Abstract
The results of an ecological investigation carried out to determine the structure of an aquatic community in orchard drainage ditches were compared with the results of a similar study conducted about 25 years earlier, before the full impact of modern pesticides had been felt. Comparisons of the community structures and abundances of the various species indicate that many species have become completely resistant to the agricultural chemicals to which they are exposed, while others have been completely eliminated from the habitat. Certain species have apparently benefited from the disappearance of predators and competitors and are now present in great abundance. Herbicides have had little, if any, effect on the floral species diversity. Insecticides have taken the greatest toll on predatory species, while acaricidal compounds have completely eliminated all species of water mite. Only one predatory eugamasid mite species was found in the ditches among a large population of collembolans on the water's surface. The individual substances now used in the largest amounts to protect the orchards are discussed, and their properties are listed. The simultaneous use of several toxic substances seems to make the development of resistance more difficult because the probability that one individual will be naturally insensitive to two toxic substances is much less than that it will be resistant to one. The sequential application of different pesticides, on the other hand, allows species to develop populations resistant to each, in turn.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Benazzi, M.: II Problema Sistematico deliePolycelis del Grupponigra tenuis alla luce Ricerche Citologiche e Genetiche. Monitore Zoologico Italiano70, 288 (1963).
Böttger, K.: Die ErnÄhrungsweise der Wassermilben (Hydrachnellae, Acari). Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol.55, 895 (1970).
: Vergleichend biologisch-ökologische Studien zum Entwicklungszyklus der Sü\wassermilben (Hydrachnellae, Acari). I. Der Entwicklungszyklus vonHydrachna globosa undLimnochares aquatica. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol.57, 109 (1972).
Brown, A. W. A.: Pest resistance to pesticides. In R. White-Stevens (ed.): Pesticides in the environment. Vol. 1. Part 2, p. 457. New York: Marcel Dekker (1971).
: Ecology of pesticides. New York: J. Wiley and Sons (1978).
Carter, M. C.: Amitrole. In D. C. Kearney and D. D. Kaufman (eds.): Herbicides: Chemistry, degradation and mode of action. 2 ed. Vol. 1, p. 377. New York: Marcel Dekker (1975).
Caspers, H., and C. W. Heckman: Ecology of orchard drainage ditches along the freshwater sections of the Elbe Estuary. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 43 (Elbe Estuary 4). in press (1980).
Collyer, E.: Biology of some predatory insects and mites associated with the fruit tree red spider mite [Metatetranychus ulmi (Koch)] in South-Eastern England. IV. The predator-mite relationship. J. Hortic. Sci.28, 246 (1953).
Corbett, J. R.: The Biochemical mode of action of pesticides. London: Academic Press (1974).
Edwards, C. A.: Persistent pesticides in the environment. 2 ed. Cleveland: Chemical Rubber (1973).
Elanco: Technische Information Rubigan. Eli Lilly and Co., Bad Homburg.
Fest, C., and K.-J. Schmidt: Insektizide PhosphorsÄureester. In R. Wegler (ed.): Chemie der Pflanzenschutzund SchÄdlingsbekÄmpfungsmittel. Vol. 1, p. 246. Berlin: Springer-Verlag (1970).
Forcart, L.: Zur Nomenklatur der in Deutschland lebenden Arten vonViviparus. Arch. Moll.89, 111 (1960).
Garms, R.: Biozönotische Untersuchungen an EntwÄsserungsgrÄben in Flu\marschen des Elbe-Aestuars. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 26 (Elbe-Aestuar 1): 344 (1961).
Guenzi, W. D., and W. E. Beard: Anaerobic conversion of DDT to DDD and aerobic stability of DDT in soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Proc.32, 522 (1968).
Holden, A. V., and K. Marsden: Single-stage clean up of animal tissue for organochlorine residue analysis. J. Chromatog.44, 481 (1969).
Karg, W.: Acari (Acarina), Milben. Unterordnung Anactinochaeta (Parasitiformes). Die freilebenden Gamasina (Gamasides), Raubmilben. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands. Part 59. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena. (1971).
Kiefer, F.: Freilebende Copepoda. Das Zooplankton der BinnengewÄsser. Part 2. E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, p. 1. (1978).
Klein, W., and F. Körte: Metabolismus von Chlorkohlenwasserstoffen. In: R. Weglet (Ed.), Chemie der Pflanzenschutz- und SchÄdlingsbekÄmpfungsmittel. Vol. 1, p. 199. Berlin: Springer-Verlag (1970).
Köhler, B., and H. Riediger: Das Alte Land. Perten-Druck, Reinbek, Hamburg. (1970).
Kuhr, R. J., A. C. Davis, and J. B. Bourke: DDT residues in soil, water, and fauna from New York apple orchards. Pesticide Monit. J. 7, 200 (1974).
Matsumura, F.: Toxicology of insecticides. New York: Plenum Press (1975).
McEwen, F. L., and G. R. Stephenson: The use and significance of pesticides in the environment. New York: John Wiley and Sons (1979).
Münchberg, P.: über den Larvenparasitismus derArrenurus-Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichten der Naturwiss. Abteilung der GrenzmÄrkischen Gesellschaft zur Erforschung und Pflege der Heimat, Schneidemühl12, 49 (1938).
Nash, R. G., and E. A. Woolson: Persistence of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides in soils. Science157, 924 (1967).
Perkov, W.: Wirksubstanzen der Pflanzenschutz- und SchÄdlingsbekÄmpfungsmittel. Hamburg: Verlag Paul Parey (1971–79).
Plapp, F. W.: Biochemical genetics of insecticide resistance. Ann. Rev. Entomol.21, 179 (1976).
Quast, P.: Die ZusammenhÄnge zwischen den Luft- und Wassergehalten der verschiedenen Böden im niederelbischen Obstbaugebiet und deren Bedeutung für den Obstbau. Mitteilungen des Obstbauversuchsringes des Alten Landes32, 130 (1977).
: Weitere Ergebnisse von Bodenfeuchtemessungen mit Tensiometern in Obstanlagen auf Marsch- und Geestböden aus den Vegetationsperioden 1977 und 1978 und die Schlu\folgerungen daraus. Mitteilungen des Obstbauversuchsringes des Alten Landes34, 306 (1979).
Reynolds, H. T., P. L. Adkisson, and R. F. Smith: Cotton insect pest management. In R. L. Metcalf and W. Luckmann (eds.): Introduction to insect pest management, p. 379. New York: John Wiley and Sons (1975).
Reynoldson, T. B.: A key to British species of freshwater triclads. Freshwater Biological Assoc. Sci. Pub. No. 23. 2 ed. Kendal: Titus Wilson and Son (1978).
Reynoldson, T. B., and L. S. Bellamy: The status ofDugesia lugubris andD, polychroa (Turbellaria, Tricladida) in Britain. J. Zool.162, 157 (1970).
Roelofs, W. L.: Pheromones. In R. L. Metcalf and J. J. McKelvey Jr. (eds.): The future for insecticides. Needs and prospects, p. 445. New York: John Wiley and Sons (1976).
Schlör, H.: Chemie der Fungizide. In R. Wegler (ed.): Chemie der Pflanzenschutz- und SchÄdlingsbekÄmpfungsmittel. Vol. 2, p. 44. Berlin: Springer-Verlag (1970).
Staiff, D. C., G. K. Irle, and W. C. Felsenstein: Screening of various absorbents for protection against paraquat poisoning. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.10, 193 (1973).
Streit, B., and H.-M. Peter: Long-term effects of atrazine to selected freshwater invertebrates. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 55 (Falkau-Arbeiten 11):62 (1978).
Tiemann, K.-H.: VorschlÄge für den Pflanzenschutz und die Sortenwahl mit Hinweisen für sonstige Pflegema\nahmen im Obstbau verbunden mit einem Tagebuch. Führer durch das Obstjahr 1979. Obstbauversuchsring des Alten Landes e. V., Jork, Niedersachsen. (1979).
Vaughan, M. A., and G. Leon: Pesticide management on a major crop with severe resistance problems. Trans. 15th Internat. Congress Entomology (1976).
Watson, H.: The names of the two common species ofViviparus. Proc. Malac. Soc. London31, 163 (1955).
Wegler, R., and L. Eue: Herbizide. In R. Wegler (ed.): Chemie der Pflanzenschutz- und SchÄdlingsbekÄmpfungsmittel. Vol. 2. Berlin: Springer-Verlag (1970).
Whitehead, H.: The British Freshwater Planarians (Tricladida). Essex Nat.20, 1 (1922).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heckman, C.W. Long-term effects of intensive pesticide applications on the aquatic community in orchard drainage ditches near Hamburg, Germany. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 10, 393–426 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055438
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055438