Pests, Pollinators and Pesticides

1
Pests, Pollinators and Pesticides
Sam Berizzi, Katie Rohn, Katie Orem, Paige
Gasparino
2
Negative and Positive Effects

• By their very nature, most pesticides create some
  risk of harm - Pesticides can cause harm to
  humans, animals, or the environment because they
  are designed to kill or otherwise adversely
  affect living organisms. ( negative)
• At the same time, pesticides are useful to
  society - Pesticides can kill potential
  disease-causing organisms and control insects,
  weeds, and other pests. ( positive)

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Negative Effects of Pesticides- Food Production

• Farmers and their families and other people who
  use chemical pesticides regularly are at greatest
  risk for achieving toxic levels in their bodies.
• Pesticides are carried on through wind, leaves,
  residue on produce, remain inside produce and
  animals, and run off into open water
  contaminating public water

4
Pests

• Pests damage crops that are valuable to our food
  production
• Pests compete with our crops initially because
  they are like every other biotic being, they try
  to survive and reproduce

5
Pesticides

• Targeting pests and animals by using pesticides
  effects the agriculture that is being sprayed as
  well.
• Three quarters of the pesticides are applied to
  agricultural land
• 32 million is spent on pesticides, with one third
  of the total spent in the U.S.

6
Persistence of pesticides

• Break down easily less persistent
• Dont break down easily more persistent
• The Chemical ( pesticide) has the ability to
  obtain its molecules and maintain its physical,
  chemical and functional characteristics through
  the environment
• The chemicals are easily transported with out
  being lost

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Pollution

• Because Pesticides are easily transmitted through
  run off which consequently goes into the water we
  drink we have to be careful of how we transport
  the pesticides to the pests.
• Pesticides also cause pollution that we consume
  directly from the atmosphere and the air.
• Fruit and vegetables most likely to be
  contaminated with pesticides include apples,
  bell peppers, celery, cherries, grapes,
  nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes,
  raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.

8
Coevolution

• The mutual evolutionary influence between two
  species- usual mutualism- dependent on one
  another.
• The number of species know to have evolved
  resistance to pesticides have grown over the
  decades.

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Relationships

• Pesticides and Plants are a prime example of
  coevolution mainly because the relationship is
  predator and prey in this situation because one
  gets affected which is the pests and the
  pesticides initially take over the land that the
  pests were invading ( Brennan 269)

10
Pesticide Treadmill

• As one uses a pesticide, individuals that are not
  killed by it pass on their traits so they are
  therefore resistant to the pesticide.
• Their offspring inherit the same traits, making
  them resistant to the pesticide as well
• For example- If an insect that survive from the
  pesticide mates with another insect that is
  resistant of the same pesticide, the population
  will begin to go.
• The pesticide applications will cease to be
  effective any longer

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Effects of the Treadmill

• Because more pests are becoming resistant to
  pesticides this causes farmers to adopt new and
  more potent poisons.
• There is no end to the toxic spiral!

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Facts about Resistance

• As of 2007 there were more than 2700 know cases
  of resistance by 550 species to over 300
  pesticides ( Brennan Withgott 269)

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Broad Spectrum Pesticides

• Insecticides ( pesticide used against insects)
  that are not selective, but may be even more
  toxic to the natural enemy than to the pest or
  have an impact on a wide range of pests and
  natural enemies, are called broad-spectrum.
• This broad spectrum pesticide overall has a worse
  effect on the land and the crops we attempt to
  grow
• Kill many kinds of pests

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Examples of BSP

• organophosphate (e.g., malathion, dimethoate)
• carbamate (e.g., carbarylSevin,
  methomylLannate)
• pyrethroid (e.g., cyfluthrinBaythroid,
  fenpropathrinDanitol)
• foliar-applied neonicotinoid (imidaclopridProvad
  o, acetamipridAssail) insecticides.

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Narrow Spectrum (selective) Pesticides

• These are developed to kill specific organism
  types and are good at doing so

http//mikesansone.typepad.com/photos/uncategorize
d/pests.jpg
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Examples of NSP

• Examples are algicides for algae
• avicides for birds
• fungicides for fungi
• oomycetes (also called water molds, they use
  surface water including precipitation on plants,
  to move around).

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Ideal Pesticides

• The ideal pesticide is a molecule which is
  capable of being delivered and can act on a
  specific species/organism with no harmful effects
  on surround environments.
• Pesticides do not harm crops that are present in
  the specific ecosystems where the pesticide is
  taking out the pest.
• Not to much toxicity (Cloyd 1)

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First Generation Pesticides

• Contain primarily natural substances
• Consists of sulfur, lead, tobacco, arsenic and
  mercury compounds
• Acts as an insecticide, which kills of insects to
  protect crops
• 2 types pyrethrum and rotenone
• Pyrethrum is accessed through the heads of
  chrysanthemum flowers
• Rotenone is obtained from the roots of different
  types of tropical forest legumes

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Second Generation Pesticides

• Includes insecticides, herbicides and fungicides
• Insecticides- kills insects
• Herbicides- kills weeds
• Fungicides- kills fungi
• Nematocides- kills roundworms
• Rodenticides- kills rats/mice

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Types of Insecticides

• Chlorinated hydrocarbons- Many different types of
  organic molecules
• Organophosphates- Affect an important enzyme
  called acetylcholinesterase, which is found in
  insects
• Carbamates- Consists of inorganic compounds
• Botanicals- Consists of chemicals that are taken
  from plants (natural chemicals), not as toxic as
  other insecticides
• Microbotanicals- Taken from small parts of plants

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Insecticides DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
)

• Type of pesticide known since 1874
• Also known as the atomic bomb of pesticides
• It is the first of the second generation
  pesticides
• It is the worlds most popular pesticide
• In the past DDT has been known to kill of pests
  for both health and agricultural purposes (potato
  beetles, coddling moth, corn earthworm, cotton
  bollworm, tobacco budworms)
• June 1972 people began to worry about the
  negative environmental and heath relations to DDT
  and the US Environmental Protection Agency banned
  its use
• However, other countries (mostly tropical)
  continue to use the harmful chemical

22
Insecticides Malathion

• Registered in United States in 1956
• Purpose is to kill mosquitoes (adults) is private
  gardens, agricultural areas, and public
  recreation areas
• It is meant to have very few risks in terms of
  human health
• Few toxins are evident in the environment after
  malathion use
• Malathions effects are still debated over in the
  Environmental Protection Agency

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Insecticides Carbaryl

• Became popular in US in the 1970s
• Used for insects on fruit, cotton, lawns,
  forests, nuts, and even poultry
• Highly toxic
• Can show harmful effects to humans, aquatic
  animals, and non-target insects
• However, it shows little damage in birds
• Used in powder form

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Insecticides Chlordane

• It was prevalent in the United States until 1983
• Its uses range from protecting private gardens to
  yards as well as some important crops (corn,
  citrus)
• 1983- Chlordane was partially banned (some of its
  uses, not its use against termites) by the EPA
• 1988- Fully banned due to the belief that it may
  contribute to testicular cancer and prostate
  cancer

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Insecticides Dieldrin

• A by-product of a pesticide called Aldrin
• Popular from 1950 to 1974 for the management of
  insects on different crops
• In 1987 it was prohibited for its toxicity
• Because of the harmful effects, it is not being
  produced in the United States anymore
• Potential effects
• Harmful to immune system, kidneys and
  reproductive system
• Possible link to cancer and birth defects

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Herbicides Atrazine

• Used primarily on cornfields to eliminate weeds
  that damage the crops
• Remains highly popular today because of its
  effectiveness
• It is moderately toxic to both humans and
  animals, possible negative long-term heath
  effects
• Has been found in groundwater in many different
  areas? damaging water supply

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Fungicides Formaldehyde

• It has many curing aspects that make it an
  innovative ingredient in fungicides
• It is useful because it does not have a strong
  negative affect on the organism it is applied to
  and is therefore less toxic than the main
  components of past fungicides

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Sources

• http//www.tarleton.edu/cthompson/ES3503//Pestici
  des.html
• http//users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyP
  ages/I/Insecticides.html
• http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts31.html
• http//www.epa.gov/opp00001/health/mosquitoes/mala
  thion4mosquitoes.htm
• http//extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/carbaryl.htm
• http//www.epa.gov/pbt/pubs/aldrin.htm
• http//www.water-research.net/atrazine.htm
• http//www.patentstorm.us/patents/4356179/descript
  ion.html

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FIFRAFederal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act

• 1947, amended in 1972
• Objective provide federal control of pesticide
  distribution, sale, and use.
• All pesticides in the US must be registered by
  the EPA, registration assures that the pesticides
  will be properly labeled and if used in
  accordance with specifications, they will not
  cause damage.
• Amendments led to the specific authorization of
  the EPA to
• Strengthen the registration process by shifting
  the burden of proof to the chemical manufacturer
• Enforce compliance against banned and
  unregistered products
• Propose the regulatory framework missing from the
  original law

http//www.epa.gov/oecaagct/lfra.html
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FQPAFood Quality Protection Act of 1996

• Congress presented the EPA with an enormous
  challenge of changing the way they evaluate and
  regulate pesticides.
• The FQPA amended the FIFRA and FFDCA (Federal
  Food Drug Cosmetic Act)
• Requirements
• Stricter safety standards, especially for infants
  children
• Complete reassessment of all existing pesticide
  tolerances
• The bill was said to be a, landmark bipartisan
  agreement that will bring Federal regulation of
  the Nations food producers into the 21st
  century by the House Commerce Committee Chairman
  Bliley

http//www.epa.gov/opp00001/regulating/laws/fqpa/
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Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)

• A naturally occurring bacterium common in soils
  around the world
• Only microbial insecticide in widespread use
• Bt insecticides usually are used against leaf-and
  needle-feeding caterpillars. Strains have been
  produced that affect certain fly larvae like
  mosquitoes
• Bt is safe concerning people and nontarget
  species, like wildlife, it is no threat to food
  crops
• Occasionally the bacteria enter the insects
  blood and reproduce within the insect, most
  insects reaction to the protein crystal is
  lethal
• Susceptible to degradation by sunlight
• Does not kill rapidly, short shelf life

http//www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/Insect/05556.htm
l
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Cactus MothCactoblastis

• Objective destroy prickly pear cacti
• This organism has been used from Australia to
  South Africa as a biocontrol agent to remove the
  plants from agricultural lands, where cacti are
  seen as problematic
• Now, the cactus moth is becoming invasive in
  areas such as the Australia, the Caribbean,
  Alabama, and Florida. It is attacking native
  prickly pear that are rare to the area
• The cactuses also play an important role in
  holding soil in desert systems as well. We would
  likely see some problems with soil erosion, which
  can really be severe in the desert once you lose
  that fragile cover. John Randall (director of
  The Nature Conservancys Global Invasive Species
  Initiative)

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Hawaiian Yellowjacket WaspsLittle vacuum
cleaners

• Disrupt native populations of insects and spiders
• Kill/ scavenge prey from 14 different taxonomic
  orders, including reptiles and birds
• Invasive due to flexible diet
• Besides killing, they collect large amounts of
  nectar, decreasing the accessibility of other
  resources
• Rather than having a nest the size of a
  football, youll have a nest the size of a 57
  Buick, Erin Wilson (lead author of the study
  reported in the Proceedings of the National
  Academy of Sciences)

http//ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/07-09Inva
siveWasps.asp
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Integrated Pest Management
IPM programs use current, comprehensive
information on the life cycles of pests and their
interaction with the environment. This
information, in combination with available pest
control methods, is used to manage pest damage by
the most economical means, and with the least
possible hazard to people, property, and the
environment. (http//www.epa.gov/opp00001/factshe
ets/ipm.htm)
The use of multiple techniques in combination to
achieve long-term suppression of pests, including
biocontrol, use of pesticides, close monitoring
of populations, habitat alteration, crop
rotation, transgenic crops, alternative tillage
methods, and mechanical pest removal. (textbook)
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Insects Pollinate Crops
Conservation of Pollinators is Vital.
Pollinators are the unsung heroes of
agriculture. Pollination is the process by which
pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling
fertilization and sexual reproduction.