Common insecticide harms freshwater ecosystems

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-04-23 08:13

New Zealand; International

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Pesticides used to protect crops from insects can kill freshwater critters and affect the ecosystems they belong to on a fundamental level. Researchers used the insecticide thiacloprid, which is chemically similar to nicotine, on experimental freshwater ditches. A month later, the sites exposed to higher concentrations had lost over a third of their invertebrates. Species that break down organic matter were worst affected, leading to algal mats floating on the surface and limiting light and heat for other organisms. The researchers say these effects occur at neonicotinoid concentrations below those recognised as toxic, and that current standards don't account for flow-on effects on entire ecosystems.