Open AccessDifferential local genetic adaptation to pesticide use in organic and conventional agriculture in an aquatic non-target species
Author(s) -
Rafaela A. Almeida,
Pieter Lemmens,
Luc De Meester,
Kristien I. Brans
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings - royal society. biological sciences/proceedings - royal society. biological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.342
H-Index - 253
eISSN - 1471-2954
pISSN - 0962-8452
DOI - 10.1098/rspb.2021.1903
Subject(s) - daphnia magna , agriculture , pesticide , deltamethrin , chlorpyrifos , organic farming , local adaptation , biology , ecology , adaptation (eye) , endosulfan , resistance (ecology) , environmental impact of agriculture , ecosystem , environmental science , population , chemistry , demography , neuroscience , sociology , organic chemistry , toxicity
Pesticide application is an important stressor to non-target species and can profoundly affect ecosystem functioning. Debates continue on the choice of agricultural practices regarding their environmental impact, and organic farming is considered less detrimental compared to conventional practices. Nevertheless, comparative studies on the impacts of both agricultural approaches on the genetic adaptation of non-target species are lacking. We assessed to what extent organic and conventional agriculture elicit local genetic adaptation of populations of a non-target aquatic species,Daphnia magna . We tested for genetic differences in sensitivity of differentD. magna populations (n = 7), originating from ponds surrounded by conventional and organic agriculture as well as nature reserves, to pesticides used either in conventional (chlorpyrifos) or organic agriculture (deltamethrin and copper sulfate). The results indicate thatD. magna populations differentially adapt to local pesticide use. Populations show increased resistance to chlorpyrifos as the percentage of conventional agriculture in the surrounding landscape increases, whereas populations from organic agriculture sites are more resistant to deltamethrin. While organic agriculture is considered less harmful for non-target species than conventional, both types of agriculture shape the evolution of pesticide resistance in non-target species in a specific manner, reflecting the differences in selection pressure.