Effects of Common Herbicides on Organismal Interactions

Pesticides are applied to agricultural lands to prevent undesirable weeds, animal pests, and fungi from harming crops and reducing crop yields. Pesticides are used in croplands at increasing rates around the world and have become an essential component of farming in recent decades. Often, rain, wind, and soil permeation move pesticides from farmlands to natural environments. Such contamination of natural environments by pesticides may threaten species by altering their behaviors, bodily functions, and the ways in which individuals interact. Atrazine and glyphosate are among the most widely used herbicides around the world and are useful in eliminating weeds, primarily in agricultural areas. The effects of atrazine and glyphosate pollution on animals are well studied, but our understanding of the effects of these herbicides on the ways in which species or individuals interact is limited. We reviewed the existing research into this topic to summarize trends in the effects of atrazine- and glyphosate-based herbicides on animal interactions and to identify areas needing additional research. We also performed an experiment to determine the effects of atrazine on the results of predator-prey interactions among three aquatic animal species. Our review suggests that some animal groups are understudied regarding the effects of atrazine and glyphosate on interactions, and that more research should focus on the role of environmental features in shaping the effects of pollutants on interactions. Our experiment found differences among species in the effects of atrazine on predator-prey interactions, impacts of habitat on the ways in which species interact, and changes in the effects of atrazine depending on the species present. These iii results may be used to implement habitat management and species conservation practices in areas at risk of pollutant contamination.