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AUTHORS: Michelle L. Hellman, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, School of Natural Resources; Craig R. Allen, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Ted LaGrange, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission; Daniel D. Snow, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, School of Natural Resources
ABSTRACT: The Rainwater Basin (RWB) is a region of Nebraska characterized by shallow precipitation-fed wetlands. Following European settlement, more than 90% of historic wetlands were filled or farmed through. The remaining wetlands exist in an area of intensive agriculture that has further isolated wetlands and may expose them to contaminants from upland row crops. While much research has been conducted assessing the effects of fertilizers and pesticides on wetlands and wetland organisms, the potential impact of more novel chemicals like strobilurin fungicides and neonicitinoid insecticides is still poorly understood. In 2014, more than 100,000lbs of fungicide was applied to cornfields in the Nebraska; 72,000lbs of this was pyraclostrobin (National Agricultural Statistics Service). These contaminants may be transported into Rainwater Basin wetlands via runoff and once in the wetland may impact the health of resident amphibians. To assess this we collected monthly surface water samples in June, July, and August, and soil sediment samples in August. We screened for a suite of agrichemicals including fungicides, atrazine, and neonicitinoids. Contaminant concentrations detected can be used to prioritize conservation concerns in the Rainwater Basin and will inform a future investigation of chronic effects of exposure to developing larval anurans.
