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Klatt BK, Wurz A, Herbertsson L, Rundlöf M, Svensson GP, Kuhn J, Vessling S, de La Vega B, Tscharntke T, Clough Y, Smith HG. Seed treatment with clothianidin induces changes in plant metabolism and alters pollinator foraging preferences. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:1247-1256. [PMID: 38062283 PMCID: PMC10724316 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02720-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids, systemic insecticides that are distributed into all plant tissues and protect against pests, have become a common part of crop production, but can unintentionally also affect non-target organisms, including pollinators. Such effects can be direct effects from insecticide exposure, but neonicotinoids can affect plant physiology, and effects could therefore also be indirectly mediated by changes in plant phenology, attractiveness and nutritional value. Under controlled greenhouse conditions, we tested if seed treatment with the neonicotinoid clothianidin affected oilseed rape's production of flower resources for bees and the content of the secondary plant products glucosinolates that provide defense against herbivores. Additionally, we tested if seed treatment affected the attractiveness of oilseed rape to flower visiting bumblebees, using outdoor mesocosms. Flowers and leaves of clothianidin-treated plants had different profiles of glucosinolates compared with untreated plants. Bumblebees in mesocosms foraged slightly more on untreated plants. Neither flower timing, flower size nor the production of pollen and nectar differed between treatments, and therefore cannot explain any preference for untreated oilseed rape. We instead propose that this small but significant preference for untreated plants was related to the altered glucosinolate profile caused by clothianidin. Thereby, this study contributes to the understanding of the complex relationships between neonicotinoid-treated crops and pollinator foraging choices, by suggesting a potential mechanistic link by which insecticide treatment can affect insect behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn K Klatt
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
- School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Biology & Environmental Sciences, Halmstad University, 30118, Halmstad, Sweden.
| | - Annemarie Wurz
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Crop Sciences, Agroecology, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Conservation Ecology, Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lina Herbertsson
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Jürgen Kuhn
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sofie Vessling
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bernardo de La Vega
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Teja Tscharntke
- Department of Crop Sciences, Agroecology, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yann Clough
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Henrik G Smith
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
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Leach A, Kaplan I. Prioritizing pollinators over pests: wild bees are more important than beetle damage for watermelon yield. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221279. [PMID: 36350210 PMCID: PMC9653259 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1279] [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: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect pests and pollinators can interact directly and indirectly to affect crop production; however, impacts of these interactions on marketable yield are little known. Thus, the evaluation of interactions between pests and pollinators are needed to best prioritize management efforts. Over 2 years, we evaluated the impact of pollinator visitation and/or beetle (Acalymma vittatum) infestation on fruit set and yield in seedless watermelon production. In 2020, we tested the main effect of pollinator visitation: two or eight honeybee visits, two wild bee visits, hand pollinated and open pollinated. In 2021, we crossed wild and managed pollinator visitation (two or four honeybee visits, two or four wild bee visits, hand pollinated and open pollinated) with varying beetle infestation levels (0, 3, 6 and 9 beetles/plant). In both years, wild bees contributed significantly to high fruit yields, and exclusive visitation from wild bees increased yield by a factor of 1.5-3 compared to honeybees. In 2021, pollination was the only significant factor for fruit set and marketable yield even when compared to the varying beetle infestation levels. These data advocate for a reprioritization of management, to conserve and protect wild bee pollination, which could be more critical than avoiding pest damage for ensuring high yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Leach
- Department of Entomology, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Ian Kaplan
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Knapp JL, Bates A, Jonsson O, Klatt B, Krausl T, Sahlin U, Svensson GP, Rundlöf M. Pollinators, pests and yield – multiple trade‐offs from insecticide use in a mass‐flowering crop. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Bates
- Department of Biology, Biodiversity Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Ove Jonsson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, SLU Centre for Pesticides in the Environment Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Björn Klatt
- Department of Biology, Biodiversity Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Theresia Krausl
- Department of Biology, Biodiversity Lund University Lund Sweden
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Sciences Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Ullrika Sahlin
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Sciences Lund University Lund Sweden
| | | | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Biodiversity Lund University Lund Sweden
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Jones J, Rader R. Pollinator nutrition and its role in merging the dual objectives of pollinator health and optimal crop production. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210170. [PMID: 35491607 PMCID: PMC9058521 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee and non-bee insect pollinators play an integral role in the quantity and quality of production for many food crops, yet there is growing evidence that nutritional challenges to pollinators in agricultural landscapes are an important factor in the reduction of pollinator populations worldwide. Schemes to enhance crop pollinator health have historically focused on floral resource plantings aimed at increasing pollinator abundance and diversity by providing more foraging opportunities for bees. These efforts have demonstrated that improvements in bee diversity and abundance are achievable; however, goals of increasing crop pollination outcomes via these interventions are not consistently met. To support pollinator health and crop pollination outcomes in tandem, habitat enhancements must be tailored to meet the life-history needs of specific crop pollinators, including non-bees. This will require greater understanding of the nutritional demands of these taxa together with the supply of floral and non-floral food resources and how these interact in cropping environments. Understanding the mechanisms underlying crop pollination and pollinator health in unison across a range of taxa is clearly a win–win for industry and conservation, yet achievement of these goals will require new knowledge and novel, targeted methods. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry to landscapes’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Jones
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Romina Rader
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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Kaila L, Ketola J, Toivonen M, Loukola O, Hakala K, Raiskio S, Hurme T, Jalli M. Pesticide residues in honeybee-collected pollen: does the EU regulation protect honeybees from pesticides? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:18225-18244. [PMID: 34689272 PMCID: PMC8873129 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16947-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Researchers globally identify pesticides as one of the main reasons for pollinator decline. In the European Union (EU), extensive legislation is implemented to protect pollinators from harmful pesticide exposure. The aim of our study was to discover whether the pesticide residue levels in honeybee matrices, such as nectar and pollen, exceeded the chronic or acute toxicity levels when beehives were located next to fields treated with specific insecticides. The insecticides were used according to the EU legislation and its national implementation. The experiments were conducted in turnip rape, oilseed rape, and caraway fields in southern Finland during the years 2019 and 2020. The pesticides used in the experiments contained the active substances lambda-cyhalothrin (2019), esfenvalerate (2020), and tau-fluvalinate (2020). However, the honeybee-collected pollen and nectar were analyzed for residues of more than 100 active substances. The results showed that the pesticide residue levels clearly remained under the oral acute toxicity for honeybees, although we found high levels of thiacloprid residues in the pollen collected in 2019. The pesticide residues in nectar were below LOQ values, which was most likely due to the rainy weather conditions together with the chosen sampling method. No statistically significant differences were observed between the insecticide-treated and untreated fields. In light of our research, the EU legislation protected honeybees from oral acute toxicity during the years 2019 and 2020. However, potential sublethal effects of thiacloprid and other pesticide compounds found in the collected pollen cannot be ruled out. In the future, constant monitoring of pesticide exposure of honeybees and wild pollinators should be established to ensure that pesticide legislation, and its implementation across the EU successfully protects pollinators and their services in agricultural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotta Kaila
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jarmo Ketola
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Tietotie 4, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Marjaana Toivonen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Biodiversity Centre, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Loukola
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Kati Hakala
- Finnish Food Authority, Mustialankatu 3, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sakari Raiskio
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Tietotie 4, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Timo Hurme
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Tietotie 4, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Marja Jalli
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Tietotie 4, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
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Morimoto J. Addressing global challenges with unconventional insect ecosystem services: Why should humanity care about insect larvae? PEOPLE AND NATURE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Juliano Morimoto
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
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Rundlöf M, Lundin O. Can Costs of Pesticide Exposure for Bumblebees Be Balanced by Benefits from a Mass-Flowering Crop? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:14144-14151. [PMID: 31773944 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mass-flowering crops provide forage for bees but also contain pesticides. Such pesticide exposure can harm bees, but our understanding of how this cost is balanced by forage benefits is limited. To provide insights into benefits and costs, we placed bumblebee colonies in 18 landscapes with conventional red clover fields treated with the neonicotinoid thiacloprid (flowers + pesticide), untreated organic red clover fields (flowers), or landscapes lacking clover fields (controls). Colonies grew heavier near thiacloprid-treated clover compared to controls lacking clover, while colonies near untreated clover did not differ from colonies in neither of the other landscape types. Thiacloprid treatment effectively controlled pests and increased bumblebee crop visitation. However, colony production of queens and males did not differ among landscape types. In conclusion, thiacloprid application in clover appears to be of low risk for bumblebees. More generally, neonicotinoids may not be equally harmful when used in flowering crops and effective low-risk pest control in such crops could potentially benefit bumblebees and crop pollination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology , Lund University , SE-223 62 Lund , Sweden
| | - Ola Lundin
- Department of Ecology , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , SE-750 07 Uppsala , Sweden
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Diniz UM, Domingos-Melo A, Machado IC. Flowers up! The effect of floral height along the shoot axis on the fitness of bat-pollinated species. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2019; 124:809-818. [PMID: 31282545 PMCID: PMC6868384 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Bat-pollination is an important system in terms of occurrence and distribution, although it remains little studied. Thus, the role of particular flower traits in this interaction remains uncertain. Flower height along the shoot axis, associated with flower exposure, has often been deemed a key trait in this system, but its effect on fitness has not previously been assessed. We aimed to test its role and propose that taller flowers attain higher fitness due to a higher degree of accessibility and conspicuity to foraging bats. METHODS We assessed the effect of floral height on bat visiting rates to individual flowers of Crescentia cujete (Bignoniaceae), a cauliflorous model bat-pollinated species with a marked gradient in flower height along the shoot axis. Additionally, we tested the effect of this variable on seed/ovule ratio measurements from seven other species from different families along a herb-tree gradient. Hypotheses were tested through mixed-effect linear models. KEY RESULTS Bat visiting rates varied positively as a function of flower height in C. cujete, but significance was found only for the subset of flowers located on the trunk, closer to the ground. Similarly, seed/ovule ratios were positively correlated with flower height only for the three species with the shortest statures along the height gradient and shortest average floral heights. These results suggest that proximity to the ground, associated with herbaceous or bushy surrounding vegetation, may be an obstacle to the foraging of nectar-feeding bats, which in turn should explain the morphological convergence of inflorescence length and exposure strategies of short-statured bat-pollinated plants. CONCLUSIONS Flower height has a species-specific effect on plant fitness. This study provides a novel numerical perspective to the role of an unexplored trait in bat-pollination, and has elucidated some aspects of the adaptive importance of flower height based on limitations imposed by ecologically complex pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo M Diniz
- Botany Department, Centre of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- Zoology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Arthur Domingos-Melo
- Botany Department, Centre of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Isabel Cristina Machado
- Botany Department, Centre of Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Catarino R, Bretagnolle V, Perrot T, Vialloux F, Gaba S. Bee pollination outperforms pesticides for oilseed crop production and profitability. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191550. [PMID: 31594515 PMCID: PMC6790783 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature-based agriculture that reduces dependency on chemical inputs requires using ecological principles for sustainable agro-ecosystems, aiming to balance ecology, economics and social justice. There is growing evidence that pollinator-dependent crops with high insect, particularly bee, pollination service can give higher yields. However, the interacting effects between insect pollination and agricultural inputs on crop yields and farm economics remain to be established to reconcile food production with biodiversity conservation. We quantified individual and combined effects of pesticides, insect pollination and soil quality on oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) yield and gross margin, using a total of 294 farmers' fields surveyed between 2013 and 2016. We show that yield and gross margins are greater (15-40%) in fields with higher pollinator abundance than in fields with reduced pollinator abundance. This effect is, however, strongly reduced by pesticide use. Greater yields may be achieved by either increasing agrochemicals or increasing bee abundance, but crop economic returns were only increased by the latter, because pesticides did not increase yields while their costs reduced gross margins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Catarino
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS and Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS and Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
- LTSER ‘Zone Atelier Plaine and Val de Sèvre’, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Thomas Perrot
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS and Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Fabien Vialloux
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS and Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Sabrina Gaba
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS and Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
- LTSER ‘Zone Atelier Plaine and Val de Sèvre’, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
- USC 1339, Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, INRA, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
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