Ecological perspectives on pesticides and other agricultural contaminants within agricultural headwater streams

Authors: Smiley, Peter - Rocky

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2020
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Agricultural runoff containing pesticides, nutrients, and sediment enters headwater streams and wetlands first before being transported downstream to larger streams and rivers. Concentrations of pesticides and other agricultural contaminants within these aquatic habitats located in the upper reaches of agricultural watersheds can periodically exceed the aquatic life benchmarks for aquatic animals and plants. Understanding the spatiotemporal trends in pesticides and other agricultural contaminants and the relationships of the biota with agricultural contaminants within headwater streams and wetlands is needed to develop watershed management strategies to reduce agricultural impacts. My objective for this presentation is to synthesize selected research results documenting the spatiotemporal trends of pesticides and pesticide mixtures, the impacts of conservation practices, and the relationships of aquatic animals with pesticides and other agricultural contaminants within agricultural headwater streams in the Midwestern United States. The research results selected for this presentation will be from research conducted from 2006 to 2015 within agricultural headwater streams in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to assess the ecological impacts of conservation practices on the biota as part of the USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). I will use this synthesis to highlight recommendations from an aquatic ecology perspective on how these research findings might guide the development of higher-tier exposure assessment framework and risk mitigation measures for herbicides within agricultural headwater streams in the Midwestern United States.