What are the effects of pesticides on non-target species in environmental biology?
Pesticides can have detrimental effects on non-target species, including beneficial insects like bees, birds, amphibians, and aquatic organisms. Environmental biology studies these effects by examining how pesticides disrupt food chains, reduce biodiversity, and alter ecosystem functions. For example, pesticides can kill pollinators essential for crop production or contaminate water bodies, affecting fish and other aquatic life. Understanding these impacts helps develop guidelines for pesticide use, promoting alternatives like integrated pest management to minimize harm to non-target species.