TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of Pesticides on Detritus-Inhabiting and Root-Associated Fungi in Aquatic Habitats and Potential Implications
AU - Raudabaugh, Daniel B.
AU - Miller, Andrew N.
AU - Gunsch, Claudia K.
N1 - This study was supported by the Schmidt Science Fellows, in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, and supported by the National Institute of Health, USA, under grant no. P42ES010356.
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - Pesticide contamination of aquatic ecosystems poses a significant threat to humans and can adversely affect fungal-driven processes in these understudied habitats. Here, we investigated the effects of four pesticides on detritus-inhabiting and plant root-associated fungi from streams, peatlands, and saltwater marshes. Additionally, we assessed the isolates’ capacities to degrade three carbon sources to understand the impact of pesticides on fungal-driven processes. Pesticide assays were conducted in 96-well glass-coated plates, with fungal growth measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer set to 595 nm. Assays included technical replication (n = 6), replication over time (n = 2), negative controls, and carry-over controls. In total, we assayed more than 153 isolates, representing up to 97 fungal genera. Results showed that 1.9%, 49.7%, 3.1%, and 5.6% of the isolates exhibited consistently lower growth when exposed to atrazine, mancozeb, cypermethrin, and malathion, respectively. Furthermore, 101 isolates, comprising 87 genera, were tested for cellulase, starch degradation, and tannase activity, with 41.6%, 28.7%, and 30.7% of the isolates testing positive, respectively. These findings suggest that while many species demonstrate functional redundancy, some fungal species are sensitive to current environmental pesticide levels, which affects their growth and may have broader implications on ecosystem health.
AB - Pesticide contamination of aquatic ecosystems poses a significant threat to humans and can adversely affect fungal-driven processes in these understudied habitats. Here, we investigated the effects of four pesticides on detritus-inhabiting and plant root-associated fungi from streams, peatlands, and saltwater marshes. Additionally, we assessed the isolates’ capacities to degrade three carbon sources to understand the impact of pesticides on fungal-driven processes. Pesticide assays were conducted in 96-well glass-coated plates, with fungal growth measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer set to 595 nm. Assays included technical replication (n = 6), replication over time (n = 2), negative controls, and carry-over controls. In total, we assayed more than 153 isolates, representing up to 97 fungal genera. Results showed that 1.9%, 49.7%, 3.1%, and 5.6% of the isolates exhibited consistently lower growth when exposed to atrazine, mancozeb, cypermethrin, and malathion, respectively. Furthermore, 101 isolates, comprising 87 genera, were tested for cellulase, starch degradation, and tannase activity, with 41.6%, 28.7%, and 30.7% of the isolates testing positive, respectively. These findings suggest that while many species demonstrate functional redundancy, some fungal species are sensitive to current environmental pesticide levels, which affects their growth and may have broader implications on ecosystem health.
KW - atrazine
KW - tannase
KW - starch degradation
KW - cellulase
KW - mancozeb
KW - malathion
KW - cypermethrin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85194398575&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85194398575&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/d16050255
DO - 10.3390/d16050255
M3 - Article
SN - 1424-2818
VL - 16
JO - Diversity
JF - Diversity
IS - 5
M1 - 255
ER -