Beyond the Target: Impacts of Agricultural Pesticides and Fungicides on Non-Target Flora and Food Web

The widespread use of insecticides and fungicides in agriculture has well-documented effects on target pests, but their unintended consequences for surrounding ecosystems remain less understood. Now, in New York State, growing concern over neonicotinoid insecticides has led to increased interest in alternative chemicals such as diamides. However, little is known about how these new pesticides affect non-target plants and the organisms that depend on them. This project examines how pesticides used in maize can indirectly impact common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larvae, vital species for ecosystem health and biodiversity. To address this, we monitored milkweed growth, as well as monarch caterpillar development, in plants growing adjacent to treated maize fields. Afterwards, through controlled field and laboratory studies, we evaluated changes in plant secondary compounds and measured larval growth rates and survival. Our findings reveal how agricultural chemicals may alter plant chemistry and, in turn, affect herbivore performance. This research highlights the importance of assessing the broader ecological impacts of alternative pesticides, suggesting that substituting one class of chemicals for another may not guarantee improved outcomes for non-target species and ecosystem services.

Participating in this research internship this summer has been one of the most incredible experiences of my academic and life journey. In this way, I learned new thecniques in plant and insect biology, gained experience with chemical analysis, become more confident in designing and conducting experiments, and and same as learned a hole new culture and experiences. Finally, the collaborative envionment at Poveda’s Lab and the mentorship I recived from Alexander Chautá were particularly valuable, as I mastered troubleshooting, data interpretation, and scientific communication.