Natural Resources and Conservation Vol. 2(1), pp. 1 - 5
DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2014.020101
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Effect of Monocrotophos, an Organophosphorus Pesticide on the Growth of Tadpoles of Limnonectis Limnocharis, a Rice Field Frog

Sanjay Kumar Swain , Malaya Ranjan Mahananda ^*
Department of Environmental Sciences, Sambalpur University, Odisa -768019, India

ABSTRACT

The effect of monocrotophos an organophosphorus insecticide on the growth of tadpoles of a dominant rice field anuran species (Limnonectis limnocharis) was studied. Prior to growth experiment a 96h toxicity test was conducted in different concentrations of monocrotophos to calculate LC₅₀ value by probit analysis. The 96h of LC₅₀ value for the tadpoles was found to be 0.59 mg l-. Based on the result of toxicity test and recommended field agricultural dose (0.60 mg l-) three sublethal concentration of monocrotophos were taken to study the growth of three days old tadpoles up to metamorphic climax stage and it was compared with that of the controls. Analysis of data revealed that after 35 days the length and body weight of tadpoles decreased by 7.8, 13 and 21.4% and by 6.03, 6.74 and 8.8% in 0.25, 0.30 and 0.35 mg l- respectively from the control condition. The decrease in length and body weight of tadpoles also caused increase in duration of metamorphosis. The metamorphic climax was reached after 38, 41 and 44 days in 0.25, 0.30 and 0.35 mg l- monocrotophos respectively, instead of 35 days in control condition. The above results indicates that application of pesticides even below the recommended dose cause ecological problems and non target beneficial species are victimized. This finding supports that organic farming and controlled use of pesticides for conservation of frogs in the paddy field.

KEYWORDS
Limnonectis Limnocharis, Tadpole, Growth, Metamorphosis, Monocrotophos

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sanjay Kumar Swain , Malaya Ranjan Mahananda , "Effect of Monocrotophos, an Organophosphorus Pesticide on the Growth of Tadpoles of Limnonectis Limnocharis, a Rice Field Frog," Natural Resources and Conservation, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1 - 5, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2014.020101.

(b). APA Format:
Sanjay Kumar Swain , Malaya Ranjan Mahananda (2014). Effect of Monocrotophos, an Organophosphorus Pesticide on the Growth of Tadpoles of Limnonectis Limnocharis, a Rice Field Frog. Natural Resources and Conservation, 2(1), 1 - 5. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2014.020101.