Impact of pesticides on benthic invertebrate communities in streams

The project investigates pesticide contamination (PPM) in agriculturally dominated streams in Hesse, Germany, with a focus on hydrological dynamics and their impact on macroinvertebrate communities. Between 2023 and 2025, 25 sites were assessed for 93 different pesticides, as well as land use, erosion potential, habitat structure, and biological status using standardized macroinvertebrate sampling. Most sites showed a moderate to poor ecological status, indicating the presence of multiple stressors.