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Testing the effects of glyphosate and a possible tradeoff with immunity on native and non-native species of crickets

Mullins, Lydia R
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8289-8488
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587642768787223

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
Introduced insects can compete with native species and alter population and community dynamics. To minimize these effects and potential threats to biodiversity, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms that lie behind successful colonization of novel environments by introduced species, including anthropogenic factors such as herbicides. Glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup, is a broad-spectrum herbicide that is commonly applied to various types of land across the world. Its application increased dramatically after the introduction of glyphosate-resistant crops, leading glyphosate to become the top-selling herbicide worldwide. Although it is so widely used, its effects on wildlife are extremely under-studied. Of the few studies examining glyphosate’s effects on non-target organisms, it has been shown to affect locomotion, reproduction, memory and learning of various species of arthropods. It is necessary to understand how glyphosate may be impacting invasion success of non-native insects. The present study examines these effects on native and non-native species of crickets. Further, competition with invasive species and exposure to herbicides may reveal or emphasize existing tradeoffs between traits. For example, many crickets trade off effort devoted to reproduction and immunity. Crickets commonly face immune challenges in the wild, so it is possible that a trade-off may lie in managing exposure to agrochemicals like herbicides and investment into immune function. If present, this trade-off may be contributing to the success of non-native species competing with native species and colonizing novel environments. Therefore, in the present study, I examine the effects of glyphosate and a possible trade-off with immunity on lifespan, calling effort and fecundity in the native fall field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus and the non-native Japanese burrowing cricket Velarifictorus micado. G. pennsylvanicus and V. micado occupy a similar niche and therefore are expected to be in competition with each other for resources. V. micado has also been observed in higher abundance than G. pennsylvanicus in the field, suggesting higher success in competition for resources. In this study, we found that glyphosate decreases survival of juvenile Gryllus vocalis and has no effect on adult lifespan of Gryllus pennsylvanicus or Velarifictorus micado. Both G. pennsylvanicus and V. micado females produce more eggs when sprayed with glyphosate. G. pennsylvanicus females also show an interaction between glyphosate and immune challenge; those sprayed with glyphosate and provided with an induced immune challenge produce fewer eggs than females sprayed with glyphosate that are not immune challenged. Because this interaction is not present in V. micado females, this could potentially explain the successful establishment of V. micado. Glyphosate does not affect male calling effort of either G. pennsylvanicus or V. micado. These results suggest that glyphosate may impact survival and reproduction of non-target organisms and has varying effects based on species and may contribute to colonization by non-native species. The survival effect that we observed may be due to additional ingredients in commercial formulations of glyphosate such as surfactants, rather than pure glyphosate. In order to minimize the potential contribution of glyphosate to colonization of novel habitats by non-native species, further studies are needed to better understand the potential consequences of this extensively used herbicide and to disentangle whether these effects are actually caused by glyphosate or other ingredients commonly found in Roundup.
Susan Gershman, Dr. (Advisor)
Ian Hamilton, Dr. (Committee Member)
Roman Lanno, Dr. (Committee Member)
54 p.
Biology; Ecology
crickets; herbicides; tradeoff; invasive species; glyphosate

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mullins, L. R. (2020). Testing the effects of glyphosate and a possible tradeoff with immunity on native and non-native species of crickets [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587642768787223

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mullins, Lydia. Testing the effects of glyphosate and a possible tradeoff with immunity on native and non-native species of crickets. 2020. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587642768787223.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mullins, Lydia. "Testing the effects of glyphosate and a possible tradeoff with immunity on native and non-native species of crickets." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587642768787223

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1587642768787223
423
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.