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Carlson EA, Melathopoulos A, Sagili R. The power to (detect) change: Can honey bee collected pollen be used to monitor pesticide residues in the landscape? PLoS One 2024; 19:e0309236. [PMID: 39325774 PMCID: PMC11426543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Analysis of trapped honey bee pollen for pesticide residues is the most widely used method of monitoring the amount of pesticide entering colonies and its change over time. In this study, we collected and analyzed pollen from 70 sites across four bee-pollinated crops over two years to characterize the variation in pesticide detection across sites, crops and at different periods during bloom. Hazard Quotient, HQ, is the most common way that pesticide residues are aggregated into a single pesticide hazard value in the current literature. Therefore, change in pesticide hazard (HQ) was quantified in composite pollen samples collected from pollen traps and in pollen color subsamples separated into pollen from the target crop being pollinated and pollen from other plant species. We used our estimates of the variation in HQ to calculate the number of sample location sites needed to detect a 5% annual change in HQ across all crops or within specific crops over a 5-year period. The number of sites required to be sampled varied by crop and year and ranged between 139 and 7194 sites, costing an estimated $129,548 and $3.35 million, respectively. The HQ values detectable for this cost would be 575 and 154. We identified additional factors that complicate the interpretation of the results as a way to evaluate changes in pest management practices at a state level. First, in all but one crop (meadowfoam), the pollen collected from outside the crop honey bee colonies were pollinating comprised a major percentage of the total pollen catch. Moreover, we found that when the overall quantity of pollen from different pollen sources was taken into account, differences in HQ among crops widened. We also found that while HQ estimates remain consistent across the bloom period for some crops, such as cherry, we observed large differences in other crops, notably meadowfoam. Overall, our results suggest the current practice of interpreting pesticides levels in pollen may come with limitations for agencies charged with improving pesticide stewardship due to the high variation associated with HQ values over time and across crops. Despite the limitations of HQ for detecting change in pesticide hazard, there remains a potential for HQ to provide feedback to regulators and scientists on field-realistic pesticide hazard within a landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Carlson
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andony Melathopoulos
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Ramesh Sagili
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
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2
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Zhang G, Kuesel RW, Olsson R, Reed R, Liu X, Hopkins B. Pesticide exposure patterns in honey bees during migratory pollination. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 480:135910. [PMID: 39321480 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Monitoring pesticide exposures in honey bees provides fundamental risk information that informs efforts to improve regulatory policy, pesticide use, and beekeeping management so pollinators are protected in realistic field conditions. We investigated pesticide exposures to bee colonies while colonies moved along commercial migratory routes in 2022 and 2023 to pollinate multiple pollinator-dependent, high-value U.S. specialty crops (e.g., almonds in California and apples and cherries in Washington). We found evident pesticide exposure patterns, including increasing exposures (both levels and number of pesticides) to fungicides during almond pollination, higher exposures to insecticides and persistent exposures to fungicides during springtime fruit pollination, and declining exposures in summer. Exposure risk assessment by risk quotient (RQ) model based on residues in bee bread indicates no concern of acute toxicity to adult honey bees during pollination, however, during colony inspections we found severe brood mortality in fields associated with high exposure to buprofezin, an insect growth regulator (IGR) thought to be safe for adult bees, which is permitted for use any time across the season. Our results suggest a need to improve compliance with insecticide label requirements during tree fruit pollination and a need for further research into the negative impacts of IGR on colony health especially on immature bees to inform potential policy changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zhang
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164, United States.
| | - Ryan William Kuesel
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164, United States
| | - Rae Olsson
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164, United States
| | - Riley Reed
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164, United States
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, United States
| | - Brandon Hopkins
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164, United States
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3
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McAfee A, French SK, Wizenberg SB, Newburn LR, Tsvetkov N, Higo H, Common J, Pernal SF, Giovenazzo P, Hoover SE, Guzman-Novoa E, Currie RW, Veiga PW, Conflitti IM, Pepinelli M, Tran L, Zayed A, Guarna MM, Foster LJ. Higher prevalence of sacbrood virus in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies after pollinating highbush blueberries. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 117:1324-1335. [PMID: 38877967 PMCID: PMC11318621 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Highbush blueberry pollination depends on managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) L. for adequate fruit sets; however, beekeepers have raised concerns about the poor health of colonies after pollinating this crop. Postulated causes include agrochemical exposure, nutritional deficits, and interactions with parasites and pathogens, particularly Melisococcus plutonius [(ex. White) Bailey and Collins, Lactobacillales: Enterococcaceae], the causal agent of European foulbrood disease, but other pathogens could be involved. To broadly investigate common honey bee pathogens in relation to blueberry pollination, we sampled adult honey bees from colonies at time points corresponding to before (t1), during (t2), at the end (t3), and after (t4) highbush blueberry pollination in British Columbia, Canada, across 2 years (2020 and 2021). Nine viruses, as well as M. plutonius, Vairimorpha ceranae, and V. apis [Tokarev et al., Microsporidia: Nosematidae; formerly Nosema ceranae (Fries et al.) and N. apis (Zander)], were detected by PCR and compared among colonies located near and far from blueberry fields. We found a significant interactive effect of time and blueberry proximity on the multivariate pathogen community, mainly due to differences at t4 (corresponding to ~6 wk after the beginning of the pollination period). Post hoc comparisons of pathogens in near and far groups at t4 showed that detections of sacbrood virus (SBV), which was significantly higher in the near group, not M. plutonius, was the primary driver. Further research is needed to determine if the association of SBV with highbush blueberry pollination is contributing to the health decline that beekeepers observe after pollinating this crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison McAfee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Sarah K French
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | | | - Laura R Newburn
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Nadejda Tsvetkov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Heather Higo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Julia Common
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Ville de Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Shelley E Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Ernesto Guzman-Novoa
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Robert W Currie
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Patricia Wolf Veiga
- National Bee Diagnostic Centre, Northwestern Polytechnic, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Ida M Conflitti
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Mateus Pepinelli
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Lan Tran
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - M Marta Guarna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
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4
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De Souza D, Urbanowicz C, Ng WH, Baert N, Fersch AA, Smith ML, McArt SH. Acute toxicity of the fungicide captan to honey bees and mixed evidence for synergism with the insecticide thiamethoxam. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15709. [PMID: 38977768 PMCID: PMC11231156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66248-x] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are commonly co-exposed to pesticides during crop pollination, including the fungicide captan and neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam. We assessed the impact of exposure to these two pesticides individually and in combination, at a range of field-realistic doses. In laboratory assays, mortality of larvae treated with captan was 80-90% greater than controls, dose-independent, and similar to mortality from the lowest dose of thiamethoxam. There was evidence of synergism (i.e., a non-additive response) from captan-thiamethoxam co-exposure at the highest dose of thiamethoxam, but not at lower doses. In the field, we exposed whole colonies to the lowest doses used in the laboratory. Exposure to captan and thiamethoxam individually and in combination resulted in minimal impacts on population growth or colony mortality, and there was no evidence of synergism or antagonism. These results suggest captan and thiamethoxam are each acutely toxic to immature honey bees, but whole colonies can potentially compensate for detrimental effects, at least at the low doses used in our field trial, or that methodological differences of the field experiment impacted results (e.g., dilution of treatments with natural pollen). If compensation occurred, further work is needed to assess how it occurred, potentially via increased queen egg laying, and whether short-term compensation leads to long-term costs. Further work is also needed for other crop pollinators that lack the social detoxification capabilities of honey bee colonies and may be less resilient to pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana De Souza
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | | | - Wee Hao Ng
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Nicolas Baert
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Ashley A Fersch
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Michael L Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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English SG, Bishop CA, Bieber M, Elliott JE. Following Regulation, Imidacloprid Persists and Flupyradifurone Increases in Nontarget Wildlife. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1497-1508. [PMID: 38819074 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5892] [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] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
After regulation of pesticides, determination of their persistence in the environment is an important indicator of effectiveness of these measures. We quantified concentrations of two types of systemic insecticides, neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) and butenolides (flupyradifurone), in off-crop nontarget media of hummingbird cloacal fluid, honey bee (Apis mellifera) nectar and honey, and wildflowers before and after regulation of imidacloprid on highbush blueberries in Canada in April 2021. We found that mean total pesticide load increased in hummingbird cloacal fluid, nectar, and flower samples following imidacloprid regulation. On average, we did not find evidence of a decrease in imidacloprid concentrations after regulation. However, there were some decreases, some increases, and other cases with no changes in imidacloprid levels depending on the specific media, time point of sampling, and site type. At the same time, we found an overall increase in flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and thiacloprid but no change in clothianidin concentrations. In particular, flupyradifurone concentrations observed in biota sampled near agricultural areas increased twofold in honey bee nectar, sevenfold in hummingbird cloacal fluid, and eightfold in flowers after the 2021 imidacloprid regulation. The highest residue detected was flupyradifurone at 665 ng/mL (parts per billion [ppb]) in honey bee nectar. Mean total pesticide loads were highest in honey samples (84 ± 10 ppb), followed by nectar (56 ± 7 ppb), then hummingbird cloacal fluid (1.8 ± 0.5 ppb), and least, flowers (0.51 ± 0.06 ppb). Our results highlight that limited regulation of imidacloprid does not immediately reduce residue concentrations, while other systemic insecticides, possibly replacement compounds, concurrently increase in wildlife. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1497-1508. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon G English
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine A Bishop
- Pacific Wildlife Research Center, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Matthias Bieber
- Pacific Wildlife Research Center, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Pacific Wildlife Research Center, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
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6
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Averill AL, Eitzer BD, Drummond FA. Pesticide Contamination in Native North American Crops, Part I-Development of a Baseline and Comparison of Honey Bee Exposure to Residues in Lowbush Blueberry and Cranberry. INSECTS 2024; 15:489. [PMID: 39057222 PMCID: PMC11277497 DOI: 10.3390/insects15070489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
A pesticide exposure baseline for honey bees was compiled for two New England cropping systems, the native North American plant species consisting of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton). More unique pesticide compounds were applied in blueberry than cranberry, but the numbers of pesticides discovered in trapped honey bee pollen were similar between the two crop systems. Not all pesticides found in pollen were the result of the applications reported by growers of either crop. When comparing residues, number of pesticides detected, total concentration, and risk quotient varied between the two crops. Also, blueberry was dominated by fungicides and miticides (varroacides) and cranberry was dominated by insecticides and herbicides. When comparing reported grower applications that were matched with detection in residues, the proportion of pesticide numbers, concentrations, and risk quotients varied by crop system and pesticide class. In most cases, pesticide residue concentrations were of low risk (low risk quotient) to honey bees in these crops. Estimation of decay rates of some of the most common pesticide residues under field conditions could aid growers in selection of less persistent compounds, together with safe application dates, prior to bringing in honey bees for pollination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L. Averill
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA;
| | - Brian D. Eitzer
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511, USA;
| | - Francis A. Drummond
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
- Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
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7
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Strang CG, Rondeau S, Baert N, McArt SH, Raine NE, Muth F. Field agrochemical exposure impacts locomotor activity in wild bumblebees. Ecology 2024; 105:e4310. [PMID: 38828716 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural intensification has been identified as one of the key causes of global insect biodiversity losses. These losses have been further linked to the widespread use of agrochemicals associated with modern agricultural practices. Many of these chemicals are known to have negative sublethal effects on commercial pollinators, such as managed honeybees and bumblebees, but less is known about the impacts on wild bees. Laboratory-based studies with commercial pollinators have consistently shown that pesticide exposure can impact bee behavior, with cascading effects on foraging performance, reproductive success, and pollination services. However, these studies typically assess only one chemical, neglecting the complexity of real-world exposure to multiple agrochemicals and other stressors. In the summer of 2020, we collected wild-foraging workers of the common eastern bumblebee, Bombus impatiens, from five squash (Cucurbita) agricultural sites (organic and conventional farms), selected to represent a range of agrochemical, including neonicotinoid insecticide, use. For each bee, we measured two behaviors relevant to foraging success and previously shown to be impacted by pesticide exposure: sucrose responsiveness and locomotor activity. Following behavioral testing, we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) chemical analysis to detect and quantify the presence of 92 agrochemicals in each bumblebee. Bees collected from our sites did not vary in pesticide exposure as expected. While we found a limited occurrence of neonicotinoids, two fungicides (azoxystrobin and difenoconazole) were detected at all sites, and the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was present in all 123 bees. We found that bumblebees that contained higher levels of PBO were less active, and this effect was stronger for larger bumblebee workers. While PBO is unlikely to be the direct cause of the reduction in bee activity, it could be an indicator of exposure to pyrethroids and/or other insecticides that we were unable to directly quantify, but which PBO is frequently tank-mixed with during pesticide applications on crops. We did not find a relationship between agrochemical exposure and bumblebee sucrose responsiveness. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a sublethal behavioral impact of agrochemical exposure on wild-foraging bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline G Strang
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Sabrina Rondeau
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicolas Baert
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Nigel E Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Felicity Muth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
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8
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Laurent M, Bougeard S, Caradec L, Ghestem F, Albrecht M, Brown MJF, DE Miranda J, Karise R, Knapp J, Serrano J, Potts SG, Rundlöf M, Schwarz J, Attridge E, Babin A, Bottero I, Cini E, DE LA Rúa P, DI Prisco G, Dominik C, Dzul D, García Reina A, Hodge S, Klein AM, Knauer A, Mand M, Martínez López V, Serra G, Pereira-Peixoto H, Raimets R, Schweiger O, Senapathi D, Stout JC, Tamburini G, Costa C, Kiljanek T, Martel AC, LE S, Chauzat MP. Novel indices reveal that pollinator exposure to pesticides varies across biological compartments and crop surroundings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172118. [PMID: 38569959 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172118] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Declines in insect pollinators have been linked to a range of causative factors such as disease, loss of habitats, the quality and availability of food, and exposure to pesticides. Here, we analysed an extensive dataset generated from pesticide screening of foraging insects, pollen-nectar stores/beebread, pollen and ingested nectar across three species of bees collected at 128 European sites set in two types of crop. In this paper, we aimed to (i) derive a new index to summarise key aspects of complex pesticide exposure data and (ii) understand the links between pesticide exposures depicted by the different matrices, bee species and apple orchards versus oilseed rape crops. We found that summary indices were highly correlated with the number of pesticides detected in the related matrix but not with which pesticides were present. Matrices collected from apple orchards generally contained a higher number of pesticides (7.6 pesticides per site) than matrices from sites collected from oilseed rape crops (3.5 pesticides), with fungicides being highly represented in apple crops. A greater number of pesticides were found in pollen-nectar stores/beebread and pollen matrices compared with nectar and bee body matrices. Our results show that for a complete assessment of pollinator pesticide exposure, it is necessary to consider several different exposure routes and multiple species of bees across different agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Laurent
- Anses, Sophia Antipolis laboratory, Unit of Honeybee Pathology, France
| | - Stéphanie Bougeard
- Anses, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology and welfare of pork, France
| | - Lucile Caradec
- CNRS, Statistics and Computer Science Department, L'Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, UMR 6625 IRMAR CNRS, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Florence Ghestem
- CNRS, Statistics and Computer Science Department, L'Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, UMR 6625 IRMAR CNRS, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Matthias Albrecht
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | | | - Reet Karise
- Chair of Plant Health, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 1a, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jessica Knapp
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - José Serrano
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon G Potts
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading University, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Janine Schwarz
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Aurélie Babin
- Anses, Sophia Antipolis laboratory, Unit of Honeybee Pathology, France
| | - Irene Bottero
- Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Elena Cini
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading University, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Pilar DE LA Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Gennaro DI Prisco
- CREA - Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy; Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, The Italian National Research Council, Napoli, Italy
| | - Christophe Dominik
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Dep. Community Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Daniel Dzul
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Andrés García Reina
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon Hodge
- Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Alexandra M Klein
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anina Knauer
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marika Mand
- Chair of Plant Health, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 1a, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vicente Martínez López
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Giorgia Serra
- CREA - Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Risto Raimets
- Chair of Plant Health, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 1a, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Dep. Community Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Deepa Senapathi
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading University, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Jane C Stout
- Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Cecilia Costa
- CREA - Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tomasz Kiljanek
- PIWET, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | | | - Sébastien LE
- CNRS, Statistics and Computer Science Department, L'Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, UMR 6625 IRMAR CNRS, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- Anses, Sophia Antipolis laboratory, Unit of Honeybee Pathology, France; Paris-Est University, Anses, Laboratory for Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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9
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French SK, Pepinelli M, Conflitti IM, Jamieson A, Higo H, Common J, Walsh EM, Bixby M, Guarna MM, Pernal SF, Hoover SE, Currie RW, Giovenazzo P, Guzman-Novoa E, Borges D, Foster LJ, Zayed A. Honey bee stressor networks are complex and dependent on crop and region. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1893-1903.e3. [PMID: 38636513 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees play a major role in crop pollination but have experienced declining health throughout most of the globe. Despite decades of research on key honey bee stressors (e.g., parasitic Varroa destructor mites and viruses), researchers cannot fully explain or predict colony mortality, potentially because it is caused by exposure to multiple interacting stressors in the field. Understanding which honey bee stressors co-occur and have the potential to interact is therefore of profound importance. Here, we used the emerging field of systems theory to characterize the stressor networks found in honey bee colonies after they were placed in fields containing economically valuable crops across Canada. Honey bee stressor networks were often highly complex, with hundreds of potential interactions between stressors. Their placement in crops for the pollination season generally exposed colonies to more complex stressor networks, with an average of 23 stressors and 307 interactions. We discovered that the most influential stressors in a network-those that substantively impacted network architecture-are not currently addressed by beekeepers. Finally, the stressor networks showed substantial divergence among crop systems from different regions, which is consistent with the knowledge that some crops (e.g., highbush blueberry) are traditionally riskier to honey bees than others. Our approach sheds light on the stressor networks that honey bees encounter in the field and underscores the importance of considering interactions among stressors. Clearly, addressing and managing these issues will require solutions that are tailored to specific crops and regions and their associated stressor networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K French
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Mateus Pepinelli
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Ida M Conflitti
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Aidan Jamieson
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Heather Higo
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Julia Common
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M Walsh
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, 100038 Township Road 720, Beaverlodge, AB T0H0C0, Canada
| | - Miriam Bixby
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - M Marta Guarna
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, 100038 Township Road 720, Beaverlodge, AB T0H0C0, Canada; University of Victoria, Department of Computer Science, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC V8P5C2, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, 100038 Township Road 720, Beaverlodge, AB T0H0C0, Canada
| | - Shelley E Hoover
- University of Lethbridge, Department of Biological Sciences, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Robert W Currie
- University of Manitoba, Department of Entomology, 12 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T2N2, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Université Laval, Département de biologie, 1045, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Ernesto Guzman-Novoa
- University of Guelph, School of Environmental Sciences, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Daniel Borges
- Ontario Beekeepers' Association, Technology Transfer Program, 185-5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, ON N1H6J2, Canada
| | - Leonard J Foster
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada.
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10
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Graham KK, McArt S, Isaacs R. High pesticide exposure and risk to bees in pollinator plantings adjacent to conventionally managed blueberry fields. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171248. [PMID: 38402956 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171248] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Wildflower plantings adjacent to agricultural fields provide diverse floral resources and nesting sites for wild bees. However, their proximity to pest control activities in the crop may result in pesticide exposure if pesticides drift into pollinator plantings. To quantify pesticide residues in pollinator plantings, we sampled flowers and soil from pollinator plantings and compared them to samples from unenhanced field margins and crop row middles. At conventionally managed farms, flowers from pollinator plantings had similar exposure profiles to those from unenhanced field margins or crop row middles, with multiple pesticides and high and similar risk quotient (RQ) values (with pollinator planting RQ: 3.9; without pollinator planting RQ: 4.0). Whereas samples from unsprayed sites had significantly lower risk (RQ: 0.005). Soil samples had overall low risk to bees. Additionally, we placed bumble bee colonies (Bombus impatiens) in field margins of crop fields with and without pollinator plantings and measured residues in bee-collected pollen. Pesticide exposure was similar in pollen from sites with or without pollinator plantings, and risk was generally high (with pollinator planting RQ: 0.5; without pollinator planting RQ: 1.1) and not significant between the two field types. Risk was lower at sites where there was no pesticide activity (RQ: 0.3), but again there was no significant difference between management types. The insecticide phosmet, which is used on blueberry farms for control of Drosophila suzukii, accounted for the majority of elevated risk. Additionally, analysis of pollen collected by bumble bees found no significant difference in floral species richness between sites with or without pollinator plantings. Our results suggest that pollinator plantings do not reduce pesticide risk and do not increase pollen diversity collected by B. impatiens, further highlighting the need to reduce exposure through enhanced IPM adoption, drift mitigation, and removal of attractive flowering weeds prior to insecticide applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey K Graham
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 202 CIPS, 578 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1410 N 800 E, Logan, UT 84341, USA.
| | - Scott McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 4129 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Rufus Isaacs
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 202 CIPS, 578 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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11
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Nicholson CC, Knapp J, Kiljanek T, Albrecht M, Chauzat MP, Costa C, De la Rúa P, Klein AM, Mänd M, Potts SG, Schweiger O, Bottero I, Cini E, de Miranda JR, Di Prisco G, Dominik C, Hodge S, Kaunath V, Knauer A, Laurent M, Martínez-López V, Medrzycki P, Pereira-Peixoto MH, Raimets R, Schwarz JM, Senapathi D, Tamburini G, Brown MJF, Stout JC, Rundlöf M. Pesticide use negatively affects bumble bees across European landscapes. Nature 2024; 628:355-358. [PMID: 38030722 PMCID: PMC11006599 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06773-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable agriculture requires balancing crop yields with the effects of pesticides on non-target organisms, such as bees and other crop pollinators. Field studies demonstrated that agricultural use of neonicotinoid insecticides can negatively affect wild bee species1,2, leading to restrictions on these compounds3. However, besides neonicotinoids, field-based evidence of the effects of landscape pesticide exposure on wild bees is lacking. Bees encounter many pesticides in agricultural landscapes4-9 and the effects of this landscape exposure on colony growth and development of any bee species remains unknown. Here we show that the many pesticides found in bumble bee-collected pollen are associated with reduced colony performance during crop bloom, especially in simplified landscapes with intensive agricultural practices. Our results from 316 Bombus terrestris colonies at 106 agricultural sites across eight European countries confirm that the regulatory system fails to sufficiently prevent pesticide-related impacts on non-target organisms, even for a eusocial pollinator species in which colony size may buffer against such impacts10,11. These findings support the need for postapproval monitoring of both pesticide exposure and effects to confirm that the regulatory process is sufficiently protective in limiting the collateral environmental damage of agricultural pesticide use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Knapp
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Tomasz Kiljanek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | | | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- Laboratory for Animal Health, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Cecilia Costa
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics-Agriculture and Environment Research Centre, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marika Mänd
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Irene Bottero
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elena Cini
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gennaro Di Prisco
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics-Agriculture and Environment Research Centre, Bologna, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, The Italian National Research Council, Portici, Italy
| | - Christophe Dominik
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simon Hodge
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vera Kaunath
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anina Knauer
- Agroscope, Agroecology and Environment, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marion Laurent
- Unit of Honey Bee Pathology, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, ANSES, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | | | - Piotr Medrzycki
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics-Agriculture and Environment Research Centre, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Risto Raimets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Jane C Stout
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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12
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Cappellari A, Malagnini V, Fontana P, Zanotelli L, Tonidandel L, Angeli G, Ioriatti C, Marini L. Impact of landscape composition on honey bee pollen contamination by pesticides: A multi-residue analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140829. [PMID: 38042427 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140829] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The honey bee is the most common and important managed pollinator of crops. In recent years, honey bee colonies faced high mortality for multiple causes, including land-use change and the use of plant protection products (hereafter pesticides). This work aimed to explore how contamination by pesticides of pollen collected by honey bees was modulated by landscape composition and seasonality. We placed two honey bee colonies in 13 locations in Northern Italy in contrasting landscapes, from which we collected pollen samples monthly during the whole flowering season in 2019 and 2020. We searched for almost 400 compounds, including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and acaricides. We then calculated for each pollen sample the Pollen Hazard Quotient (PHQ), an index that provides a measure of multi-residue toxicity of contaminated pollen. Almost all pollen samples were contaminated by at least one compound. We detected 97 compounds, mainly fungicides, but insecticides and acaricides showed the highest toxicity. Fifteen % of the pollen samples had medium-high or high levels of PHQ, which could pose serious threats to honey bees. Fungicides showed a nearly constant PHQ throughout the season, while herbicides and insecticides and acaricides showed higher PHQ values in spring and early summer. Also, PHQ increased with increasing cover of agricultural and urban areas from April to July, while it was low and independent of landscape composition at the end of the season. The cover of perennial crops, i.e., fruit trees and vineyards, but not of annual crops, increased PHQ of pollen samples. Our work highlighted that the potential toxicity of pollen collected by honey bees was modulated by complex interactions among pesticide category, seasonality, and landscape composition. Due to the large number of compounds detected, our study should be complemented with additional experimental research on the potential interactive effects of multiple compounds on honey bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andree Cappellari
- University of Padova, Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy.
| | - Valeria Malagnini
- Edmund Mach Foundation, Technology Transfer Centre, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010, San Michele All'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Paolo Fontana
- Edmund Mach Foundation, Technology Transfer Centre, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010, San Michele All'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Livia Zanotelli
- Edmund Mach Foundation, Technology Transfer Centre, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010, San Michele All'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Loris Tonidandel
- Edmund Mach Foundation, Technology Transfer Centre, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010, San Michele All'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Gino Angeli
- Edmund Mach Foundation, Technology Transfer Centre, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010, San Michele All'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Claudio Ioriatti
- Edmund Mach Foundation, Research and Innovation Centre, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010, San Michele All'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Marini
- University of Padova, Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
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13
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Lonsdorf EV, Rundlöf M, Nicholson CC, Williams NM. A spatially explicit model of landscape pesticide exposure to bees: Development, exploration, and evaluation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168146. [PMID: 37914120 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168146] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides represent one of the greatest threats to bees and other beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes. Potential exposure is generated through compound- and crop-specific patterns of pesticide use over space and time and unique degradation behavior among compounds. Realized exposure develops through bees foraging from their nests across the spatiotemporal mosaic of floral resources and associated pesticides throughout the landscape. Despite the recognized importance of a landscape-wide approach to assessing exposure, we lack a sufficiently-evaluated predictive framework to inform mitigation decisions and environmental risk assessment for bees. We address this gap by developing a bee pesticide exposure model that incorporates spatiotemporal pesticide use patterns, estimated rates of pesticide degradation, floral resource dynamics across habitats, and bee foraging movements. We parameterized the model with pesticide use data from a public database containing crop-field- and date-specific records of uses throughout our study region over an entire year. We evaluate the model performance in predicting bee pesticide exposure using a dataset of pesticide residues in pollens gathered by bumble bees (Bombus vosnesenskii) returning to colonies across 14 spatially independent landscapes in Northern California. We applied alternative model formulations of pesticide accumulation and degradation, floral resource seasonality, and bee foraging behavior to evaluate different levels of detail for predicting observed pesticide exposure. Our best model explained 73 % of observed variation in pesticide exposure of bumble bee colonies, with generally positive correlations for the dominant compounds. Timing and location of pesticide use were integral, but more detailed parameterizations of pesticide degradation, floral resources, and bee foraging improved the predictions little if at all. Our results suggest that this approach to predict bees' pesticide exposure has value in extending from the local field scale to the landscape in environmental risk assessment and for exploring mitigation options to support bees in agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric V Lonsdorf
- Department of Environmental Sciences, 400 Dowman Drive, 5th floor, Math & Science Center, Emory University, Atlanta 30322, GA, United States of America.
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, United States of America; Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Charlie C Nicholson
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, United States of America; Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Neal M Williams
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
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14
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Zhang G, Dilday S, Kuesel RW, Hopkins B. Phytochemicals, Probiotics, Recombinant Proteins: Enzymatic Remedies to Pesticide Poisonings in Bees. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:54-62. [PMID: 38127782 PMCID: PMC10785755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07581] [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] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing global decline of bees threatens biodiversity and food safety as both wild plants and crops rely on bee pollination to produce viable progeny or high-quality products in high yields. Pesticide exposure is a major driving force for the decline, yet pesticide use remains unreconciled with bee conservation since studies demonstrate that bees continue to be heavily exposed to and threatened by pesticides in crops and natural habitats. Pharmaceutical methods, including the administration of phytochemicals, probiotics (beneficial bacteria), and recombinant proteins (enzymes) with detoxification functions, show promise as potential solutions to mitigate pesticide poisonings. We discuss how these new methods can be appropriately developed and applied in agriculture from bee biology and ecotoxicology perspectives. As countless phytochemicals, probiotics, and recombinant proteins exist, this Perspective will provide suggestive guidance to accelerate the development of new techniques by directing research and resources toward promising candidates. Furthermore, we discuss practical limitations of the new methods mentioned above in realistic field applications and propose recommendations to overcome these limitations. This Perspective builds a framework to allow researchers to use new detoxification techniques more efficiently in order to mitigate the harmful impacts of pesticides on bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zhang
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Sam Dilday
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Ryan William Kuesel
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Brandon Hopkins
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
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15
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Rering CC, Lanier AM, Peres NA. Blueberry floral probiotics: nectar microbes inhibit the growth of Colletotrichum pathogens. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad300. [PMID: 38061796 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To identify whether microorganisms isolated from blueberry flowers can inhibit the growth of Colletotrichum, an opportunistic plant pathogen that infects flowers and threatens yields, and to assess the impacts of floral microbes and Colletotrichum pathogens on artificial nectar sugars and honey bee consumption. METHODS AND RESULTS The growth inhibition of Colletotrichum (Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum fioriniae, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) was screened using both artificial nectar co-culture and dual culture plate assays. All candidate nectar microbes were screened for antagonism against a single C. acutatum isolate. Then, the top four candidate nectar microbes showing the strongest inhibition of C. acutatum (Neokomagataea thailandica, Neokomagataea tanensis, Metschnikowia rancensis, and Symmetrospora symmetrica) were evaluated for antagonism against three additional C. acutatum isolates, and single isolates of both C. fioriniae and C. gloeosporioides. In artificial nectar assays, single and three-species cultures inhibited the growth of two of four C. acutatum isolates by ca. 60%, but growth of other Colletotrichum species was not affected. In dual culture plate assays, inhibition was observed for all Colletotrichum species for at least three of four selected microbial antagonists (13%‒53%). Neither honey bee consumption of nectar nor nectar sugar concentrations were affected by any microbe or pathogen tested. CONCLUSIONS Selected floral microbes inhibited growth of all Colletotrichum species in vitro, although the degree of inhibition was specific to the assay and pathogen examined. In all microbial treatments, nectar sugars were preserved, and honey bee preference was not affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin C Rering
- Chemistry Research Unit, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
| | - Alexia M Lanier
- Chemistry Research Unit, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
| | - Natalia A Peres
- Department of Horticulture, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL 33598, United States
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16
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Leclercq N, Marshall L, Weekers T, Basu P, Benda D, Bevk D, Bhattacharya R, Bogusch P, Bontšutšnaja A, Bortolotti L, Cabirol N, Calderón-Uraga E, Carvalho R, Castro S, Chatterjee S, De La Cruz Alquicira M, de Miranda JR, Dirilgen T, Dorchin A, Dorji K, Drepper B, Flaminio S, Gailis J, Galloni M, Gaspar H, Gikungu MW, Hatteland BA, Hinojosa-Diaz I, Hostinská L, Howlett BG, Hung KLJ, Hutchinson L, Jesus RO, Karklina N, Khan MS, Loureiro J, Men X, Molenberg JM, Mudri-Stojnić S, Nikolic P, Normandin E, Osterman J, Ouyang F, Oygarden AS, Ozolina-Pole L, Ozols N, Parra Saldivar A, Paxton RJ, Pitts-Singer T, Poveda K, Prendergast K, Quaranta M, Read SFJ, Reinhardt S, Rojas-Oropeza M, Ruiz C, Rundlöf M, Sade A, Sandberg C, Sgolastra F, Shah SF, Shebl MA, Soon V, Stanley DA, Straka J, Theodorou P, Tobajas E, Vaca-Uribe JL, Vera A, Villagra CA, Williams MK, Wolowski M, Wood TJ, Yan Z, Zhang Q, Vereecken NJ. Global taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of bees in apple orchards. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165933. [PMID: 37536603 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
An essential prerequisite to safeguard pollinator species is characterisation of the multifaceted diversity of crop pollinators and identification of the drivers of pollinator community changes across biogeographical gradients. The extent to which intensive agriculture is associated with the homogenisation of biological communities at large spatial scales remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated diversity drivers for 644 bee species/morphospecies in 177 commercial apple orchards across 33 countries and four global biogeographical biomes. Our findings reveal significant taxonomic dissimilarity among biogeographical zones. Interestingly, despite this dissimilarity, species from different zones share similar higher-level phylogenetic groups and similar ecological and behavioural traits (i.e. functional traits), likely due to habitat filtering caused by perennial monoculture systems managed intensively for crop production. Honey bee species dominated orchard communities, while other managed/manageable and wild species were collected in lower numbers. Moreover, the presence of herbaceous, uncultivated open areas and organic management practices were associated with increased wild bee diversity. Overall, our study sheds light on the importance of large-scale analyses contributing to the emerging fields of functional and phylogenetic diversity, which can be related to ecosystem function to promote biodiversity as a key asset in agroecosystems in the face of global change pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Leclercq
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - L Marshall
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - T Weekers
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - P Basu
- Centre for Pollination Studies, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - D Benda
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Entomology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - D Bevk
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - R Bhattacharya
- Centre for Pollination Studies, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - P Bogusch
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - A Bontšutšnaja
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - L Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - N Cabirol
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - E Calderón-Uraga
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - R Carvalho
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S Castro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S Chatterjee
- Centre for Pollination Studies, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - M De La Cruz Alquicira
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - J R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 05, Sweden
| | - T Dirilgen
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - A Dorchin
- Laboratory of Zoology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Entomology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - K Dorji
- College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Punakha, Bhutan
| | - B Drepper
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Flaminio
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy; Laboratory of Zoology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - J Gailis
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - M Galloni
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - H Gaspar
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M W Gikungu
- Department of Zoology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - B A Hatteland
- Division for Biotechnology and Plant Health, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Aas, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - I Hinojosa-Diaz
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - L Hostinská
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - B G Howlett
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - K-L J Hung
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - L Hutchinson
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - R O Jesus
- Graduate Program in Ecology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - N Karklina
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - M S Khan
- Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - J Loureiro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - X Men
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Virology,Jinan 250100, China
| | - J-M Molenberg
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Mudri-Stojnić
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - P Nikolic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - E Normandin
- Centre sur la biodiversité, Département des sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, QC, Québec H1X 2B2, Canada
| | - J Osterman
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstrasse 4, 79106, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - F Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - A S Oygarden
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - L Ozolina-Pole
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - N Ozols
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - A Parra Saldivar
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE), Santiago, Chile
| | - R J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - T Pitts-Singer
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pollinating Insects Research Unit, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - K Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 4126 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - K Prendergast
- Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - M Quaranta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - S F J Read
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - S Reinhardt
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - M Rojas-Oropeza
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - C Ruiz
- Departamento Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, 38206, Tenerife, Spain
| | - M Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - A Sade
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, 31905 Haifa, Israel
| | - C Sandberg
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Calluna AB, Husargatan 3, Malmö, 211 28, Sweden
| | - F Sgolastra
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - S F Shah
- Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - M A Shebl
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - V Soon
- Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu, Estonia
| | - D A Stanley
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - J Straka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - P Theodorou
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - E Tobajas
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Animal Biology, University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - J L Vaca-Uribe
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Abejas LABUN, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá,111321, Colombia
| | - A Vera
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE), Santiago, Chile
| | - C A Villagra
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE), Santiago, Chile
| | - M-K Williams
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - M Wolowski
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - T J Wood
- Laboratory of Zoology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Z Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Q Zhang
- Beijing Biodiversity Conservation Research Center/Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing 100076, China
| | - N J Vereecken
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Bixby M, Cunningham M, Foster L, Higo H, Morfin N. British Columbia beekeeping revenues and costs: survey data and profit modeling. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:22. [PMID: 38055942 PMCID: PMC11025375 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iead070] [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] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
British Columbia beekeepers, like many beekeepers around the world, are currently facing declines in honey bee health and high overwinter colony losses. To better understand the economics and the cycle of yearly colony loss and replacement of this critical agricultural industry, we collected and analyzed survey data on beekeeping costs and returns. Forty British Columbia beekeepers provided details about revenue sources, variable costs, capital costs, and investments. Ten surveyed beekeepers managed between 1 and 9 colonies, 10 managed between 10 and 39 colonies, 9 managed between 40 and 100 colonies, 5 managed between 101 and 299 colonies, 3 managed between 300 and 699 colonies, and 3 managed 700 colonies or more. The data was used to calculate beekeeping profit and to parameterize a model that explores the economic impact of colony loss rates and replacement strategies. Survey results show that when the data is aggregated, revenues exceed costs for beekeeping operations in British Columbia with a per colony profit of $56.92 or $0.87 per pound of honey produced. Surveyed operations with fewer than 100 colonies have negative profits, while operations with 100-299 colonies have positive profits. Surveyed operations in the Cariboo, North Coast, and Okanagan regions have the highest profits while surveyed operations in the Peace region have the lowest profits. Profit modeling shows that replacing losses with packages generates lower profit than replacing losses with split colonies. Our modeling shows that operations that diversify their revenue to include bee sales and commercial pollination accrue higher profits and can withstand higher winter loss rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Bixby
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2125 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Morgan Cunningham
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Leonard Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2125 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Heather Higo
- The BC Honey Producers’ Association, P.O. Box 5609, Station B, Victoria, BC V8R 6S4, Canada
| | - Nuria Morfin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2125 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- British Columbia Technology Transfer Program, The BC Honey Producers’ Association, P.O. Box 5609, Station B, Victoria, BC V8R 6S4, Canada
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18
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Azpiazu C, Medina P, Sgolastra F, Moreno-Delafuente A, Viñuela E. Pesticide residues in nectar and pollen of melon crops: Risk to pollinators and effects of a specific pesticide mixture on Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) micro-colonies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 326:121451. [PMID: 36933818 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Residues detected in pollen collected by honey bees are often used to estimate pesticide exposure in ecotoxicological studies. However, for a more accurate assessment of pesticides effect on foraging pollinators, residues found directly on flowers are a more realistic exposure approximation. We conducted a multi-residue analysis of pesticides on pollen and nectar of melon flowers collected from five fields. The cumulative chronic oral exposure Risk Index (RI) was calculated for Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis to multiple pesticides. However, this index could underestimate the risk since sublethal or synergistic effects are not considered. Therefore, a mixture containing three of the most frequently detected pesticides in our study was tested for synergistic impact on B. terrestris micro-colonies through a chronic oral toxicity test. According to the result, pollen and nectar samples contained numerous pesticide residues, including nine insecticides, nine fungicides, and one herbicide. Eleven of those were not applied by farmers during the crop season, revealing that melon agroecosystems may be pesticide contaminated environments. The primary contributor to the chronic RI was imidacloprid and O. bircornis is at greatest risk for lethality resulting from chronic oral exposure at these sites. In the bumblebee micro-colony bioassay, dietary exposure to acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos and oxamyl at residue level concentration, showed no effects on worker mortality, drone production or drone size and no synergies were detected when pesticide mixtures were evaluated. In conclusion, our findings have significant implications for improving pesticide risk assessment schemes to guarantee pollinator conservation. In particular, bee pesticide risk assessment should not be limited to acute exposure effects to isolated active ingredients in honey bees. Instead, risk assessments should consider the long-term pesticide exposure effects in both pollen and nectar on a range of bees that reflect the diversity of natural ecosystems and the synergistic potential among pesticide formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Azpiazu
- Unidad de Protección de Cultivos, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSIAAB-UPM), Madrid, Spain; Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC- Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain; CREAF-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola Del Vallès), Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Pilar Medina
- Unidad de Protección de Cultivos, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSIAAB-UPM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabio Sgolastra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ana Moreno-Delafuente
- Unidad de Protección de Cultivos, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSIAAB-UPM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Viñuela
- Unidad de Protección de Cultivos, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSIAAB-UPM), Madrid, Spain
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19
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Knapp JL, Nicholson CC, Jonsson O, de Miranda JR, Rundlöf M. Ecological traits interact with landscape context to determine bees' pesticide risk. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:547-556. [PMID: 36849537 PMCID: PMC10089916 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-01990-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Widespread contamination of ecosystems with pesticides threatens non-target organisms. However, the extent to which life-history traits affect pesticide exposure and resulting risk in different landscape contexts remains poorly understood. We address this for bees across an agricultural land-use gradient based on pesticide assays of pollen and nectar collected by Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis, representing extensive, intermediate and limited foraging traits. We found that extensive foragers (A. mellifera) experienced the highest pesticide risk-additive toxicity-weighted concentrations. However, only intermediate (B. terrestris) and limited foragers (O. bicornis) responded to landscape context-experiencing lower pesticide risk with less agricultural land. Pesticide risk correlated among bee species and between food sources and was greatest in A. mellifera-collected pollen-useful information for future postapproval pesticide monitoring. We provide foraging trait- and landscape-dependent information on the occurrence, concentration and identity of pesticides that bees encounter to estimate pesticide risk, which is necessary for more realistic risk assessment and essential information for tracking policy goals to reduce pesticide risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Knapp
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Department of Botany, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | | | - Ove Jonsson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, SLU Centre for Pesticides in the Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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20
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Siviter H, Pardee GL, Baert N, McArt S, Jha S, Muth F. Wild bees are exposed to low levels of pesticides in urban grasslands and community gardens. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159839. [PMID: 36334673 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Globally documented wild bee declines threaten sustainable food production and natural ecosystem functioning. Urban environments are often florally abundant, and consequently can contain high levels of pollinator diversity compared with agricultural environments. This has led to the suggestion that urban environments are an increasingly important habitat for pollinators. However, pesticides, such as commercial bug sprays, have a range of lethal and sub-lethal impacts on bees and are widely available for public use, with past work indicating that managed bees (honeybees and bumblebees) are exposed to a range of pesticides in urban environments. Despite this, we still have a poor understanding of (i) whether wild bees foraging in urban environments are exposed to pesticides and (ii) if exposure differs between genera. Here we assessed pesticide exposure in 8 bee genera foraging across multiple urban landscapes. We detected 13 different pesticides, some at concentrations known to have sub-lethal impacts on pollinators. Both the likelihood of pesticides being detected, and the concentrations observed, were higher for larger bees, likely due to their greater foraging ranges. Our results suggest that restricting agrochemical use in urban environments, where the economic benefits are limited, is a simple way to reduce anthropogenic stress on wild bees.
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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.
| | - Gabriella L Pardee
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Nicolas Baert
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Scott McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, 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
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21
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Thebeau JM, Cloet A, Liebe D, Masood F, Kozii IV, Klein CD, Zabrodski MW, Biganski S, Moshynskyy I, Sobchishin L, Wilson G, Guarna MM, Gerbrandt EM, Ruzzini A, Simko E, Wood SC. Are fungicides a driver of European foulbrood disease in honey bee colonies pollinating blueberries? Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1073775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionBlueberry producers in Canada depend heavily on pollination services provided by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Anecdotal reports indicate an increased incidence of European foulbrood (EFB), a bacterial disease caused by Melissococcus plutonius, is compromising pollination services and colony health. Fungicidal products are commonly used in blueberry production to prevent fungal diseases such as anthracnose and botrytis fruit rot. Pesticide exposure has been implicated in honey bee immunosuppression; however, the effects of commercial fungicidal products, commonly used during blueberry pollination, on honey bee larval susceptibility to EFB have not been investigated.MethodsUsing an in vitro infection model of EFB, we infected first instar honey bee larvae with M. plutonius 2019 BC1, a strain isolated from an EFB outbreak in British Columbia, Canada, and chronically exposed larvae to environmentally relevant concentrations of fungicide products over 6 days. Survival was monitored until pupation or eclosion.ResultsWe found that larvae chronically exposed to one, two, or three fungicidal products [Supra® Captan 80WDG (Captan), low concentration of Kenja™ 400SC (Kenja), Luna® Tranquility (Luna), and/or Switch® 62.5 WG (Switch)], did not significantly reduce survival from EFB relative to infected controls. When larvae were exposed to four fungicide products concurrently, we observed a significant 24.2% decrease in survival from M. plutonius infection (p = 0.0038). Similarly, higher concentrations of Kenja significantly reduced larval survival by 24.7–33.0% from EFB (p < 0.0001).DiscussionThese in vitro results suggest that fungicides may contribute to larval susceptibility and response to M. plutonius infections. Further testing of other pesticide combinations is warranted as well as continued surveillance of pesticide residues in blueberry-pollinating colonies.
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22
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Zhang G, Kersten M, Owen A, Skidmore A. Honey bee foraging and pesticide exposure in a desert urban agroecosystem. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 249:114472. [PMID: 38321687 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114472] [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: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The negative impacts of industrial farming on honey bee health have been widely recognized regarding pesticide use and natural foraging habitat loss. An assessment of suitability of urban farms regarding honey bee health is necessary for sustainable development of agriculture and apiculture in urban settings. Urban farms that adopt organic farming practices with restrictions on synthetic pesticide use and conservation of natural habitat can potentially create an environment to mitigate these environmental stressors on honey bees. In this experiment, bee-collected pollen was taken from honey bee colonies that were located on five organically managed urban farms located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to evaluate pesticide exposure and forage use. We also explored the influence of hive equipment on honey bee health in a high desert climate. We found that honey bees on organic urban farms were not stressed by pesticides with limited pesticide types detected (2 out of 187), low residue levels (< 20 µg/kg) and low toxicity (either no, or low toxicity with LD50 at 1,450,300 µg/kg). Honey bees had access to diverse forage resources based on pollen barcoding data. When comparing hive equipment between 10-frame, 8-frame Langstroth and top bar hives, it was determined that 8-frame hives could significantly enhance honey bee health including colony survival and weight growth, comb construction and brood production. Our results suggest that organic urban farms are appropriate locations for securing honey bee health and food safety in a desert climate; while, the selection of hive equipment should be considered when mitigating environmental stress to colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zhang
- Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas, New Mexico State University, Los Lunas, New Mexico 87031, United States of America; Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, United States of America; Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States of America.
| | - Miranda Kersten
- Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas, New Mexico State University, Los Lunas, New Mexico 87031, United States of America
| | - Amy Owen
- Desert Hives LLC, Tijeras, New Mexico 87059, United States of America
| | - Amanda Skidmore
- Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas, New Mexico State University, Los Lunas, New Mexico 87031, United States of America; Department of Agricultural Sciences, Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky 40351, United States of America
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