Exposure Risk of Minnesotas Farmland Wildlife

to Agricultural Pesticides

Nicole Davros, Ph.D.

Upland Game Project Leader
MN DNR Farmland Wildlife Populations & Research Group
Madelia, MN

1,800
1,600

Diversified Farming Era

Pheasant Harvest (1,000s)

1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200

CRP Era, 1987-2007

Northern Bobwhite
population declines since mid-1960s

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Trends, 1966-2012

Sauer et al. 2014

Similar declines in other

grassland-dependent birds

Bobolink

Dickcissel

Red-winged
Blackbird

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Trends, 1966-2012

Sauer et al. 2014

Population declines in beneficial insects such as

pollinators, too

These declines have mostly been attributed to

grassland habitat loss & fragmentation that has
resulted from agricultural intensification

But theres increasing evidence that pesticides

may also be important in explaining declines in
wildlife populations

 Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or control

pests
Pesticide is a broad term that includes:
Insecticides*, herbicides, fungicides, etc

Insecticides*are not always target-specific, and

other plants & animals can be affected when
exposed
Insects, spiders, mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles,
plants

A few definitions:
Type of Application
Contact: sprayed directly on plants for protection against
pests
Systemic: absorbed by the plant as it grows and then protects
all plant parts

Residual vs. Non-Residual

Length of time that the insecticide remains in/on the plant or
in the soil
Impacts the target species as well as non-target community of plants
& animals
Affects withholding time, which is the minimum period that must
elapse before plant product is safe for harvest or use

Insecticide impacts on wildlife may be:

Direct
Primary exposure
Breathing, skin contact, eating

Secondary exposure
Eating another exposed animal

Indirect
Impacts to the animals habitat
Reduced food availability
Reduced habitat cover

Jake Dingel, PA Game Commission

Two Wildlife/Insecticide Issues

Currently Being Discussed in Minnesota
Neonicotinoids
aka neonics
Soybean Aphid Insecticides

Neonicotinoids (aka Neonics)

First introduced in early 1990s
Considered at time to be a soft pesticide that was safer than other
options

Now used extensively

Use has tripled in last decade
Nearly all corn and >50% of soybeans are treated with neonics

Neonicotinoids (aka Neonics)

Seeds treated prior to planting
Systemic
Absorbed into pollen & nectar, too

Designed for early-season pests

Untreated
soybean &
corn seeds

Treated seeds
in blue & red

Ian Grettenberger, Penn State

Neonicotinoids (aka Neonics)

Work as neurotoxins
Disrupt the central nervous system

Considered to be lower in toxicity to mammals

Many types of neonics, including:

Imidacloprid (Gaucho, Axcess)

Thiamethoxam (Poncho, Acceleron)
Clothianidin (Cruiser, Platinum)
Dinotefuran
Thiacloprid
Acetamiprid

Neonicotinoids (aka Neonics)

Potential exposure of non-target organisms
Dust from planters during sowing
Ingestion of spilled seed
Persistence in soil
Only 2-20% of the chemical is absorbed by plant
Remainder ends up in soil with half-life of 7 days to 6,931 days

http://seedworld.com/seed-treatment-saga/

Neonicotinoids (aka Neonics)

Implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) of bees
and declines of many species of butterflies
Cause/Causes of CCD still being identified but recent
research suggests that neonics:
Are directly toxic to bees
Increases susceptibility to pathogens, which have also been
implicated in CCD

Also pose risks to:

Birds
Aquatic invertebrates
Other beneficial insects
Predatory & parasitoid species
Provide biological control of pest species
USDA-ARS/Scott Bauer

 Neonic seed treatments

do not provide
significant yield benefits
in most contexts
Must weigh the value of
production of honey &
other bee products as
well as financial harm to
beekeepers and other
producers reliant on
beneficial insects

Two Wildlife/Insecticide Issues

Being Discussed in Minnesota
Neonicotinoids
aka neonics
Soybean Aphid Insecticides

 Soybean aphids arrived in Minnesota in 2000

Spread throughout farmland zone by 2001

Two commonly-used insecticides used to treat

soybean fields infested with aphids:
Lambda-cyhalothrin
Broad-spectrum pyrethroid (neurotoxin)
Tradenames include: Charge, Danger, Demand, Excaliber,
Grenade, Hallmark, Icon, Karate, Kung-fu, Matador, Saber,
Samurai, Sentinel, Warrior

Chlorpyrifos
Broad-spectrum organophosphate (neurotoxin)
Tradenames include: Dursban, Govern, Lorsban, Pilot,
Warhawk, Yuma

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

To be fair
A lot of chlorpyrifos was being used prior to the
arrival of aphids in MN

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=CHLORPYRIFOS&hilo=L&disp=Chlorpyrifos

In July 2014, the MN Dept. of Agriculture released

voluntary BMPs in response to concerns over
water quality and human health effects

UM Extension also released guidelines on how to

scout for aphids and when to consider treatment

Various reports that fewer birds and insects are

seen after the sprayers go by

Lab studies have shown high toxicity of both

chemicals to wildlife
Lambda-cyhalothrin
Lower toxicity for birds
High toxicity for pollinators
Moderate to high toxicity for fish & aquatic invertebrates

Chlorpyrifos
High toxicity to birds & beneficial insects, including pollinators
LD50 for pheasants = 8.41 mg/kg

Very highly toxic to freshwater fish & invertebrates

Moderately toxic to mammals
Banned for household & pet uses since 1997

What is actual exposure risk in the field?

Reduced food supply for fast-growing chicks
Sublethal effects
Morbidity vs. mortality
Altered brain activity, altered behaviors, lethargy, reduced
weight gains

Drift distances reported in the literature vary

widely (5-75 m), which has implications for:
Effectiveness of buffer practices
Design of all public & private set-aside acres

Insecticide impacts on wildlife may be:

Direct
Primary exposure
Breathing, skin contact, eating

Secondary exposure
Eating another exposed animal

Indirect
Impacts to the animals habitat
Reduced food availability
Reduced habitat cover

http://ncpedia.org/wildlife/northern-bobwhite-quail

Need for balance between:

Production agriculture for food & fiber
Supply & demand/need for pesticide-treated products?

Wildlife
Potential solutions:
Integrated pest management
Cover crops

USDA/NRCS Lynn Betts

Websites for Further Reading & Resources

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)

Program: Pesticide National Synthesis Project
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/compound_listing.php
The Xerces Society Are neonicotinoids killing bees?
http://www.xerces.org/neonicotinoids-and-bees/
American Bird Conservancy (ABC) Threats to Birds: Pesticides
http://abcbirds.org/threat/pesticides/
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Chemicals: Pesticides
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/chemicals/pesticides.aspx
Center for Food Safety Pollinators & Pesticides
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/304/pollinators-and-pesticides
University of Minnesota Extension Agriculture
http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

General Info: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/prairieplan/index.html
Prairie Protection for Landowners: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/prairierestoration/index.html