1
|
Siviter H, DeVore J, Gray LK, Ivers NA, Lopez EA, Riddington IM, Stuligross C, Jha S, Muth F. A novel pesticide has lethal consequences for an important pollinator. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 952:175935. [PMID: 39218110 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Wild bees pollinate crops and wildflowers where they are frequently exposed to pesticides. Neonicotinoids are the most commonly used insecticide globally, but restrictions on their use and rising pest resistance have increased the demand for alternative pesticides. Flupyradifurone is a novel insecticide that has been licenced globally for use on bee-visited crops. Here, in a semi-field experiment, we exposed solitary bees (Osmia lignaria) to a commercial pesticide formulation (Sivanto Prime) containing flupyradifurone at label-recommended rates. We originally designed the experiment to examine sublethal effects, but contrary to our expectations, 100 % of bees released into pesticide-treated cages died within 3 days of exposure, compared to 0 % in control plots. Bees exposed to flupyradifurone a few days after the initial application survived but endured prolonged sublethal effects, including lower nesting success, impairment to foraging efficiency, and higher mortality. These results demonstrate that exposure to this novel insecticide poses significant threats to solitary bees and add to a growing body of evidence indicating that this pesticide can have negative impacts on wild bees at field-realistic concentrations. In the short-term, we recommend that commercial formulations containing flupyradifurone should be restricted to non-flowering crops while a reassessment of its safety can be conducted. In the long-term, environmental risk assessors should continue to develop risk assessments that are truly holistic and incorporate the ecological and life history traits of multiple pollinator species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harry Siviter
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Jennie DeVore
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lily K Gray
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Nicholas A Ivers
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 547 ASI Bldg., University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Lopez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Ian M Riddington
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 E 24(th) St., Austin, TX 78712-1224, USA
| | - Clara Stuligross
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Shalene Jha
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX 78739, USA
| | - Felicity Muth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, 196 Briggs Hall, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gekière A, Ghisbain G, Gérard M, Michez D. Towards unbiased interpretations of interactive effects in ecotoxicological studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 259:119572. [PMID: 38972340 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Ecotoxicological research has increasingly focused on the interactive effects of chemical mixtures on biological models, emphasising additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions. However, these combination studies often test chemicals at unique concentrations (e.g. x:y), limiting our understanding of the effects across the full spectrum of possible combinations. Evidence from human toxicology suggests that interactive effects among chemicals can vary significantly with total concentration (e.g. x:y vs. 2x:2y), their ratio (e.g. x:2y vs. 2x:y), and the magnitude of the tested effect (e.g. LC10vs. LC50). Our non-exhaustive review of studies on binary mixtures in bee ecotoxicology reveals that such parameters are frequently neglected. Of the 60 studies we examined, only two utilised multiple total concentrations and ratios, thus exploring a broad range of possible combinations. In contrast, 26 studies tested only a single concentration of each chemical, resulting in incomplete interpretations of the potential interactive effects. Other studies utilised various concentrations and/or ratios but failed to capture a broad spectrum of possible combinations. We also discuss potential discrepancies in interactive effects based on different metrics and exposure designs. We advocate for future ecotoxicological studies to investigate a wider spectrum of chemical combinations, including various concentrations and ratios, and to address different levels of effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Gekière
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium.
| | - Guillaume Ghisbain
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium; Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maxence Gérard
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gekière A, Breuer L, Dorio L, Evrard D, Vanderplanck M, Michez D. Bumble bees do not avoid field-realistic but innocuous concentrations of cadmium and copper. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s10646-024-02802-7. [PMID: 39261366 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02802-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Bee populations are facing numerous stressors globally, including environmental pollution by trace metals and metalloids. Understanding whether bees can detect and avoid these pollutants in their food is pivotal, as avoidance abilities may mitigate their exposure to xenobiotics. While these pollutants are known to induce sublethal effects in bees, such as disrupting physiological mechanisms, their potential impacts on locomotive abilities, fat metabolism, and reproductive physiology remain poorly understood. In this study, utilising workers of the buff-tailed bumble bee and two prevalent trace metals, namely cadmium and copper, we aimed to address these knowledge gaps for field-realistic concentrations. Our findings reveal that workers did not reject field-realistic concentrations of cadmium and copper in sucrose solutions. Moreover, they did not reject lethal concentrations of cadmium, although they rejected lethal concentrations of copper. Additionally, we observed no significant effects of field-realistic concentrations of these metals on the walking and flying activities of workers, nor on their fat metabolism and reproductive physiology. Overall, our results suggest that bumble bees may not avoid cadmium and copper at environmental concentrations, but ingestion of these metals in natural settings may not adversely affect locomotive abilities, fat metabolism, or reproductive physiology. However, given the conservative nature of our study, we still recommend future research to employ higher concentrations over longer durations to mimic conditions in heavily polluted areas (i.e., mine surrounding). Furthermore, investigations should ascertain whether field-realistic concentrations of metals exert no impact on bee larvae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Gekière
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 20 Place du Parc, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
| | - Luna Breuer
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 20 Place du Parc, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Luca Dorio
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 20 Place du Parc, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Dimitri Evrard
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 20 Place du Parc, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Maryse Vanderplanck
- CEFE, CNRS, University of Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier, France
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 20 Place du Parc, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Malhat F, Hegazy A, Barakat DA, Ibrahim ED, Hussien M, Saber ES, Saber AN. Sulfoxaflor residues and exposure risk assessment in grape under Egyptian field conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:52038-52048. [PMID: 39136923 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34523-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Grapes are among the most popular fruits globally, and insecticides are commonly used on grape farms. Sulfoxaflor, a novel sulfoximine insecticide that works against various insect pests, is extensively used in Egypt. Our field trials assessed the dynamics and final residues of sulfoxaflor in grapes and grape leaves grown in Egyptian environments with different application rates, including worst-case scenarios. A QuEChERS-based method with LC-MS/MS was used to analyze residues of sulfoxaflor in grapes and grape leaves. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was validated at 0.01 mg‧kg-1. Sulfoxaflor residues are degraded in grapes and grape leaves according to a first-order kinetic model, with an estimated half-life (t1/2) of 7.04 and 7.7 days, respectively, and considerable degradation (74.68 and 72.16%, respectively) after 14 days. The final residues in grapes and grape leaves were below the Codex or EU maximum residue limit (MRL) (2 mg‧kg-1) after 3 days of the recommended and high application rates. The findings showed that grapes and leaves treated with sulfoxaflor at the recommended rate are safe for humans 3 days after two or three consecutive treatments with intervals of 14 days. The current study should pave the way for implementing safe and appropriate sulfoxaflor use in grapes and grape leaves in Egypt.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farag Malhat
- Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution Department, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12618, Egypt
| | - Anwar Hegazy
- Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Dalia A Barakat
- Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - El-Desoky Ibrahim
- Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hussien
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pesticide Formulation, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12618, Egypt
| | - El-Sayed Saber
- Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution Department, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12618, Egypt
| | - Ayman N Saber
- Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution Department, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12618, Egypt.
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry for Energy and the Environment, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rondeau S, Raine NE. Size-dependent responses of colony-founding bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) queens to exposure to pesticide residues in soil during hibernation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174852. [PMID: 39029756 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Bumblebees and other key pollinators are experiencing global declines, a phenomenon driven by multiple environmental stressors, including pesticide exposure. While bumblebee queens spend most of their life hibernating underground, no study to date has examined how exposure to pesticide-contaminated soils might affect bumblebee queens during this solitary phase of their lifecycle. We exposed Bombus impatiens queens (n = 303) to soil treated with field-realistic concentrations of two diamide insecticides (chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole) and two fungicides (boscalid and difenoconazole), alone or combined, during a 30-week hibernation period. We found that exposure to boscalid residues in soil doubled the likelihood of queens surviving through the colony initiation period (after successful hibernation) and laying eggs. Our data also revealed complex interactions between pesticide exposure and queen body mass on aspects of colony founding. Among others, exposure to cyantraniliprole led to lethal and sublethal post-hibernation effects that were dependent on queen size, with larger queens showing higher mortality rates, delayed emergence of their first brood, and producing smaller workers. Our results show that effects of pesticide exposure depend on intrinsic traits of bumblebee queen physiology and challenge our understanding of how bees respond to pesticides under environmentally realistic exposure scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Rondeau
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Nigel E Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gray LK, Hulsey M, Siviter H. A novel insecticide impairs bumblebee memory and sucrose responsiveness across high and low nutrition. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231798. [PMID: 38721128 PMCID: PMC11076119 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Wild bees are important pollinators of crops and wildflowers but are exposed to a myriad of different anthropogenic stressors, such as pesticides and poor nutrition, as a consequence of intensive agriculture. These stressors do not act in isolation, but interact, and may exacerbate one another. Here, we assessed whether a field-realistic concentration of flupyradifurone, a novel pesticide that has been labelled as 'bee safe' by regulators, influenced bumblebee sucrose responsiveness and long-term memory. In a fully crossed experimental design, we exposed individual bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) to flupyradifurone at high (50% (w/w)) or low (15% (w/w)) sucrose concentrations, replicating diets that are either carbohydrate rich or poor, respectively. We found that flupyradifurone impaired sucrose responsiveness and long-term memory at both sucrose concentrations, indicating that better nutrition did not buffer the negative impact of flupyradifurone. We found no individual impact of sugar deficiency on bee behaviour and no significant interactions between pesticide exposure and poor nutrition. Our results add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that flupyradifurone has significant negative impacts on pollinators, indicating that this pesticide is not 'bee safe'. This suggests that agrochemical risk assessments are not protecting pollinators from the unintended consequences of pesticide use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lily K. Gray
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX78712, USA
| | - Marcus Hulsey
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX78712, USA
- University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK73019, USA
| | - Harry Siviter
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX78712, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Schwarz JM, Knauer AC, Alaux C, Barascou L, Barraud A, Dievart V, Ghazoul J, Michez D, Albrecht M. Diverse pollen nutrition can improve the development of solitary bees but does not mitigate negative pesticide impacts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169494. [PMID: 38142004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Floral resource loss and pesticide exposure are major threats to bees in intensively managed agroecosystems, but interactions among these drivers remain poorly understood. Altered composition and lowered diversity of pollen nutrition may reinforce negative pesticide impacts on bees. Here we investigated the development and survival of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis provisioned with three different pollen types, as well as a mixture of these types representing a higher pollen diversity. We exposed bees of each nutritional treatment to five pesticides at different concentrations in the laboratory. Two field-realistic concentrations of three nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulating insecticides (thiacloprid, sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone), as well as of two fungicides (azoxystrobin and tebuconazole) were examined. We further measured the expression of two detoxification genes (CYP9BU1, CYP9BU2) under exposure to thiacloprid across different nutrition treatments as a potential mechanistic pathway driving pesticide-nutrition interactions. We found that more diverse pollen nutrition reduced development time, enhanced pollen efficacy (cocoon weight divided by consumed pollen weight) and pollen consumption, and increased weight of O. bicornis after larval development (cocoon weight). Contrary to fungicides, high field-realistic concentrations of all three insecticides negatively affected O. bicornis by extending development times. Moreover, sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone also reduced pollen efficacy and cocoon weight, and sulfoxaflor reduced pollen consumption and increased mortality. The expression of detoxification genes differed across pollen nutrition types, but was not enhanced after exposure to thiacloprid. Our findings highlight that lowered diversity of pollen nutrition and high field-realistic exposure to nAChR modulating insecticides negatively affected the development of O. bicornis, but we found no mitigation of negative pesticide impacts through increased pollen diversity. These results have important implications for risk assessment for bee pollinators, indicating that negative effects of nAChR modulating insecticides to developing solitary bees are currently underestimated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janine M Schwarz
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Zurich, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Ecosystem Management, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Anina C Knauer
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cedric Alaux
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | | | - Alexandre Barraud
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Jaboury Ghazoul
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Ecosystem Management, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Denis Michez
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Raine NE, Rundlöf M. Pesticide Exposure and Effects on Non- Apis Bees. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 69:551-576. [PMID: 37827173 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-040323-020625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Bees are essential pollinators of many crops and wild plants, and pesticide exposure is one of the key environmental stressors affecting their health in anthropogenically modified landscapes. Until recently, almost all information on routes and impacts of pesticide exposure came from honey bees, at least partially because they were the only model species required for environmental risk assessments (ERAs) for insect pollinators. Recently, there has been a surge in research activity focusing on pesticide exposure and effects for non-Apis bees, including other social bees (bumble bees and stingless bees) and solitary bees. These taxa vary substantially from honey bees and one another in several important ecological traits, including spatial and temporal activity patterns, foraging and nesting requirements, and degree of sociality. In this article, we review the current evidence base about pesticide exposure pathways and the consequences of exposure for non-Apis bees. We find that the insights into non-Apis bee pesticide exposure and resulting impacts across biological organizations, landscapes, mixtures, and multiple stressors are still in their infancy. The good news is that there are many promising approaches that could be used to advance our understanding, with priority given to informing exposure pathways, extrapolating effects, and determining how well our current insights (limited to very few species and mostly neonicotinoid insecticides under unrealistic conditions) can be generalized to the diversity of species and lifestyles in the global bee community. We conclude that future research to expand our knowledge would also be beneficial for ERAs and wider policy decisions concerning pollinator conservation and pesticide regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nigel E Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada;
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Fisher A, Tadei R, Berenbaum M, Nieh J, Siviter H, Crall J, Glass JR, Muth F, Liao LH, Traynor K, DesJardins N, Nocelli R, Simon-Delso N, Harrison JF. Breaking the cycle: Reforming pesticide regulation to protect pollinators. Bioscience 2023; 73:808-813. [PMID: 38125825 PMCID: PMC10728777 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biad088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Over decades, pesticide regulations have cycled between approval and implementation, followed by the discovery of negative effects on nontarget organisms that result in new regulations, pesticides, and harmful effects. This relentless pattern undermines the capacity to protect the environment from pesticide hazards and frustrates end users that need pest management tools. Wild pollinating insects are in decline, and managed pollinators such as honey bees are experiencing excessive losses, which threatens sustainable food security and ecosystem function. An increasing number of studies demonstrate the negative effects of field-realistic exposure to pesticides on pollinator health and fitness, which contribute to pollinator declines. Current pesticide approval processes, although they are superior to past practices, clearly continue to fail to protect pollinator health. In the present article, we provide a conceptual framework to reform cyclical pesticide approval processes and better protect pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Fisher
- School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
| | | | - May Berenbaum
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - James Nieh
- University of California, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Harry Siviter
- University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
- University of Bristol, Bristol, England, United Kingdom
| | - James Crall
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Widsconsin, United States
| | - Jordan R Glass
- School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
| | - Felicity Muth
- University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
| | - Ling-Hsiu Liao
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | | | - Nicole DesJardins
- School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
| | | | - Noa Simon-Delso
- BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jon F Harrison
- School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Albacete S, Sancho G, Azpiazu C, Rodrigo A, Molowny-Horas R, Sgolastra F, Bosch J. Bees exposed to climate change are more sensitive to pesticides. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6248-6260. [PMID: 37656005 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Bee populations are exposed to multiple stressors, including land-use change, biological invasions, climate change, and pesticide exposure, that may interact synergistically. We analyze the combined effects of climate warming and sublethal insecticide exposure in the solitary bee Osmia cornuta. Previous Osmia studies show that warm wintering temperatures cause body weight loss, lipid consumption, and fat body depletion. Because the fat body plays a key role in xenobiotic detoxification, we expected that bees exposed to climate warming scenarios would be more sensitive to pesticides. We exposed O. cornuta females to three wintering treatments: current scenario (2007-2012 temperatures), near-future (2021-2050 projected temperatures), and distant-future (2051-2080). Upon emergence in spring, bees were orally exposed to three sublethal doses of an insecticide (Closer, a.i. sulfoxaflor; 0, 4.55 and 11.64 ng a.i./bee). We measured the combined effects of wintering and insecticide exposure on phototactic response, syrup consumption, and longevity. Wintering treatment by itself did not affect winter mortality, but body weight loss increased with increasing wintering temperatures. Similarly, wintering treatment by itself hardly influenced phototactic response or syrup consumption. However, bees wintered at the warmest temperatures had shorter longevity, a strong fecundity predictor in Osmia. Insecticide exposure, especially at the high dose, impaired the ability of bees to respond to light, and resulted in reduced syrup consumption and longevity. The combination of the warmest winter and the high insecticide dose resulted in a 70% longevity decrease. Smaller bees, resulting from smaller pollen-nectar provisions, had shorter longevity suggesting nutritional stress may further compromise fecundity in O. cornuta. Our results show a synergistic interaction between two major drivers of bee declines, and indicate that bees will become more sensitive to pesticides under the current global warming scenario. Our findings have important implications for pesticide regulation and underscore the need to consider multiple stressors to understand bee declines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Albacete
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Sancho
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Celeste Azpiazu
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anselm Rodrigo
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Roberto Molowny-Horas
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Fabio Sgolastra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jordi Bosch
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Bellaterra, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Straw EA, Cini E, Gold H, Linguadoca A, Mayne C, Rockx J, Brown MJF, Garratt MPD, Potts SG, Senapathi D. Neither sulfoxaflor, Crithidia bombi, nor their combination impact bumble bee colony development or field bean pollination. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16462. [PMID: 37777537 PMCID: PMC10542809 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43215-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Many pollinators, including bumble bees, are in decline. Such declines are known to be driven by a number of interacting factors. Decreases in bee populations may also negatively impact the key ecosystem service, pollination, that they provide. Pesticides and parasites are often cited as two of the drivers of bee declines, particularly as they have previously been found to interact with one another to the detriment of bee health. Here we test the effects of an insecticide, sulfoxaflor, and a highly prevalent bumble bee parasite, Crithidia bombi, on the bumble bee Bombus terrestris. After exposing colonies to realistic doses of either sulfoxaflor and/or Crithidia bombi in a fully crossed experiment, colonies were allowed to forage on field beans in outdoor exclusion cages. Foraging performance was monitored, and the impacts on fruit set were recorded. We found no effect of either stressor, or their interaction, on the pollination services they provide to field beans, either at an individual level or a whole colony level. Further, there was no impact of any treatment, in any metric, on colony development. Our results contrast with prior findings that similar insecticides (neonicotinoids) impact pollination services, and that sulfoxaflor impacts colony development, potentially suggesting that sulfoxaflor is a less harmful compound to bee health than neonicotinoids insecticides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Straw
- Department of Botany, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Elena Cini
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK.
| | - Harriet Gold
- The School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AB, UK
| | - Alberto Linguadoca
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
- Pesticides Peer Review Unit, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Chloe Mayne
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AS, UK
| | - Joris Rockx
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Michael P D Garratt
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang K, Huang Y, Cheng B, Guo J, Peng Y, Zeng S, Zhang J, Lu H. Sulfoxaflor induces immunotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) by activating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 137:108743. [PMID: 37062434 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Sulfoxaflor is an insecticide that is widely used and affects the nervous system of sucking pests. However, studies on the molecular mechanism of the toxicity of sulfoxaflor to non-target species are limited. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used as an experimental subject in this study. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 20, 25, and 30 mg/L sulfoxaflor solution to detect hatchability, mortality, heart rate, neutrophil count, oxidative stress, and expression of genes related to apoptosis and immune inflammation. The results showed that zebrafish embryos exposed to sulfoxaflor solution increased mortality and growth retardation, and the number of innate immune cells decreased significantly. In addition, the expression levels of apoptotic and proapoptotic genes increased significantly, and oxidative stress-related indexes changed significantly. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway was further studied, and the interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), TLR4, and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88) gene expression levels were significantly up-regulated. We used small molecule inhibitor QNZ for the rescue experiment and detected the expression of relevant target proteins in the QNZ signaling pathway. QNZ reduced the expression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway-related protein NF-κB p65 in the cytoplasm and nucleus and rescued the number of innate immune cells. In summary, sulfoxaflor may induce developmental toxicity and immunotoxicity in zebrafish by activating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which provides a basis for further studies on the molecular mechanism of sulfoxaflor action in the aquatic ecosystem and the development and utilization of QNZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Wang
- Center for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China; College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yong Huang
- Center for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bo Cheng
- Center for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Center for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yuyang Peng
- Center for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Suwen Zeng
- Center for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - June Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Huiqiang Lu
- Center for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China; Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory of Zebrafish Modeling and Drug Screening for Human Diseases, Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Organs, Ji'an, Jiangxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kenna D, Graystock P, Gill RJ. Toxic temperatures: Bee behaviours exhibit divergent pesticide toxicity relationships with warming. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2981-2998. [PMID: 36944569 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and agricultural intensification are exposing insect pollinators to temperature extremes and increasing pesticide usage. Yet, we lack good quantification of how temperature modulates the sublethal effects of pesticides on behaviours vital for fitness and pollination performance. Consequently, we are uncertain if warming decreases or increases the severity of different pesticide impacts, and whether separate behaviours vary in the direction of response. Quantifying these interactive effects is vital in forecasting pesticide risk across climate regions and informing pesticide application strategies and pollinator conservation. This multi-stressor study investigated the responses of six functional behaviours of bumblebees when exposed to either a neonicotinoid (imidacloprid) or a sulfoximine (sulfoxaflor) across a standardised low, mid, and high temperature. We found the neonicotinoid had a significant effect on five of the six behaviours, with a greater effect at the lower temperature(s) when measuring responsiveness, the likelihood of movement, walking rate, and food consumption rate. In contrast, the neonicotinoid had a greater impact on flight distance at the higher temperature. Our findings show that different organismal functions can exhibit divergent thermal responses, with some pesticide-affected behaviours showing greater impact as temperatures dropped, and others as temperatures rose. We must therefore account for environmental context when determining pesticide risk. Moreover, we found evidence of synergistic effects, with just a 3°C increase causing a sudden drop in flight performance, despite seeing no effect of pesticide at the two lower temperatures. Our findings highlight the importance of multi-stressor studies to quantify threats to insects, which will help to improve dynamic evaluations of population tipping points and spatiotemporal risks to biodiversity across different climate regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kenna
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Berkshire, UK
| | - Peter Graystock
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Berkshire, UK
| | - Richard J Gill
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Berkshire, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wang L, Zhu J, Wang Q, Ji X, Wang W, Huang W, Rui C, Cui L. Hormesis effects of sulfoxaflor on Aphis gossypii feeding, growth, reproduction behaviour and the related mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162240. [PMID: 36796701 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sulfoxaflor, an important alternative insecticide in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, can effectively control sap-feeding insect pests such as Aphis gossypii. Although the side effects of sulfoxaflor have recently attracted widespread attention, its toxicological characteristics and mechanisms are still largely undefined. Therefore, the biological characteristics, life table and feeding behaviour of A. gossypii were studied to evaluate the hormesis effect of sulfoxaflor. Then, the potential mechanisms of induced fecundity associated with the vitellogenin (Ag. Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (Ag. VgR) genes were investigated. Although the LC10 and LC30 concentrations of sulfoxaflor significantly reduced the fecundity and net reproduction rate (R0) of the directly exposed sulfoxaflor-resistant and susceptible aphids, hormesis effects on fecundity and R0 were observed in the F1 generation of Sus A. gossypii when the parental generation was exposed to the LC10 of sulfoxaflor. Moreover, the hormesis effects of sulfoxaflor on phloem feeding were observed in both A. gossypii strains. Additionally, enhanced expression levels and protein content of Ag. Vg and Ag. VgR were observed in progeny generations when F0 was subjected to the trans- and multigenerational sublethal sulfoxaflor exposure. Therefore, sulfoxaflor-induced resurgence might occur in A. gossypii after exposure to sublethal concentrations. Our study could contribute to a comprehensive risk assessment and provide convincing reference to optimize sulfoxaflor in IPM strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Junshu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China; College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Qinqin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuejiao Ji
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China; College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Weiling Huang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Changhui Rui
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Li Cui
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wang L, Zhai Y, Zhu J, Wang Q, Ji X, Wang W, Yuan H, Rui C, Cui L. Sulfoxaflor adversely influences the biological characteristics of Coccinella septempunctata by suppressing vitellogenin expression and predation activity. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 447:130787. [PMID: 36669402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sulfoxaflor is a widely used sulfoximine insecticide that has been regarded as an important alternative insecticide for IPM strategies, but a comprehensive study of its potential ecological toxicity is still lacking. In the present work, the growth, longevity, predation and reproduction toxicity of Coccinella septempunctata caused by sulfoxaflor were evaluated. In addition, the potential mechanisms of decreased fecundity in C. septempunctata were investigated by analyzing the transcriptional and protein levels of reproduction-related gene vitellogenin (Vg). In a 20-day acute contact toxicity test, decreased survival proportion, pupation rate, adult emergence ratio, and increased hazard quotient (HQ) values were observed. Moreover, sublethal dosages of sulfoxaflor significantly inhibited the predation, longevity, fecundity and net reproduction rate of progeny. In addition, LR30 of sulfoxaflor dramatically down-regulate the mRNA-expression (F0: 65.38-fold, F1: 2.24-fold) and protein content (F0: 1.35-fold, F1: 1.36-fold) of Vg in the F0 and F1 generations. These results suggested that sulfoxaflor could inhibit the gene and protein content of Vg, thereby reducing the fecundity of C. septempunctata. Our study indicated that sulfoxaflor has potential risks to parent and progeny generations of C. septempunctata. These results provide valuable reference for optimal usage of sulfoxaflor in IPM systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yanhui Zhai
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junshu Zhu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China; College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Qinqin Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuejiao Ji
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenjie Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China; College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Huizhu Yuan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Changhui Rui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Li Cui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
James L, Reynolds AM, Mellor IR, Davies TGE. A Sublethal Concentration of Sulfoxaflor Has Minimal Impact on Buff-Tailed Bumblebee ( Bombus terrestris) Locomotor Behaviour under Aversive Conditioning. TOXICS 2023; 11:279. [PMID: 36977044 PMCID: PMC10057571 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11030279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide exposure has been cited as a key threat to insect pollinators. Notably, a diverse range of potential sublethal effects have been reported in bee species, with a particular focus on effects due to exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides. Here, a purpose-built thermal-visual arena was used in a series of pilot experiments to assess the potential impact of approximate sublethal concentrations of the next generation sulfoximine insecticide sulfoxaflor (5 and 50 ppb) and the neonicotinoid insecticides thiacloprid (500 ppb) and thiamethoxam (10 ppb), on the walking trajectory, navigation and learning abilities of the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris audax) when subjected to an aversive conditioning task. The results suggest that only thiamethoxam prevents forager bees from improving in key training parameters (speed and distanced travelled) within the thermal visual arena. Power law analyses further revealed that a speed-curvature power law, previously reported as being present in the walking trajectories of bumblebees, is potentially disrupted under thiamethoxam (10 ppb) exposure, but not under sulfoxaflor or thiacloprid exposure. The pilot assay described provides a novel tool with which to identify subtle sublethal pesticide impacts, and their potential causes, on forager bees, that current ecotoxicological tests are not designed to assess.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura James
- Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK (A.M.R.)
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - Andrew M. Reynolds
- Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK (A.M.R.)
| | - Ian R. Mellor
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - T. G. Emyr Davies
- Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK (A.M.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dilts TE, Black SH, Hoyle SM, Jepsen SJ, May EA, Forister ML. Agricultural margins could enhance landscape connectivity for pollinating insects across the Central Valley of California, U.S.A. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0267263. [PMID: 36763674 PMCID: PMC9916620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the defining features of the Anthropocene is eroding ecosystem services, decreases in biodiversity, and overall reductions in the abundance of once-common organisms, including many insects that play innumerable roles in natural communities and agricultural systems that support human society. It is now clear that the preservation of insects cannot rely solely on the legal protection of natural areas far removed from the densest areas of human habitation. Instead, a critical challenge moving forward is to intelligently manage areas that include intensively farmed landscapes, such as the Central Valley of California. Here we attempt to meet this challenge with a tool for modeling landscape connectivity for insects (with pollinators in particular in mind) that builds on available information including lethality of pesticides and expert opinion on insect movement. Despite the massive fragmentation of the Central Valley, we find that connectivity is possible, especially utilizing the restoration or improvement of agricultural margins, which (in their summed area) exceed natural areas. Our modeling approach is flexible and can be used to address a wide range of questions regarding both changes in land cover as well as changes in pesticide application rates. Finally, we highlight key steps that could be taken moving forward and the great many knowledge gaps that could be addressed in the field to improve future iterations of our modeling approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E. Dilts
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Scott H. Black
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Sarah M. Hoyle
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Sarina J. Jepsen
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Emily A. May
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Matthew L. Forister
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Siviter H, Linguadoca A, Ippolito A, Muth F. Pesticide licensing in the EU and protecting pollinators. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R44-R48. [PMID: 36693303 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Intensive agriculture is reliant on pesticides to control crop pests, but these chemicals can have negative environmental consequences. This has resulted in repeated calls for pesticide risk assessments to be modified to better protect ecosystem services such as pollination. However, the pesticide licensing process is complex, and consequently there is often confusion between risk assessments where the environmental impact of pesticide use is considered, and risk management where licensing decisions are made. Using bees as a case study, we provide a roadmap for how pesticides are licensed for use in the European Union. By outlining the regulatory process, we highlight key data gaps that need to be addressed to generate a holistic approach to environmental risk assessment. Such an approach is vital to protect pollinators and wildlife more broadly from the unintended consequences of pesticide use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harry Siviter
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Alberto Linguadoca
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK; European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Ippolito
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Felicity Muth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Harris-Shultz KR, Armstrong JS, Caballero M, Hoback WW, Knoll JE. Insect Feeding on Sorghum bicolor Pollen and Hymenoptera Attraction to Aphid-Produced Honeydew. INSECTS 2022; 13:1152. [PMID: 36555062 PMCID: PMC9780982 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Pollinators are declining globally, potentially reducing both human food supply and plant diversity. To support pollinator populations, planting of nectar-rich plants with different flowering seasons is encouraged while promoting wind-pollinated plants, including grasses, is rarely recommended. However, many bees and other pollinators collect pollen from grasses which is used as a protein source. In addition to pollen, Hymenoptera may also collect honeydew from plants infested with aphids. In this study, insects consuming or collecting pollen from sweet sorghum, Sorghum bicolor, were recorded while pan traps and yellow sticky card surveys were placed in grain sorghum fields and in areas with Johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense to assess the Hymenoptera response to honeydew excreted by the sorghum aphid (SA), Melanaphis sorghi. Five genera of insects, including bees, hoverflies, and earwigs, were observed feeding on pollen in sweet sorghum, with differences observed by date, but not plant height or panicle length. Nearly 2000 Hymenoptera belonging to 29 families were collected from grain sorghum with 84% associated with aphid infestations. About 4 times as many Hymenoptera were collected in SA infested sorghum with significantly more ants, halictid bees, scelionid, sphecid, encyrtid, mymarid, diapriid and braconid wasps were found in infested sorghum plots. In Johnsongrass plots, 20 times more Hymenoptera were collected from infested plots. Together, the data suggest that sorghum is serving as a pollen food source for hoverflies, earwigs, and bees and sorghum susceptible to SA could provide energy from honeydew. Future research should examine whether planting strips of susceptible sorghum at crop field edges would benefit Hymenoptera and pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen R. Harris-Shultz
- USDA-ARS, Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, 115 Coastal Way, Tifton, GA 31793, USA
| | - John Scott Armstrong
- USDA-ARS, Wheat, Peanut and Other Field Crops Research Unit, 1301 N. Western Rd, Stillwater, OK 74075, USA
| | - Michael Caballero
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, 127 NRC, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - William Wyatt Hoback
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, 127 NRC, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Joseph E. Knoll
- USDA-ARS, Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, 115 Coastal Way, Tifton, GA 31793, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Linguadoca A, Jürison M, Hellström S, Straw EA, Šima P, Karise R, Costa C, Serra G, Colombo R, Paxton RJ, Mänd M, Brown MJF. Intra-specific variation in sensitivity of Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis to three pesticides. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17311. [PMID: 36243795 PMCID: PMC9569340 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22239-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that pesticides may be among the causes of worldwide bee declines, which has resulted in repeated calls for their increased scrutiny in regulatory assessments. One recurring concern is that the current frameworks may be biased towards assessing risks to the honey bee. This paradigm requires extrapolating toxicity information across bee species. Most research effort has therefore focused on quantifying differences in sensitivity across species. However, our understanding of how responses to pesticides may vary within a species is still very poor. Here we take the first steps towards filling this knowledge gap by comparing acute, lethal hazards in sexes and castes of the eusocial bee Bombus terrestris and in sexes of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis after oral and contact exposure to the pesticides sulfoxaflor, Amistar (azoxystrobin) and glyphosate. We show that sensitivity towards pesticides varies significantly both within and across species. Bee weight was a meaningful predictor of pesticide susceptibility. However, weight could not fully explain the observed differences, which suggests the existence of unexplored mechanisms regulating pesticide sensitivity across bee sexes and castes. Our data show that intra-specific responses are an overlooked yet important aspect of the risk assessment of pesticides in bees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Linguadoca
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School for Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
- Pesticide Peer Review Unit, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Margret Jürison
- Chair of Plant Health, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Sara Hellström
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Edward A Straw
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School for Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Peter Šima
- Department of R&D, Koppert s.r.o., Nové Zámky, Slovakia
| | - Reet Karise
- Chair of Plant Health, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Cecilia Costa
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Serra
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Colombo
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Robert J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Marika Mänd
- Chair of Plant Health, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School for Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Knauer AC, Alaux C, Allan MJ, Dean RR, Dievart V, Glauser G, Kiljanek T, Michez D, Schwarz JM, Tamburini G, Wintermantel D, Klein AM, Albrecht M. Nutritional stress exacerbates impact of a novel insecticide on solitary bees' behaviour, reproduction and survival. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221013. [PMID: 36476004 PMCID: PMC9554715 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pesticide exposure and food stress are major threats to bees, but their potential synergistic impacts under field-realistic conditions remain poorly understood and are not considered in current pesticide risk assessments. We conducted a semi-field experiment to examine the single and interactive effects of the novel insecticide flupyradifurone (FPF) and nutritional stress on fitness proxies in the solitary bee Osmia bicornis. Individually marked bees were released into flight cages with monocultures of buckwheat, wild mustard or purple tansy, which were assigned to an insecticide treatment (FPF or control) in a crossed design. Nutritional stress, which was high in bees foraging on buckwheat, intermediate on wild mustard and low on purple tansy, modulated the impact of insecticide exposure. Within the first day after application of FPF, mortality of bees feeding on buckwheat was 29 times higher compared with control treatments, while mortality of FPF exposed and control bees was similar in the other two plant species. Moreover, we found negative synergistic impacts of FPF and nutritional stress on offspring production, flight activity, flight duration and flower visitation frequency. These results reveal that environmental policies and risk assessment schemes that ignore interactions among anthropogenic stressors will fail to adequately protect bees and the pollination services they provide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cedric Alaux
- UR406 Abeilles and Environnement, Site Agroparc, INRAE, Avignon, France
| | | | | | - Virginie Dievart
- UR406 Abeilles and Environnement, Site Agroparc, INRAE, Avignon, France
| | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Tomasz Kiljanek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Denis Michez
- Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA—Entomology), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Dimitry Wintermantel
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Boff S, Keller A, Raizer J, Lupi D. Decreased efficiency of pollen collection due to Sulfoxaflor exposure leads to a reduction in the size of bumble bee workers in late European summer. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.842563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) are important pollinators of wild and crop plants. Despite their importance in the process of fruit and seed production on crop sites, their activity may be impaired due to exposure to pesticides. This species has a yearly life cycle and colony success may rely on effective foraging of workers on ruderal plants late in summer when most crops are no longer flowering. In the current study, we investigated the effect of chronic exposure to Sulfoxaflor on aspects of the foraging behavior of bumble bees and whether Sulfoxaflor influences the body size of workers of B. terrestris in a crop landscape. We found that 2 weeks of continuous exposure to Sulfoxaflor influenced workers’ foraging dynamics and collection of resources. However, there was no evidence that the 5 ppb dose of the pesticide impacted the ability of bees to handle flowers with different traits. Workers from colonies exposed to Sulfoxaflor were smaller. The effect on worker size may be explained as a consequence of the reduced pollen income per unit of worker foraging. Thus, if the effects of Sulfoxaflor applied directly to crops had the same effect as that observed on commercial bumble bees after our chronic exposure, it might negatively impact colony success due to the impact on pollen collection and the reduction in the size of workers.
Collapse
|
23
|
Straub L, Strobl V, Bruckner S, Camenzind DW, Van Oystaeyen A, Wäckers F, Williams GR, Neumann P. Buffered fitness components: Antagonism between malnutrition and an insecticide in bumble bees. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155098. [PMID: 35398139 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Global insect biodiversity declines due to reduced fitness are linked to interactions between environmental stressors. In social insects, inclusive fitness depends on successful mating of reproductives, i.e. males and queens, and efficient collaborative brood care by workers. Therefore, interactive effects between malnutrition and environmental pollution on sperm and feeding glands (hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs)) would provide mechanisms for population declines, unless buffered against due to their fitness relevance. However, while negative effects for bumble bee colony fitness are known, the effects of malnutrition and insecticide exposure singly and in combination on individuals are poorly understood. Here we show, in a fully-crossed laboratory experiment, that malnutrition and insecticide exposure result in neutral or antagonistic interactions for spermatozoa and HPGs of bumble bees, Bombus terrestris, suggesting strong selection to buffer key colony fitness components. No significant effects were observed for mortality and consumption, but significant negative effects were revealed for spermatozoa traits and HPGs. The combined effects on these parameters were not higher than the individual stressor effects, which indicates an antagonistic interaction between both. Despite the clear potential for additive effects, due to the individual stressors impairing muscle quality and neurological control, simultaneous malnutrition and insecticide exposure surprisingly did not reveal an increased impact compared to individual stressors, probably due to key fitness traits being resilient. Our data support that stressor interactions require empirical tests on a case-by-case basis and need to be regarded in context to understand underlying mechanisms and so adequately mitigate the ongoing decline of the entomofauna.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Selina Bruckner
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Domenic W Camenzind
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Chen G, Liu F, Zhang X, Zhang R, Cheng A, Shi D, Dong J, Liao H. Dissipation rates, residue distribution, degradation products, and degradation pathway of sulfoxaflor in broccoli. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:59592-59605. [PMID: 35391643 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20037-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Broccoli was selected as the research object in this paper to reveal the dissipation, distribution, and degradation pathway of sulfoxaflor under greenhouse and open-field cultivation conditions for the ecological risk assessment of sulfoxaflor. Results showed that the dissipation of sulfoxaflor in broccoli leaves, flowers, stems, roots, and the whole broccoli was in accordance with the first-order kinetic equation. The sulfoxaflor concentration in broccoli roots reached the maximum value after 1 day of application and then gradually decreased. The degradation half-lives of sulfoxaflor in the roots, leaves, flowers, stems, and whole broccoli were between 2.3 and 19.8 days. The longest degradation half-life of sulfoxaflor was in Heilongjiang under greenhouse cultivation. The terminal residue of sulfoxaflor in broccoli was in the range of 0.005-0.029 mg/kg, and the proportion of sulfoxaflor residue in broccoli leaves was the largest. Thirteen transformation products were separated and identified by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and their kinetic evolution was studied. The cleavage of the N = S bond, C-S bond, C-O bond, and cyanide, as well as glucosylation, hydroxylation, SO extrusion, elimination, sulfhydrylation, ketonization, defluorination, and rearrangement, was inferred as the mechanism. Overall, these results can provide guidance for the supervision of the safe application of sulfoxaflor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guofeng Chen
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Xiaobo Zhang
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Ruiying Zhang
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Aihua Cheng
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Dongmei Shi
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Jiannan Dong
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Hui Liao
- Safety and Quality Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Schwarz JM, Knauer AC, Allan MJ, Dean RR, Ghazoul J, Tamburini G, Wintermantel D, Klein AM, Albrecht M. No evidence for impaired solitary bee fitness following pre-flowering sulfoxaflor application alone or in combination with a common fungicide in a semi-field experiment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 164:107252. [PMID: 35483184 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide exposure is considered a major driver of pollinator decline and the use of neonicotinoid insecticides has been restricted by regulatory authorities due to their risks for pollinators. Impacts of new alternative sulfoximine-based compounds on solitary bees and their potential interactive effects with other commonly applied pesticides in agriculture remain unclear. Here, we conducted a highly replicated full-factorial semi-field experiment with the solitary bee Osmia bicornis, an important pollinator of crops and wild plants in Europe, and Phacelia tanacetifolia as a model crop. We show that spray applications of the insecticide sulfoxaflor (product Closer) and the fungicide azoxystrobin (product Amistar), both alone and combined, had no significant negative impacts on adult female survival or the production, mortality, sex ratio and body size of offspring when sulfoxaflor was applied five days before crop flowering. Our results indicate that for O. bicornis (1) the risk of adverse impacts of sulfoxaflor (Closer) on fitness is small when applied at least five days before crop flowering and (2) that azoxystrobin (Amistar) has a low potential of exacerbating sulfoxaflor effects under field-realistic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janine Melanie Schwarz
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Zurich, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Ecosystem Management, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Anina C Knauer
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Robin R Dean
- Red Beehive Company, Bishops Waltham, United Kingdom
| | - Jaboury Ghazoul
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Ecosystem Management, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- University of Freiburg, Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Freiburg, Germany; University of Bari, Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA - Entomology), Bari, Italy
| | - Dimitry Wintermantel
- University of Freiburg, Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- University of Freiburg, Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Freiburg, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
No effect of dual exposure to sulfoxaflor and a trypanosome parasite on bumblebee olfactory learning. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8611. [PMID: 35597818 PMCID: PMC9124203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12714-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees are important pollinators in wild and agricultural ecosystems, and understanding the factors driving their global declines is key to maintaining these pollination services. Learning, which has been a focus of previous ecotoxicological studies in bees, may play a key role in driving colony fitness. Here we move beyond the standard single-stressor approach to ask how multiple stressors, an agrochemical (sulfoxaflor, a relatively new insecticide) and a parasite (Crithidia bombi, a prevalent gut parasite of bumblebees), impact learning in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. We developed a modified version of the classic proboscis extension reflex assay to assess the combined effects of acute oral sulfoxaflor exposure and infection by C. bombi on olfactory learning of bumblebee workers. We found no evidence that either sulfoxaflor, C. bombi, or their combination had any significant effect on bumblebee olfactory learning, despite their known negative impacts on other aspects of bumblebee health. This suggests that losses in cognitive ability, as measured here, are unlikely to explain the impacts of sulfoxaflor and its interactions with other stressors on bumblebees. Our novel methodology provides a model system within which to test interactive effects of other key stressors on bee health.
Collapse
|
27
|
Mundy-Heisz KA, Prosser RS, Raine NE. Acute oral toxicity and risks of four classes of systemic insecticide to the Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens). CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 295:133771. [PMID: 35120955 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) is native to North America with an expanding range across Eastern Canada and the USA. This species is commercially produced primarily for greenhouse crop pollination and is a common and abundant component of the wild bumblebee fauna in agricultural, suburban and urban landscapes. However, there is a dearth of pesticide toxicity information about North American bumblebees. The present study determined the acute oral lethal toxicity (48-h LD50) of: the butenolide, flupyradifurone (>1.7 μg/bee); the diamide, cyantraniliprole (>0.54 μg/bee); the neonicotinoid, thiamethoxam (0.0012 μg/bee); and the sulfoximine, sulfoxaflor (0.0177 μg/bee). Compared with published honey bee (Apis mellifera) LD50 values, the present study shows that sulfoxaflor and thiamethoxam are 8.3× and 3.3× more acutely toxic to B. impatiens, whereas flupyradifurone is more acutely toxic to A. mellifera. The current rule of thumb for toxicity extrapolation beyond the honey bee as a model species, termed 10× safety factor, may be sufficient for bumblebee acute oral toxicity. A comparison of five risk assessment equations suggested that the Standard Risk Approach (SRA) and Fixed Dose Risk Approach (FDRA) provide more nuanced levels of risk evaluation compared to the Exposure Toxicity Ratio (ETR), Hazard Quotient (HQ), and Risk Quotient (RQ), primarily because the SRA and FDRA take into account real world variability in pollen and nectar pesticide residues and the chances that bees may be exposed to them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayla A Mundy-Heisz
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ryan S Prosser
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Nigel E Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Siviter H, Matthews AJ, Brown MJF. A Combined LD50 for Agrochemicals and Pathogens in Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris [Hymenoptera: Apidae]). ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 51:378-384. [PMID: 35021185 PMCID: PMC9032631 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvab139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoid insecticides are the most commonly used insecticide in the world and can have significant sub-lethal impacts on beneficial insects, including bumblebees, which are important pollinators of agricultural crops and wild-flowers. This has led to bans on neonicotinoid use in the EU and has resulted in repeated calls for the agrochemical regulatory process to be modified. For example, there is increasing concern about 1) the underrepresentation of wild bees, such as bumblebees, in the regulatory process, and 2) the failure to determine how agrochemicals, such as neonicotinoids, interact with other commonly occurring environmental stressors, such as parasites. Here, we modify an OECD approved lethal dose (LD50) experimental design and coexpose bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and the highly prevalent trypanosome parasite Crithidia bombi, in a fully crossed design. We found no difference in the LD50 of thiamethoxam on bumblebees that had or had not been inoculated with the parasite (Crithidia bombi). Furthermore, thiamethoxam dosage did not appear to influence the parasite intensity of surviving bumblebees, and there was no effect of either parasite or insecticide on sucrose consumption. The methodology used demonstrates how existing ring-tested experimental designs can be effectively modified to include other environmental stressors such as parasites. Moving forward, the regulatory process should implement methodologies that assess the interactions between agrochemicals and parasites on non-Apis bees and, in cases when this is not practical, should implement post-regulatory monitoring to better understand the real-world consequences of agrochemical use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harry Siviter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin
, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Alexander J Matthews
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
- Fargro Limited, Vinery Fields, Arundel, BN18 9PY, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Straw EA, Thompson LJ, Leadbeater E, Brown MJF. 'Inert' ingredients are understudied, potentially dangerous to bees and deserve more research attention. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212353. [PMID: 35232234 PMCID: PMC8889201 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Agrochemical formulations are composed of two broad groups of chemicals: active ingredients, which confer pest control action, and 'inert' ingredients, which facilitate the action of the active ingredient. Most research into the effects of agrochemicals focusses on the effects of active ingredients. This reflects the assumption that 'inert' ingredients are non-toxic. A review of relevant research shows that for bees, this assumption is without empirical foundation. After conducting a systematic literature search, we found just 19 studies that tested the effects of 'inert' ingredients on bee health. In these studies, 'inert' ingredients were found to cause mortality in bees through multiple exposure routes, act synergistically with other stressors and cause colony level effects. This lack of research is compounded by a lack of diversity in study organism used. We argue that 'inert' ingredients have distinct, and poorly understood, ecological persistency profiles and toxicities, making research into their individual effects necessary. We highlight the lack of mitigation in place to protect bees from 'inert' ingredients and argue that research efforts should be redistributed to address the knowledge gap identified here. If so-called 'inert' ingredients are, in fact, detrimental to bee health, their potential role in widespread bee declines needs urgent assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward A. Straw
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
- Department of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Linzi J. Thompson
- Department of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ellouise Leadbeater
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Mark J. F. Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sensitivity of Buff-Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris L.) to Insecticides with Different Mode of Action. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13020184. [PMID: 35206757 PMCID: PMC8879041 DOI: 10.3390/insects13020184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Several neonicotinoid insecticides that were once widely used for pest control are currently banned for outdoor use in the European Union (EU) because they pose a risk to bees. This restriction meant that farmers had to look for alternatives for pest management and use known insecticides or new substances with supposedly more bee-friendly characteristics. We evaluated the toxicity of six insecticides on buff-tailed bumblebee workers (Bombus terrestris): two banned neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiacloprid), two pyrethroids (deltamethrin, esfenvalerate), one sulfoximine (sulfoxaflor) and a microbial insecticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, which are present in genetically modified (Bt) maize. The results obtained show that certain insecticides in use have higher acute toxicity to B. terrestris than some of the banned neonicotinoids. Abstract Systemic insecticides are recognized as one of the drivers of the worldwide bee decline as they are exposed to them through multiple pathways. Specifically, neonicotinoids, some of which are banned for outdoor use in the European Union (EU), have been pointed out as a major cause of bee collapse. Thus, farmers have had to look for alternatives for pest control and use known insecticides or new substances reportedly less harmful to bees. We evaluated the oral acute toxicity of six insecticides (three of them systemic: imidacloprid, thiacloprid and sulfoxaflor) with four different modes of action on buff-tailed bumblebee workers (Bombus terrestris): two banned neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiacloprid), two pyrethroids (deltamethrin, esfenvalerate), one sulfoximine (sulfoxaflor) and a microbial insecticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, present in genetically modified (Bt) maize. The microbial insecticide only caused mortality to bumblebee workers at extremely high concentrations, so it is expected that Bt maize does not pose a risk to them. The toxicity of the other five insecticides on bumblebees was, from highest to lowest: imidacloprid, sulfoxaflor, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate and thiacloprid. This outcome suggests that certain insecticides in use are more toxic to B. terrestris than some banned neonicotinoids. Further chronic toxicity studies, under realistic conditions, are necessary for a proper risk assessment.
Collapse
|
31
|
Straw EA, Brown MJ. No evidence of effects or interaction between the widely used herbicide, glyphosate, and a common parasite in bumble bees. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12486. [PMID: 34820203 PMCID: PMC8605762 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glyphosate is the world's most used pesticide and it is used without the mitigation measures that could reduce the exposure of pollinators to it. However, studies are starting to suggest negative impacts of this pesticide on bees, an essential group of pollinators. Accordingly, whether glyphosate, alone or alongside other stressors, is detrimental to bee health is a vital question. Bees are suffering declines across the globe, and pesticides, including glyphosate, have been suggested as being factors in these declines. METHODS Here we test, across a range of experimental paradigms, whether glyphosate impacts a wild bumble bee species, Bombus terrestris. In addition, we build upon existing work with honey bees testing glyphosate-parasite interactions by conducting fully crossed experiments with glyphosate and a common bumble bee trypanosome gut parasite, Crithidia bombi. We utilised regulatory acute toxicity testing protocols, modified to allow for exposure to multiple stressors. These protocols are expanded upon to test for effects on long term survival (20 days). Microcolony testing, using unmated workers, was employed to measure the impacts of either stressor on a proxy of reproductive success. This microcolony testing was conducted with both acute and chronic exposure to cover a range of exposure scenarios. RESULTS We found no effects of acute or chronic exposure to glyphosate, over a range of timespans post-exposure, on mortality or a range of sublethal metrics. We also found no interaction between glyphosate and Crithidia bombi in any metric, although there was conflicting evidence of increased parasite intensity after an acute exposure to glyphosate. In contrast to published literature, we found no direct impacts of this parasite on bee health. Our testing focussed on mortality and worker reproduction, so impacts of either or both of these stressors on other sublethal metrics could still exist. CONCLUSIONS Our results expand the current knowledge on glyphosate by testing a previously untested species, Bombus terrestris, using acute exposure, and by incorporating a parasite never before tested alongside glyphosate. In conclusion our results find that glyphosate, as an active ingredient, is unlikely to be harmful to bumble bees either alone, or alongside Crithidia bombi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward A. Straw
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J.F. Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|