APPLICATION EFFECTS OF CHLORPYRIFOS-ETHYL AND MALATHION ON THE LICHEN Xanthoria parietina AND THE MOSS Funaria hygrometrica

Abstract

Insecticides used in agriculture are important for pest’s management. However, due to their known environmental damage, the study of their effect on non-target organisms is crucial. The literature on this topic deals with the effect of insecticide on plants, animals, fungus, algae, and cyanobacteria. So far, no ecotoxicological studies could be found about their effect on lichen or mosses. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of Chlorpyrifos-ethyl and Malathion on Xanthoria parietina and Funaria hygrometrica respectively a lichen and moss widely used in biomonitoring. Laboratory biotests were conducted applying insecticides by pulverization in controlled conditions. The results have shown no significant effect of the two pesticides in the two species within three days as F. hygrometrica treated with malathion within seven days. After seven days CPE is adversely affecting the lichen and the mosses resulting in a decrease of the photosynthetic pigment, in addition to, an increase in the concentrations of the products of oxidations. From this study, it was observed that that X. parietina and F. hygrometrica may be proposed to be used in biomonitoring of some insecticides risk.