Influência da exposição à atrazina e glifosato no desenvolvimento ósseo de Podocnemis expansa (Testudines, Podocnemididae)

Abstract

It is estimated that two-thirds of all known pesticides are used in agriculture, which causes benefits to producers, such as productivity and quality increase and losses decrease. However, although they have important functions in agricultural production, their use can indirectly affect both flora and fauna. Herbicides are in the category with the largest increase in their use and are likely to cause unwanted effects, especially in aquatic environments due to its high solubility. Among the possible non-target organisms, reptiles are one of the classes of animals that are indirectly affected by the application of pesticides. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of exposure to atrazine herbicides and glyphosate in the bone development of Podocnemis expansa embryos. In a first experiment, eggs were incubated in sand, artificially contaminated with water with the atrazine technical material at a concentration of 2, 20 or 200 μg/L. In a second experiment, incubation occurred with the use of atrazine formulated products, from the aforesaid concentrations and glyphosate at concentrations of 65, 650 and 6500 μg/L. Collection of eggs from each incubator at intervals for each experiment were performed until the egg hatching. Embryos were subjected to diaphanization techniques for analysis of skeletal development. Soft tissue and bone were stained with Alizarin red S and cartilage with Alcian blue. The specimens were analyzed with a stereomicroscope. There were no interference of atrazine or glyphosate in bone development during the early development of P. expansa in the tested conditions.