[Nagano University Press Release]: Effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on river microbial communities
2025-04-01 We are pleased to announce that a new scientific article authored by researchers at the Institute of Freshwater Biology has recently been published in Aquatic Toxicology, a leading international journal in its field https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/aquatic-toxicology.
Key points of the study
- The effect of the pesticide dinotefuran on freshwater biofilms (microbial communities) was measured for the first time using the EcoPlates method
- Contrary to expectations, exposure to pesticides increased the metabolic activity of freshwater biofilms (microbial communities) on average
- Among these, the metabolic activity of putrescine increased most significantly
Research Summary
The study advances knowledge of the effects of a common neonicotinoid pesticide, dinotefuran, on freshwater organisms using the EcoPlate method for the first time. In particular, the microorganisms living on the rocks of the river beds were studied to observe the disturbance induced by the presence of dinotefuran. We studied changes in metabolism as an indicator of stress in microorganisms. The results show that dinotefuran increased the mean catabolic activity of the freshwater biofilm. We also found that the catabolism of putrescine increased significantly after exposure to dinotefuran. Overall, we suggest that dinotefuran, at the concentration tested, has stressed the microorganisms. However, further research should continue to elucidate the complex response.
This research is part of a larger project investigating the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on river health, funded by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Transport and Tourism.
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107311
Contact information
1088 Komaki, Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, 386-0031 TEL: 0268-22-0594 FAX: 0268-22-0544 Sakie Kodama and Hiroshi Hakoyama (Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University)
