and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4563, USA)

  • Catherine M. Johnson

    (Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota 55811, USA)

  • Lucinda B. Johnson

    (Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota 55811, USA)

  • Camilla Lieske

    (College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA)

  • Marvin D. Piwoni

    (Illinois Waste Management and Research Center, Champaign, Illinois 61820, USA)

  • Patrick K. Schoff

    (Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota 55811, USA)

  • Val R. Beasley

    (College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA)

Abstract

Disappearing amphibians: agrochemicals implicated Declining amphibian populations have been reported in the past twenty years from locations all over the world. These events have been attributed variously — often without much evidence — to habitat loss, climate change and disease. Now a case study of the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, in wetlands across Minnesota points to the use of agrochemicals — combined with parasitic infestation — as a contributor to population decline. The study sought factors associated with the abundance of larval trematodes in the frogs. An abundance of these parasites can be debilitating, causing limb malformation, kidney damage and death. Of more than 240 plausible predictors of trematode infection — ranging from the presence of various plant and animal species to agrochemicals and habitat geography — two stood out: the herbicide atrazine and the fertilizer, phosphate. Atrazine and phosphate are principal agrochemicals for corn and sorghum production, and together they accounted for 74% of the variation in trematode abundance.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason R. Rohr & Anna M. Schotthoefer & Thomas R. Raffel & Hunter J. Carrick & Neal Halstead & Jason T. Hoverman & Catherine M. Johnson & Lucinda B. Johnson & Camilla Lieske & Marvin D. Piwoni & Patric, 2008. "Agrochemicals increase trematode infections in a declining amphibian species," Nature, Nature, vol. 455(7217), pages 1235-1239, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:455:y:2008:i:7217:d:10.1038_nature07281
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07281
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew J Tanentzap & Anthony Lamb & Susan Walker & Andrew Farmer, 2015. "Resolving Conflicts between Agriculture and the Natural Environment," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Marco Medici & S?ren Marcus Pedersen & Giacomo Carli & Maria Rita Tagliaventi, 2019. "Environmental Benefits of Precision Agriculture Adoption," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 21(3), pages 637-656.
    3. Patricia P.A. Henríquez‐piskulich & Constanza Schapheer & Nicolas Vereecken & Cristian Villagra, 2021. "Agroecological strategies to safeguard insect pollinators in biodiversity hotspots: Chile as a case study," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/328659, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    4. Maxim, Laura & Spangenberg, Joachim H., 2009. "Driving forces of chemical risks for the European biodiversity," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 43-54, November.
    5. Patricia A. Henríquez-Piskulich & Constanza Schapheer & Nicolas J. Vereecken & Cristian Villagra, 2021. "Agroecological Strategies to Safeguard Insect Pollinators in Biodiversity Hotspots: Chile as a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-31, June.
    6. Phalan, Ben & Balmford, Andrew & Green, Rhys E. & Scharlemann, Jörn P.W., 2011. "Minimising the harm to biodiversity of producing more food globally," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(S1), pages 62-71.

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