Revised guidance on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees (Apis mellifera, Bombus spp. and solitary bees)

EFSA Journal, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 21(5)

Published: May 1, 2023

The European Commission asked EFSA to revise the risk assessment for honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees. This guidance document describes how perform from plant protection products, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1107/2009. It is a review of EFSA's existing document, which was published 2013. outlines tiered approach exposure estimation different scenarios tiers. includes hazard characterisation provides methodology covering dietary contact exposure. also recommendations higher tier studies, metabolites products as mixture.

Language: Английский

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Acoustic indices as proxies for biodiversity: a meta‐analysis

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(6), P. 2209 - 2236

Published: Aug. 17, 2022

ABSTRACT As biodiversity decreases worldwide, the development of effective techniques to track changes in ecological communities becomes an urgent challenge. Together with other emerging methods ecology, acoustic indices are increasingly being used as novel tools for rapid assessment. These based on mathematical formulae that summarise features audio samples, aim extracting meaningful information from soundscapes. However, application this automated method has revealed conflicting results across literature, conceptual and empirical controversies regarding its primary assumption: a correlation between biological diversity. After more than decade research, we still lack statistically informed synthesis power elucidates whether they effectively function proxies Here, reviewed studies testing relationship diversity metrics (species abundance, species richness, diversity, abundance sounds, sounds) 11 most commonly indices. From 34 studies, extracted 364 effect sizes quantified magnitude direct link estimates conducted meta‐analysis. Overall, had moderate positive ( r = 0.33, CI [0.23, 0.43]), showed inconsistent performance, highly variable both within among studies. Over time, have been disregarding validation those examining progressively reporting smaller sizes. Some studied [acoustic entropy index (H), normalised difference soundscape (NDSI), complexity (ACI)] performed better retrieving information, sounds (number identified or unidentified species) best estimated facet local communities. We found no type monitored environment (terrestrial versus aquatic) procedure (acoustic non‐acoustic) performance indices, suggesting certain potential generalise their research contexts. also common statistical issues knowledge gaps remain be addressed future such high rate pseudoreplication multiple unexplored combinations metrics, taxa, regions. Our findings confirm limitations efficiently quantify alpha highlight caution is necessary when using them surrogates especially if employed single predictors. Although these able partially capture endorsing some extent rationale behind promising bases developments, far biodiversity. To guide efficient use review principal theoretical practical shortcomings, well prospects challenges Altogether, provide first comprehensive overview relation pave way standardised monitoring.

Language: Английский

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Lethal, sublethal, and combined effects of pesticides on bees: A meta-analysis and new risk assessment tools

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 844, P. 156857 - 156857

Published: June 25, 2022

Language: Английский

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Direct pesticide exposure of insects in nature conservation areas in Germany

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Dec. 16, 2021

Abstract In Germany, the decline of insect biomass was observed in nature conservation areas agricultural landscapes. One main causal factors discussed is use synthetic pesticides conventional agriculture. a Germany-wide field study, we collected flying insects using Malaise traps adjacent to land. We used multi-component chemical trace element analysis detect 92 common ethanol from sampled May and August 2020. total, residues 47 current were detected, samples on average contaminated with 16.7 pesticides. Residues herbicides metolachlor-S, prosulfocarb terbuthylazine, fungicides azoxystrobin fluopyram recorded at all sites. The neonicotinoid thiacloprid detected 16 21 areas, most likely due final before an EU-wide ban. A change residue mixture composition noticeable higher herbicide spring increasing fungicide applications summer. number substances related proportion production area radius 2000 m. Therefore, drastic pesticide reduction large buffers around necessary avoid contamination their fauna.

Language: Английский

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Quantitative evidence synthesis: a practical guide on meta-analysis, meta-regression, and publication bias tests for environmental sciences

Environmental Evidence, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: April 24, 2023

Meta-analysis is a quantitative way of synthesizing results from multiple studies to obtain reliable evidence an intervention or phenomenon. Indeed, increasing number meta-analyses are conducted in environmental sciences, and resulting meta-analytic often used policies decision-making. We survey recent sciences found poor standards current practice reporting. For example, only ~ 40% the 73 reviewed reported heterogeneity (variation among effect sizes beyond sampling error), publication bias was assessed fewer than half. Furthermore, although almost all had originating same studies, non-independence considered half meta-analyses. To improve implementation meta-analysis we here outline practical guidance for conducting sciences. describe key concepts size detail procedures fitting multilevel meta-regression models performing associated tests. demonstrate clear need scientists embrace models, which explicitly model dependence sizes, rather commonly random-effects models. Further, discuss how reporting visual presentations can be much improved by following guidelines such as PRISMA-EcoEvo (Preferred Reporting Items Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses Ecology Evolutionary Biology). This paper, along with accompanying online tutorial, serves guide on complete set (i.e., meta-analysis, quantification, meta-regression, tests sensitivity analysis) also gateway more advanced, yet appropriate, methods.

Language: Английский

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Pesticide use negatively affects bumble bees across European landscapes

Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 628(8007), P. 355 - 358

Published: Nov. 29, 2023

Abstract Sustainable agriculture requires balancing crop yields with the effects of pesticides on non-target organisms, such as bees and other pollinators. Field studies demonstrated that agricultural use neonicotinoid insecticides can negatively affect wild bee species 1,2 , leading to restrictions these compounds 3 . However, besides neonicotinoids, field-based evidence landscape pesticide exposure is lacking. Bees encounter many in landscapes 4–9 this colony growth development any remains unknown. Here we show found bumble bee-collected pollen are associated reduced performance during bloom, especially simplified intensive practices. Our results from 316 Bombus terrestris colonies at 106 sites across eight European countries confirm regulatory system fails sufficiently prevent pesticide-related impacts even for a eusocial pollinator which size may buffer against 10,11 These findings support need postapproval monitoring both process protective limiting collateral environmental damage use.

Language: Английский

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Pesticide Exposure and Effects on Non-Apis Bees

Annual Review of Entomology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 69(1), P. 551 - 576

Published: Oct. 12, 2023

Bees are essential pollinators of many crops and wild plants, pesticide exposure is one the key environmental stressors affecting their health in anthropogenically modified landscapes. Until recently, almost all information on routes impacts came from honey bees, at least partially because they were only model species required for risk assessments (ERAs) insect pollinators. Recently, there has been a surge research activity focusing effects non- Apis including other social bees (bumble stingless bees) solitary bees. These taxa vary substantially another several important ecological traits, spatial temporal patterns, foraging nesting requirements, degree sociality. In this article, we review current evidence base about pathways consequences We find that insights into bee resulting across biological organizations, landscapes, mixtures, multiple still infancy. The good news promising approaches could be used to advance our understanding, with priority given informing pathways, extrapolating effects, determining how well (limited very few mostly neonicotinoid insecticides under unrealistic conditions) can generalized diversity lifestyles global community. conclude future expand knowledge would also beneficial ERAs wider policy decisions concerning pollinator conservation regulation.

Language: Английский

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Life-history stage determines the diet of ectoparasitic mites on their honey bee hosts

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 25, 2024

Ectoparasitic mites of the genera Varroa and Tropilaelaps have evolved to exclusively exploit honey bees as food sources during alternating dispersal reproductive life history stages. Here we show that primary source utilized by destructor depends on host stage. While feeding adult bees, dispersing V. feed abdominal membranes access fat body reported previously. However, when bee pupae their stage, they primarily consume hemolymph, indicated wound analysis, preferential transfer biostains, a proteomic comparison between parasite tissues. Biostaining results were paralleled corresponding findings in mercedesae, mite only feeds brood has strongly reduced Metabolomic profiling corroborates differences diet adults foundresses. The proteome metabolome suggest hemolymph coincides with amino acid metabolism protein synthesis foundresses while non-reproductive is tuned lipid metabolism. Thus, demonstrate within-host dietary specialization ectoparasitic hosts parasites.

Language: Английский

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Pervasive sublethal effects of agrochemicals on insects at environmentally relevant concentrations

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 386(6720), P. 446 - 453

Published: Oct. 24, 2024

Insect biomass is declining globally, likely driven by climate change and pesticide use, yet systematic studies on the effects of various chemicals remain limited. In this work, we used a chemical library 1024 molecules-covering insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, plant growth inhibitors-to assess impact sublethal doses insects.

Language: Английский

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Widespread contamination of soils and vegetation with current use pesticide residues along altitudinal gradients in a European Alpine valley

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

Abstract Pesticides are transferred outside of cropland and can affect animals plants. Here we investigated the distribution 97 current use pesticides in soil vegetation as central exposure matrices insects. Sampling was conducted on 53 sites along eleven altitudinal transects Vinschgau valley (South Tyrol, Italy), Europe’s largest apple growing area. A total 27 (10 insecticides, 11 fungicides 6 herbicides) were detected, originating mostly from orchards. Residue numbers concentrations decreased with altitude distance to orchards, but even detected at highest sites. Predictive, detection-based mapping indicates that pesticide mixtures occur anywhere floor mountain peaks. This study demonstrates widespread contamination Alpine environments, creating contaminated landscapes. As residue have been remote alpine ecosystems conservation areas, call for a reduction prevent further loss biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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