Red-eared terrapin: Application of a biocide

Overall effectiveness category Unlikely to be beneficial
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

15%
Certainty

50%
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Biocides such as glyphosate may negatively impact red-eared terrapin Trachemys scripta populations, by reducing hatching success of the eggs of breeding populations.

Study locations

Key messages

One replicated, controlled laboratory study in the USA, found that application of glyphosate to the eggs of red-eared terrapins reduced hatching success to 73%, but only at the highest experimental concentration of glyphosate and a surface active agent.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, controlled laboratory study in 2005 in the USA (Sparling et al. 2006)found that application of glyphosate to the eggs of red-eared terrapins Trachemys scripta elegans reduced hatching success and the health of hatchlings, but only at the highest glyphosate concentration. Hatching success at the highest concentration of 11,206 ppm wet weight of glyphosate in Glypro and 678 ppm of the surface active agent LI700 was 73%, compared to hatching success of 80-100% in the lower concentrations and the control. Hatchlings from eggs that had been exposed to the highest concentration of glyphosate and surface active agent also weighed less both at hatching and at the end of the holding period, compared to those from eggs that had been exposed to lower concentrations. Eggs of red-eared terrapins were exposed to single applications of glyphosate and surface active agent, ranging from 0 to 11,206 ppm wet weight of glyphosate in Glypro and 0 to 678 ppm of the surface active agent LI700.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Sparling D., Matson C., Bickham J. & Doelling-Brown P. (2006) Toxicity of glyphosate as glypro and LI700 to red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) embryos and early hatchlings. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 25, 2768-2774.

Please cite as:

Aldridge, D., Ockendon, N., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Some Aspects of Control of Freshwater Invasive Species. Pages 555-87 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Control of Freshwater Invasive Species

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Red-eared terrapin: Biological control using native predators Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Red-eared terrapin: Draining invaded waterbodies Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Red-eared terrapin: Application of a biocide Action Link	Unlikely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link