EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON TOXICITY OF A NATURAL PYRETHRIN PESTICIDE TO GREEN ANOLE LIZARDS (ANOLIS CAROLINENSIS)

摘要

Metabolic rates of reptiles vary with body temperature; therefore, the sensitivity of reptiles to a particular dose level of a pesticide might be expected to vary as well. The purpose of the present study was twofold; To evaluate the effects of temperature on the toxicity to green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis) of a single concentration of a natural pyrethrin pesticide via percutaneous exposure, and to compare the effects of temperature (20 vs 35℃) on the toxicity of different concentrations of pyrethrins to green anoles. When lizards were exposed to a solution that contained 300 mg/L of pyrethrins, the mortality of lizards maintained at 15 and 20℃ was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the mortality of lizards maintained at 35 and 38℃. In addition, the median lethal concentrations of pyrethrins for lizards maintained at 20 and 35℃ were 77.6 and greater than 300 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, temperature clearly influenced the sensitivity of lizards to pyrethrin pesticides.