Effect of pesticides on the aquatic invertebrate community in ricefields

Lim R.P., . Effect of pesticides on the aquatic invertebrate community in ricefields. pp. 336-352.

Ricefields covering some 70 million hectares in Southeast Asia are important aquatic ecosystems not only as a commercial resource but also a biotic resource especially as wetlands habitats. As they are mainly converted swamps one would expect them to be quite similar in ecology to swamps. However they differ from swamps in being highly manipulated involving flooding of the fields ploughing planting of rice seedlings pesticide and fertiliser applications weeding draining of the fields and harvesting of the mature rice plants. Such perturbations would impact on their ecology especially the aquatic biota. Research to determine the effects of pesticide applications on the aquatic invertebrate community has shown that destabilisation of the biota occurs with amplified population fluctuations reduced species diversity and increased populations of certain species. These can be attributed inter alia to differential resistance of species to particular pesticides sub-lethal effects and indirect effects causing changes in trophic relationships. With non-persitent pesticides some recovery of the biota occurs. These effects are however complicated by environmental factors and cultural perturbations. Some strategies to reduce the impact of pesticides on the acquatic fauna and maintenance of biological diversity are discussed.

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Abstract

Ricefields covering some 70 million hectares in Southeast Asia are important aquatic ecosystems not only as a commercial resource but also a biotic resource especially as wetlands habitats. As they are mainly converted swamps one would expect them to be quite similar in ecology to swamps. However they differ from swamps in being highly manipulated involving flooding of the fields ploughing planting of rice seedlings pesticide and fertiliser applications weeding draining of the fields and harvesting of the mature rice plants. Such perturbations would impact on their ecology especially the aquatic biota. Research to determine the effects of pesticide applications on the aquatic invertebrate community has shown that destabilisation of the biota occurs with amplified population fluctuations reduced species diversity and increased populations of certain species. These can be attributed inter alia to differential resistance of species to particular pesticides sub-lethal effects and indirect effects causing changes in trophic relationships. With non-persitent pesticides some recovery of the biota occurs. These effects are however complicated by environmental factors and cultural perturbations. Some strategies to reduce the impact of pesticides on the acquatic fauna and maintenance of biological diversity are discussed.

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Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	8 graphs; 34 ref.; Summaries (En)
AGROVOC Term:	ANIMALES ACUATICOS
AGROVOC Term:	ORGANISMOS ACUATICOS
AGROVOC Term:	PLAGUICIDAS
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:56
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/20546

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