ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF EXTENSIVE OR REPEATED USE OF HERBICIDES
Abstract
An information survey including published literature and personal interviews with individuals knowledgeable in the fields of herbicide usage, animal ecology and plant ecology was conducted for the purpose of assessing the ecological consequences of extensive or repeated use of herbicides for vegetation control. The general subjects discussed in this review include (1) herbicide production, usage and trends; (2) herbicide application to crop and noncroplands, especially forests, ranges, rights-of-way, waterways, ponds, lakes and reservoirs; (3) military usage of herbicides in Vietnam; (4) acute, subacute and chronic toxicities of 21 herbicides used primarily for noncropland application; (5) persistence and elimination of herbicides from the soil; (6) known ecological effects of vegetation removal by chemical methods (e.g., herbicides) and physical methods (e.g., bulldozing, fire, flooding, etc.), including both the effects on the biotic and the abiotic components. Specifically, consideration is given to the effects of herbicides on wildlife, wildlife habitat, endangered species, food chains, biotic potential, plant succession, animal succession, revegetation, climate, soil erosion, laterization and related topics; (7) some conclusions regarding the ecological changes are presented; and (8) some recommendations for further ecological investigations are given.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0824314
Entities
People
- H. M. Gadberry
- K. W. Dockter
- L. H. Goodson
- W. B. House