Disturbance stress in forest plants as a result of sub-lethal glyphosate-based herbicides

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British Columbian (BC) forests have some of the highest plant diversity across Canada. A better understanding of the characteristics of BC flora, and how these plants respond to human-induced disturbance stressors are required in order to preserve biodiversity and the resilience of forested ecosystems before changes lead to loss of species altogether. Canadians have been applying glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) to forested environments since the 1980s; and in BC, to an average of 16,000 hectares of forests annually. Original research suggested that glyphosate broke down quickly and was therefore of little risk to the environment. Recently, we have discovered that low concentrations of glyphosate persist in northern forest plants, leading to deformation in plant morphology, chronic exposure potential, with risk to humans and ecosystems. This aspect of herbicide use has received little public or research attention. My research will fill the gap that exists in knowledge about persistent, sub-lethal concentrations of GBH in living plant tissues. My research team will work to better understand the physical and chemical make-up of trees, shrubs and herbs growing under stress caused by GBH. Students will use state-of-the-art methods and equipment to analyze plant tissues to report on important changes that occur during times of stress. We will describe and define the stress symptoms of these plants and determine the physical nature of, and rate of response to stress over time in select species. We will also discover how changes in environmental conditions such as temperature and light levels impact the stress response. Given the vital role that plants play in ecosystem food webs and services, a better understanding of forest plant health in stressful conditions is critical. Results provided through this research program will inform policy and land management practices concerning prediction of plant and ecosystem health, and specifically speak to how plant species will be altered by sub-lethal GBH persistence. We will provide important information about plant health to the Canadian public, industry, and governments, which will contribute to better understanding of conditions for sustainable management of plant communities during resource extraction. Understanding the response of forest plants to herbicide disturbance will lend insight into the properties they will possess under future disturbance pressure and lend insight to how this stress may alter disease resistance processes in plants, pollination success, and quality of food and habitat for wildlife. GBH production is a billion dollar industry, and changes to practices associated with it would have enormous impacts for resource industries, including forestry, agriculture and the vegetation management associated with hydropower lines, pipeline corridors and roads. Since GBH are used so extensively in Canada and worldwide (>130 countries), it is imperative that this research is conducted.