Biological Diversity Associated with Pesticides Residues in Certain Egyptian Watercourses

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Abdel-Motleb A.; Abd El-Hamid R.M.; Sayed S.S.M.
Journal: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Publisher: Springer
Publication Date: 9 May 2025
Volume / Issue: Volume 88 / Issue 4
Pages: 419–436
ISSN: 904341
DOI: 10.1007/s00244-025-01129-6
Scopus: View on Scopus
PubMed: 40346423
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Green Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Abdel-Motleb A., Environmental Research Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Abd El-Hamid R.M., Central Agricultural Pesticides Labratory, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; Sayed S.S.M., Environmental Research Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
The aquatic environment has been contaminated by pyrethroids and triazole pesticide applications, which pose serious health risks to the aquatic ecosystem and human beings. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate water quality parameters, fungal diversity, and distribution of snails and aquatic plants of certain Egyptian water courses contaminated with pyrethroids and triazole pesticides. Seasonal samples were taken throughout 2021 from different water courses at Giza Governorate and Tanta (Gharbeya Governorate). Qualitative and quantitative surveys showed significant differences in water physical parameters between the two investigated governorates. Deltamethrin, permethrin, Es-fenvalerate, and lambada-cyhalothrin showed the highest pyrethroids concentrations, while tebuconazole, tetraconazole, and difenoconazole were the highest triazole concentrations. Fungal diversity displayed 21 molecularly identified fungal species related to four fungal genera: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma. Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus niger were the most frequent species. Snail diversity recorded 10 and 9 species in Giza and Tanta, respectively. Physa acuta was the most abundant snail. Ten species of aquatic plants were observed in Giza, while six species were observed in Tanta. Specifically, Eichhornia crassipes and Lemna gibba were the dominant species in the two governorates, with the relative abundance (39 and 22%) in Giza and (27 and 23%) in Tanta, respectively. Water quality parameters and seasonal variations could control fungal diversity, snails, and aquatic plant distribution. Different relations between pesticides and biological communities may reflect the ability/inability of certain snails and fungi species to commensalism with pesticide concentrations. Continuous pesticide monitoring is essential for life below water and aligns with SDG14. © The Author(s) 2025.
Keywords
Animals; Biodiversity; Egypt; Environmental Monitoring; Fungi; Pesticide Residues; Pyrethrins; Snails; Triazoles; Water Pollutants, Chemical; deltamethrin; difenoconazole; fenvalerate; permethrin; pesticide residue; pyrethroid; triazole; triazole derivative; aquatic ecosystem; commensalism; fungus; pesticide application; relative abundance; snail; water quality; aquatic environment; Article; Aspergillus niger; Fusarium; Lemna gibba; nonhuman; Penicillium; Physella acuta; physical parameters; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; Trichoderma; water sampling; animal; classification; water pollutant
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 7
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