Even the smallest amounts of pesticides cause irreparable damage to important single-celled organisms in the sea. Viennese researchers have discovered that a herbicide with the active ingredient glyphosate in particular has a negative effect.
For the experiments at the Institute of Paleontology at the University of Vienna, the scientists, in collaboration with Polish colleagues, selected foraminifera – small, shell-bearing creatures found in coral reefs – as test subjects. Foraminifera have existed for hundreds of millions of years. The single-celled organisms are mainly found in the sea and respond quickly to environmental changes, making them good bioindicators. The effect of pesticides on the metabolic activity of a species of foraminifera (Heterostegina depressa) has now been investigated.
Specifically, a herbicide, an insecticide and a fungicide were tested in different concentrations. “Even the lowest concentrations of herbicides or fungicides – we are talking about concentrations of 0.0001 percent, which certainly occur in today’s coral reefs – led to irreparable damage to the foraminifera,” explains research leader Petra Heinz of the Institute of Paleontology of the University of Vienna a broadcast.
Glyphosate stopped metabolic activity
The glyphosate ‘treatment’ damaged the foraminifera to such an extent after just one day that metabolic activity could no longer be detected, first author Michael Lintner, also from the University of Vienna, reported in the journal ‘Marine Pollution Bulletin’. The fungicide also resulted in complete deactivation. According to the information, the insecticide had a significantly less negative effect on the foraminifera, or only at higher concentrations.
Serious threat to ocean reefs
Researchers fear that increasing storms and increased pesticide use due to intensive agriculture could lead to a significant increase in pesticide concentrations in the sea. But even low concentrations would pose a serious threat to the health of ocean reefs.
Source: Krone
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