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Chronic effects of strobilurin fungicides on development, growth, and mortality of larval Great Plains toads (Bufo cognatus)

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Abstract

Agricultural fungicide application has increased tenfold since 2005 in the United States. Active ingredients and formulations of strobilurin fungicides at environmentally relevant concentrations cause mortality to larval and metamorph amphibians; however, little is known about chronic exposure effects in amphibians. We exposed larval amphibians (Bufo cognatus) throughout metamorphosis to the common fungicide formulations Headline®, Stratego®, Quilt®, and a control to determine effects on development and growth. Formulations were tested at 1.7, 50, and 400 μg/L of the active strobilurin ingredient for Headline®, Stratego®, and Quilt®, respectively. Fungicide exposure did not affect body mass or snout–vent length at metamorphosis. However, exposure to Headline® at 1.7 μg/L increased the development rate of tadpoles by approximately 5 days compared to the control, an effect not observed for Stratego® and Quilt®. Stratego® also caused approximately 35 % cumulative mortality. Results from the experiment suggest that chronic effects of strobilurin fungicides on development, growth, and mortality to B. cognatus are apparent at environmentally relevant concentrations.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this Project was provided by the National Science Foundation (Award No. 0718302) and the CEAP Wetlands Program, US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service. Dr. Barney Luttbeg provided tremendous provision in the statistical analysis of this research. Special thanks go to Michael Cobbs, Shella Swain, Cleo Szmygiel, Dale Daniel, Brandon Hartman and Blake Stevison for aiding in collecting data and collecting toads.

Conflict of interest

The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Emily A. H. Hartman, Jason B. Belden, Loren M. Smith & Scott T. McMurry

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  1. Emily A. H. Hartman
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  2. Jason B. Belden
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  3. Loren M. Smith
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  4. Scott T. McMurry
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Correspondence to Emily A. H. Hartman.

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Hartman, E.A.H., Belden, J.B., Smith, L.M. et al. Chronic effects of strobilurin fungicides on development, growth, and mortality of larval Great Plains toads (Bufo cognatus). Ecotoxicology 23, 396–403 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1203-0

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