Effect of release herbicide on mortality, avoidance response, and growth of amphibian larvae in two forest wetlands.

Effects of Release herbicide (triclopyr butoxyethyl ester, [TBEE]) on mortality, avoidance response, and growth of larval amphibians (Rana clamitans, Rana pipiens) were investigated using in situ enclosures deployed in two forest wetlands in northern Ontario, Canada. Release was applied at nominal concentrations ranging from 0.26 to 7.68 mg TBEE acid equivalents (AE)/L. No significant deleterious effects of this herbicide on larval growth were detected. However, concentration-dependent mortality and abnormal avoidance response were observed. Most mortality occurred within 96 h following treatment. Median lethal concentration (LC50) values for each species and experimental site ranged from 2.79 to 3.29 mg AE/L, while median effective concentration (EC50) values (abnormal avoidance response) ranged from 1.67 to 3.84 mg AE/L. The LC10 and EC10 endpoints approximated aqueous concentrations (0.59 mg AE/L) expected under direct aerial overspray scenarios, indicating a potential risk of impacts for a small proportion of native amphibian larvae. However, given the low frequency and limited use of this herbicide formulation in Canadian forestry, these risks are considered negligible. Changes in usage patterns would require concurrent chemical and biological monitoring of operational spray programs to accurately quantify the probability and magnitude of real-world exposures and to relate these exposure levels to concentration-response relationships including those described in this study.

Fate of spinosad in litter and soils of a white spruce plantation in central Ontario.

Spinosad is a natural insecticide with potential as a novel biorational control agent for spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem]), the most destructive insect defoliator of spruce and balsam fir in Canada. Concurrent terrestrial fate experiments were conducted under full coniferous canopy and in a natural opening of a mature white spruce (Piecea glauca [Moench]) plantation of central Ontario to examine the fate and persistence of spinosad in the forest floor and underlying soils. Mean initial residues of spinosyn A and D were approximately 0.2 and 0.02 microgram g-1, respectively, in thatch and exposed soils, but were substantially higher, 2.72 and 0.36 micrograms g-1, in litter under coniferous canopy. Results demonstrated that spinosad residues in spruce litter, graminaceous thatch and exposed sandy loam soils dissipated rapidly, following hyperbolic or exponential decline models. Dissipation time (DT50) values ranged from 2.0 to 7.8 days, depending on matrix and experimental conditions. Transient increases in demethylated metabolite residues confirmed that the parent product was degraded in situ. No evidence of vertical mobility of any of the analytes was observed.

Fate of spinosad in litter and soils of a mixed conifer stand in the Acadian forest region of New Brunswick.

Spinosad is a natural insecticide, produced via fermentation culture of the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, with potential use against a number of forest pests including spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem]). Persistence of spinosad was determined in terrestrial fate experiments conducted within a semimature stand of black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.]) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L]) in the Acadian forest region of New Brunswick, Canada. Results of experiments established under full coniferous canopy and in a canopy opening indicated that spinosad dissipated rapidly following hyperbolic kinetics in both litter and soils and was not susceptible to leaching. Time to 50% dissipation estimates for spinosyn A ranged from 2.0 to 12.4 days depending upon matrix and experimental conditions. Spinosyn D dissipated to levels below quantitation limits (0.02 microg/g of dry mass) within 7 days in all cases. Sporadic low-level detection of the demethylated metabolites suggested that parent compounds were degraded in situ.