Dr. Rick Relyea wrote: > Pitt Research Shows That Low Concentrations of Common Insecticide > Can Decimate Tadpole Populations Through the Food Chain
Dr. Relyea, your study did not show that any routine, legally compliant applications Malathion insecticide (such as the aerial applications typically used for mosquito control) can decimate tadpole populations through the food chain in a natural wetland system. It also did not demonstrate these routine applications are capable of wiping out the zooplankton in natural wetland systems, causing surface dwelling algae to grow rapidly hence preventing sunlight from reaching the bottom-dwelling algae, which tadpoles eat. Instead, your studies were conducted in small, confined cattle tanks http://www.chronicle.pitt.edu/?p=660 Monsanto has previously pointed out that "It is not unusual for studies conducted in artificial systems to demonstrate greater toxicity than studies conducted under actual environmental conditions." A detailed rebuttal response from Monsanto to your Roundup herbicide work can be found on Monsanto's website:http://www.monsanto.co.uk/news/ukshowlib.phtml?uid=8800 > Leopard and wood frogs naturally range across North America, > including Pennsylvania and the Northeastern United States. Once > plentiful, leopard frogs have declined in recent years. Ironically, leopard frogs are still very abundant in regions of the USA where Roundup herbicide and insecticide use has been very high such as around the Roundup Ready soybean and corn monocultures that cover ~70% of the land mass of southern Minnesota and Iowa: http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/frogb.jpg Example: Just two months ago during an evening thunderstorm I saw hundreds of leopard frogs hopping across the farm roads in southern Minnesota (Klossner, Minnesota) and hundreds of them ended up being smashed by cars. I've experienced the same phenomenon along the farm roads of Iowa many times. The chemical giants like Monsanto and Dupont could make a documentary film for the public and academic community substantiating this abundance if they wanted to. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
