Which statement about pesticides and aquatic life is correct?

• A. Malathion is not toxic to forest amphibians and reptiles; organophosphate pesticides are toxic to tadpoles, invertebrates, and insects that are food for fish; 2,4-D can be toxic to bottom-feeding and open water invertebrates that are food sources.
• B. All pesticides are safe for aquatic life
• C. Malathion is highly toxic to amphibians
• D. 2,4-D only affects fish and not invertebrates

Answer: (A)

Pesticide effects on aquatic life depend on the chemical type and the organisms present in the water. Organophosphate pesticides, such as malathion, can be toxic to various aquatic life, especially tadpoles and aquatic invertebrates that serve as food for fish. The statement here reflects that malathion is not universally toxic to forest amphibians and reptiles, while recognizing that organophosphates broadly pose risks to aquatic wildlife that are part of the food web. At the same time, 2,4-D is a herbicide that, despite targeting plants, can be toxic to aquatic invertebrates living in bottom sediments or open water. This combination captures the real-world idea that different pesticides have different effects on aquatic ecosystems, affecting both prey species and other invertebrates, which can influence fish populations. The other options oversimplify safety or wrongly limit the affected groups.