Toxicity of the fungicide trifloxystrobin on tadpoles and its effect on fish–tadpole interaction

Contamination of aquatic systems is a major environmental stress that can interfere with predator–prey interactions, altering prey or predator behavior differentially. We determined toxicity parameters of the fungicide trifloxystrobin (TFS) and examined its effects on predation rate, using a fish predator (Synbranchus marmoratus) and four anuran tadpole species as prey (Rhinella arenarum, Physalaemus santafecinus, Leptodactylus latrans, and Elachistocleis bicolor). TFS was not equally toxic to the four tadpole species, E. bicolor being the most sensitive species, followed by P. santafecinus, R. arenarum, and L. latrans. Predation rates were evaluated using different treatments that combined predator and prey exposed or not to this fungicide. TFS would alter the outcome of eel–tadpole interaction by reducing prey movements; thus, prey detection would decrease and therefore tadpole survival would increase. In addition, eels preyed selectively upon non-exposed tadpoles avoiding the exposed ones almost all throughout the period evaluated. Predation rate differed among prey species; such differences were not due to TFS exposure, but to interspecific differences in behavior. The mechanism that would explain TFS-induced reduction in predation rates remains unclear; however, what is clear is that sublethal TFS concentrations have the potential to alter prey behavior, thereby indirectly altering predator–prey interactions. In addition, we consider that predator–prey relationships are measurable responses of toxicant exposure and provide ecological insight into how contaminants modify predator–prey interactions.

► Trifloxystrobin (TFS) was not equally toxic to the four tadpole species. ► Predation rates decreased when predator and prey were exposed simultaneously to TFS. ► Predation rates also decreased when only prey were exposed to TFS. ► Eels preyed selectively upon non-exposed tadpoles avoiding the exposed ones. ► TFS have the potential to alter prey behaviour, thereby indirectly altering predator-prey interactions.