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Effects of the Neonicotinoid Insecticide Clothianidin on Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala) Tadpole Behavior

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Abstract

Neonicotinoid insecticides are highly water soluble with relatively long half-lives, which allows them to move into and persist in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known of the impacts of neonicotinoids on non-target vertebrates, especially at sublethal concentrations. We evaluated the effects of the neonicotinoid clothianidin on the behavior of southern leopard frog tadpoles (Rana sphenocephala) after a 96-h exposure at 6 concentrations, including 0 (control), 0.375, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 µg/L. We quantified total displacement, mean velocity, maximum velocity, and time spent moving of tadpoles for 1 h post-exposure. Total displacement and mean velocity of tadpoles decreased with clothianidin exposure. Maximum velocity decreased linearly with concentration, but there was no relationship between time spent moving and clothianidin concentration. Our results suggest exposure to clothianidin at sublethal concentrations can affect movement behavior of non-target organisms such as tadpoles.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank CERC for allowing us to conduct our experiment in their dilutor system and help with set-up, feeding, and take-down. We also thank S. Michael and J. Patman for allowing us to use BioSense. J. Holtswarth was supported by a University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Scholarship. F. Rowland was supported by a TWA Scholarship. Additional funding was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey Contaminants Biology Program and Toxic Substances and Hydrology Program. Tadpoles were collected and maintained under the University of Missouri Animal Care and Use Committee Protocol 8402 and Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Collection Permit 16808. The Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is jointly sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the University of Missouri, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Wildlife Management Institute. Any use of trade, firm or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Author notes

  1. Jordan N. Holtswarth

    Present address: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, 1102 South Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

  2. Freya E. Rowland

    Present address: School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 370 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 103 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Jordan N. Holtswarth & Elisabeth B. Webb

  2. Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, 116 Tucker Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Freya E. Rowland

  3. Columbia Environmental Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 E New Haven Rd., Columbia, MO, 65201, USA

    Holly J. Puglis

  4. California Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 6000 J Street Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA

    Michelle L. Hladik

  5. U.S. Geological Survey, Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Elisabeth B. Webb

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  1. Jordan N. Holtswarth
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Correspondence to Jordan N. Holtswarth.

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Holtswarth, J.N., Rowland, F.E., Puglis, H.J. et al. Effects of the Neonicotinoid Insecticide Clothianidin on Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala) Tadpole Behavior. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 103, 717–722 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02703-0

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