Risks of Esfenvalerate Use to Federally Threatened California Red-Legged Frog (Rana aurora draytonii) Pesticide Effects Determination Environmental Fate and Effects Division Office of Pesticide Programs Washington, D.C. 20460 February 19, 2008 Primary Authors Shannon Borges, Biologist Katrina White, Ph.D., Biologist Nelson Thurman, Senior Fate Scientist Environmental Risk Branch II Environmental Fate and Effects Division (7507P) Secondary Review Donna Randall, Senior Effects Scientist Environmental Risk Branch II Environmental Fate and Effects Division (7507P) Dana Spatz, Acting Branch Chief, Environmental Risk Branch II Environmental Fate and Effects Division (7507P) i Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary............................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Problem Formulation .......................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Purpose ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Scope ............................................................................................................................ 9 2.3 Previous Assessments................................................................................................. 10 2.4 Stressor Source and Distribution................................................................................ 10 2.4.1 Environmental Fate Properties ............................................................................ 10 2.4.2 Environmental Transport Mechanisms................................................................ 20 2.4.3 Mechanism of Action .......................................................................................... 21 2.4.4 Use Characterization............................................................................................ 21 2.5 Assessed Species ........................................................................................................ 33 2.5.1 Distribution.......................................................................................................... 33 2.5.2 Reproduction........................................................................................................ 39 2.5.3 Diet ...................................................................................................................... 39 2.5.4 Habitat.................................................................................................................. 40 2.6 Designated Critical Habitat ........................................................................................ 41 2.7 Action Area ................................................................................................................ 43 2.8 Assessment Endpoints and Measures of Ecological Effect........................................ 44 2.8.1 Assessment Endpoints for the CRLF................................................................... 44 2.8.2 Assessment Endpoints for Designated Critical Habitat....................................... 46 2.9 Conceptual Model ...................................................................................................... 49 2.9.1 Risk Hypotheses .................................................................................................. 49 2.9.2 Diagram ............................................................................................................... 50 2.10 Analysis Plan.............................................................................................................. 55 2.10.1 Measures to Evaluate the Risk Hypotheses and Conceptual Model.................... 55 3.0 Exposure Assessment........................................................................................................ 60 3.1 Label Application Rates and Intervals ....................................................................... 60 3.2 Aquatic Exposure Assessment ................................................................................... 63 3.2.1 Modeling Approach............................................................................................. 63 3.2.2 Model Inputs........................................................................................................ 65 3.2.3 Results.................................................................................................................. 68 3.2.4 Existing Monitoring Data .................................................................................... 68 3.3 Terrestrial Animal Exposure Assessment .................................................................. 74 3.4 Terrestrial Plant Exposure Assessment ...................................................................... 76 4.0 Effects Assessment ........................................................................................................... 77 4.1 Evaluation of Aquatic Ecotoxicity Studies ................................................................ 80 4.1.1 Toxicity to Amphibians ....................................................................................... 80 4.1.2 Toxicity to Freshwater Fish................................................................................. 81 4.1.3 Toxicity to Freshwater Invertebrates ................................................................... 83 4.1.4 Toxicity to Aquatic Plants ................................................................................... 86 4.1.5 Freshwater Field Studies...................................................................................... 86 4.2 Evaluation of Terrestrial Ecotoxicity Studies............................................................. 88 4.2.1 Toxicity to Birds.................................................................................................. 88 ii 4.2.2 Toxicity to Mammals........................................................................................... 89 4.2.3 Toxicity to Non-Target Terrestrial Invertebrates ................................................ 91 4.2.4 Toxicity to Terrestrial Plants ............................................................................... 91 4.3 Use of Probit Slope Response Relationship to Provide Information on the Endangered Species Levels of Concern ..................................................................... 92 4.4 Incident Database Review .......................................................................................... 93 5.0 Risk Characterization........................................................................................................ 96 5.1 Risk Estimation .......................................................................................................... 96 5.1.1 Exposures in the Aquatic Habitat ........................................................................ 96 5.1.2 Exposures in the Terrestrial Habitat .................................................................. 101 5.1.3 Primary Constituent Elements of Designated Critical Habitat.......................... 105 5.2 Risk Description ....................................................................................................... 105 5.2.1 Direct Effects..................................................................................................... 108 5.2.2 Indirect Effects to the CRLF (via reductions in prey base) ............................... 110 5.2.3 Indirect Effects (via Habitat Effects)................................................................. 112 5.2.4 Modification of Designated Critical Habitat ..................................................... 113 5.3 Risk Hypotheses Revisited....................................................................................... 113 6.0 Uncertainties ................................................................................................................... 116 6.1 Exposure Assessment Uncertainties......................................................................... 116 6.1.1 Maximum Use Scenario .................................................................................... 116 6.1.2 Aquatic Exposure Modeling of Esfenvalerate................................................... 116 6.1.3 Action Area Uncertainties ................................................................................. 118 6.1.4 Usage Uncertainties........................................................................................... 118 6.1.5 Terrestrial Exposure Modeling of Esfenvalerate............................................... 118 6.1.6 Spray Drift Modeling......................................................................................... 119 6.2 Effects Assessment Uncertainties ............................................................................ 120 6.2.1 Age Class and Sensitivity of Effects Thresholds............................................... 120 6.2.2 Use of Surrogate Species Effects Data .............................................................. 120 6.2.3 Sublethal Effects................................................................................................ 120 6.2.4 Location of Wildlife Species ............................................................................. 121 7.0 Risk Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 122 8.0 References......................................................................................................................