Neonicotinoids and Fungicides Alter the Abundance and Ecosystem Services of Soil Invertebrate Communities in Simulated Restored Prairie
Pesticide use is widespread within agricultural landscapes, and emerging evidence suggests that both neonicotinoids and fungicides can greatly impact the health of soil invertebrate communities. My study compares soil fauna community composition, abundance, species diversity, and litter decomposition across simulated restored prairie plots treated with neonicotinoids and fungicides. Soil invertebrate communities in plots treated with a combination of neonicotinoids and fungicides were nearly half as dense as they were in plots without pesticides, reflecting reductions spanning from 37 to 80% across all major taxonomic groups and feeding guilds. These declines were associated with distinct shifts in community composition and higher rates of litter decomposition. My findings demonstrate that commonly used agricultural pesticides can synergistically harm the structure and function of soil ecosystems in restored prairies.
