Impacts of Agrochemicals on Aquatic Ecosystems: Assessing Responses across Biological Scales

Dear colleagues,

Agrochemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides from numerous chemical classes are demonstrated to impact nontarget organisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Mobilized by processes such as precipitation and erosion, these compounds cause toxicity via intended and off-target mechanisms, causing lethal and sublethal effects across a diversity of taxa. In addition to the active ingredients, many formulations of biocides include surfactants or other additives or are delivered in nanoparticle form, which can add to or alter adverse responses following exposure. Effects of herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide exposure range from lethality to a range of sublethal impacts such as altered growth, changes in swimming behavior or ability, lowered fecundity, and developmental defects, and the molecular mechanisms underpinning these. The cumulative impact of exposure to agrochemicals in the context of a changing global climate is also important to consider, as increased temperature, altered salinity regimes, and hypoxia are known to exacerbate the impact of agrochemical exposure.

This issue will explore a variety of topics related to the effects of agricultural pesticides and their metabolites on ecosystems, including mechanisms of toxicity, metabolism, ecological impacts, risk assessment, multiple stressor impacts in the context of global climate change, and consideration of the potential for adaptation to exposures.

Dr. Susanne M. Brander
Dr. Alvine C. Mehinto
Guest Editors

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