Assessing Interactions of Multiple Agrichemicals by Using Bacterial Assemblages in a Wetland Mesocosm System

Huey-Min Hwang, Neisee McArthur, Clifford Ochs and Bruce Libman
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Huey-Min Hwang: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Neisee McArthur: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Clifford Ochs: Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Bruce Libman: Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA

IJERPH, 2005, vol. 2, issue 2, 1-7

Abstract: Agrichemicals may enter wetlands located adjacent to or downstream from agricultural fields. We investigated the individual and interactive effects of three agrichemicals [atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and monosodium acid methanearsonate (MSMA)] and methyl mercury on abundance and heterotrophic potential of wetland heterotrophic bacteria assemblages. We used a factorial experimental design, in which chemicals were introduced in all possible combinations to 66 500-liter mesocosms at the Biological Field Station of the University of Mississippi. Methyl mercury was added to bring the total mercury (HG) concentration to 0.4 mg/Kg wet weight at the sediment surface. Atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and MSMA were added at concentrations of 192, 51, and 219?g/L, respectively. Over 32 days of exposure, microbial heterotrophic activity was sensitive to only the interactive effect of HG*ATR*CPF in the sediments and only CPF in the water. Total bacterial numbers did not exhibit any significant treatment effects. Therefore, the effects of agrichemicals were reflected on cell-specific bacterial heterotrophic activity rather than bacterial population size.

Keywords: Agrichemicals; bacterial assemblages; wetland; mesocosm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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