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Acute toxicity of Headline® fungicide to Blanchard’s cricket frogs (Acris blanchardi)

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Abstract

Previous laboratory studies have suggested that pyraclostrobin-containing fungicide formulations are toxic to amphibians at environmentally relevant concentrations. However, it is unknown if all pyraclostrobin formulations have similar toxicity and if toxicity occurs in different amphibian species. We investigated the acute toxicity of two formulations, Headline® fungicide and Headline AMP® fungicide, to Blanchard’s cricket frogs (Acris blanchardi) based on a direct overspray scenario. In addition, we examined body residues of fungicide active ingredients in A. blanchardi following direct exposure to Headline AMP fungicide. Headline fungicide and Headline AMP fungicide had similar toxicity to A. blanchardi with calculated median lethal doses of 2.1 and 1.7 µg pyraclostrobin/cm2, respectively, which are similar to the suggested maximum label rate in North American corn (2.2 and 1.52 µg pyraclostrobin/cm2, respectively). Tissue concentrations of pyraclostrobin were lower than predicted based on full uptake of a direct dose, and did not drop during the first 24 h after exposure. Headline fungicides at corn application rates are acutely toxic to cricket frogs, but acute toxicity in the field will depend on worst-case exposure.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this research was provided by BASF Corporation. We thank W. Mimbs, T. Raskevitz, and B. Fingerlin for help collecting animals and assistance during data collection. Animals were collected under Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation permit #5825.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078-3052, USA

    J. Patrick W. Cusaac, Shane A. Morrison, Jason B. Belden, Loren M. Smith & Scott T. McMurry

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  1. J. Patrick W. Cusaac
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  2. Shane A. Morrison
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  3. Jason B. Belden
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  4. Loren M. Smith
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  5. Scott T. McMurry
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Correspondence to J. Patrick W. Cusaac.

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The authors state that they have no conflict of interest. The work was performed under contract with the BASF corporation.

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Funding for all experiments complied with the current laws of the United States.

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Cusaac, J.P.W., Morrison, S.A., Belden, J.B. et al. Acute toxicity of Headline® fungicide to Blanchard’s cricket frogs (Acris blanchardi). Ecotoxicology 25, 447–455 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-015-1602-x

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