Date of Award

Spring 5-1999

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors College Theses

Department

Biology

Second Advisor

Dr. Joyce W. O'Rourke

Third Advisor

Dr. Beverly Wade

Abstract

Glyphosate (Roundup) is one of the most commonly used broad spectrum herbicides used with little to no toxicity to higher animals or the environment (Smith and Ochme, 1992). Due to its widespread use, there is a continuous contamination of the environment in both soil and water, with this herbicide. This study was developed to determine the effects of sublethal concentrations of glyphosate on development and survivability of Pseudosuccinea columella snails (intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica). This was assessed by acutely exposing third generation snails to varying concentrations (0.01-1ppm) of glyphosate. The snails were kept on artificial spring water to which doses of glyphosate were added and the laboratory in which water temp (22-25 0C) and photoperiod (approx. 12 hours of light) were unregulated. Abnormalities and polyembryony were observed in snails exposed to 0.01 and 0.1 ppm glyphosate. The results did not indicate that glyphosate affects the snails reproductivity and embryo development. The difference in generations used may play a factor in the fluctuation with these results. Hopefully in further experimentation, it may be proven that glyphosate affects the egg-laying capacity of Pseudosuccinea columella snails. This in turn, may influence the rate of infection of Fasciola hepatica in higher animals (mammals).

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