Contaminant-driven midgut histological damage in bees and other aculeate Hymenoptera: a quantitative review

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 104670 - 104670

Published: March 1, 2025

We present a review about histological sub-lethal effects due to anthropogenic contaminants on the midgut of bees and other aculeate hymenopterans. Contaminant types, damage methodology were extracted summarized from 74 published articles, then quantitatively analyzed. found that western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is by far most widely used model. Contaminants have largely been tested under laboratory conditions, particularly insecticides fungicides. Tissue-level (e.g., degradation epithelium peritrophic membrane) often detected together with cell-level cell vacuolisation, karyorrhexis). Descriptive statistics mixed models suggested herbicides may cause specific mix alterations an overall lower severity compared pesticides, while combined use light electron microscopy seemed detect more types. claim for efforts reduce biases in future studies such effects, allowing their clearer as markers human activities.

Language: Английский

From molecules to organisms: a multi-level approach shows negative effects of trace elements from sewage sludge used as soil improver on honeybees

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 478, P. 135497 - 135497

Published: Aug. 13, 2024

The use of sewage sludge as a soil improver has been promoted in agroecosystems. However, sludges can contain toxic trace elements because suboptimal wastewater treatment. Nonetheless, field studies investigating the negative effects these practices on pollinators are lacking. We collected honeybees from an area where is widespread, and one it precluded. Trace soils bees were quantified. Cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel investigated they least correlated to each other known be toxic. Their levels related oxidative stress energy biomarkers, midgut epithelial health, body size wing asymmetry honeybees. found increased carbohydrate content sites with higher cadmium levels, histological damage epithelium area, presence dark spherites highest lead levels. Finally, we that smaller, fluctuating increasing mercury. To best our knowledge, this first comprehensive study concentration potentially deriving amendment practices.

Language: Английский

Urbanization-driven environmental shifts cause reduction in aminopeptidase N activity in the honeybee

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Honeybees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) are managed pollinators in anthropized landscapes but suffer adverse physiological effects from urbanization due to increased pollution, higher temperatures and a loss of habitat quality. Previous studies various animal taxa have shown how responses digestive enzymes, such as Aminopeptidase N (APN), can indicate stress conditions thus be used measure the harmfulness anthropogenic disturbance. However, no focused on bees. Here, we sampled honeybee foragers along an gradient Metropolitan City Milan (Italy) measured APN activity. After briefly characterizing midgut activity under different pH temperature conditions, found that was lower at urban sites with (Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect). Furthermore, increasing proportion meadows (semi-natural flowered areas) decreasing parks (managed green areas)—both less urbanized sites—were associated Our results suggest severe may cause reduction activity, UHI effect alone is not directly involved. Although actual urbanization-related factors driving our remain unclear, impoverishment food sources play role. As aminopeptidases involved pollen digestion, possible impairment capacity honeybees highly areas.

Language: Английский