Acute and chronic ingestion of polyethylene (PE) microplastics has mild effects on honey bee health and cognition

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 305, P. 119318 - 119318

Published: April 18, 2022

Language: Английский

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Microplastics reach the brain and interfere with honey bee cognition

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 912, P. 169362 - 169362

Published: Dec. 20, 2023

Scientific research on the impact of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial systems is still emerging, but it has confirmed adverse health effects organisms exposed to plastics. Although recent studies have shown toxicological individual MPs polymers honey bees, different polymer combinations cognitive and behavioural performance remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated oral exposure spherical brain accumulation bee Apis mellifera. We evaluated acute toxicity, after a two-day exposure, polystyrene (PS - 4.8-5.8 μm) plexiglass (Poly(methyl methacrylate), or PMMA 1-40 MPs, combination two (MIX), at environmentally relevant one higher concentration (0.5, 5 50 mg L

Language: Английский

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Assessing the effects of a commercial fungicide and an herbicide, alone and in combination, on Apis mellifera: Insights from biomarkers and cognitive analysis

Chemosphere, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 359, P. 142307 - 142307

Published: May 9, 2024

Agrochemicals play a vital role in protecting crops and enhancing agricultural production by reducing threats from pests, pathogens weeds. The toxicological status of honey bees can be influenced number factors, including pesticides. While extensive research has focused on the lethal sublethal effects insecticides individual colonies, it is important to recognise that fungicides herbicides also affect bee health. Unfortunately, field, are exposed mixtures compounds rather than single substances. This study aimed evaluate commercial fungicide herbicide, both individually combination, bees. Mortality assays, biomarkers learning memory tests were performed, results integrated assess Neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase carboxylesterase activities), detoxification metabolic processes (glutathione S-transferase alkaline phosphatase immune system function (lysozyme activity haemocyte count) genotoxicity (nuclear abnormalities assay) assessed. Sakura® was found activate enzymes activity. herbicide Elegant 2FD combination pesticides showed neurotoxic induced processes. Exposure herbicide/fungicide mixture impaired represents significant advance understanding commonly used agriculture contributes development effective strategies mitigate their adverse non-target insects.

Language: Английский

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Nectar non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) do not change nectar palatability but enhance learning and memory in honey bees

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

Published: June 3, 2021

Floral nectar is a pivotal element of the intimate relationship between plants and pollinators. Nectars are composed plethora nutritionally valuable compounds but also hundreds secondary metabolites (SMs) whose function remains elusive. Here we performed set behavioural experiments to study whether five ubiquitous non-protein amino acids (NPAAs: β-alanine, GABA, citrulline, ornithine taurine) interact with gustation, feeding preference, learning memory in Apis mellifera. We showed that foragers were unable discriminate NPAAs from water when only accessing antennal chemo-tactile information freely moving bees did not exhibit innate preferences for NPAAs. Also, alter food consumption or longevity caged over 10 days. Taken together our data suggest natural concentrations palatability bees. Olfactory conditioning assays honey more likely learn scent it signalled sucrose reward containing either β-alanine GABA enhanced specific retention. Conversely, ingested two hours prior conditioning, taurine weakened bees' acquisition performances retention, which was case taurine. Neither citrulline nor affected memory. nectars may represent cooperative strategy adopted by attract beneficial

Language: Английский

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Using individual‐based trait frequency distributions to forecast plant‐pollinator network responses to environmental change

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Determining how and why organisms interact is fundamental to understanding ecosystem responses future environmental change. To assess the impact on plant‐pollinator interactions, recent studies have examined effects of change individual interactions accumulate generate species‐level responses. Here, we review developments in using networks interacting individuals along with their functional traits, where are nested within species nodes. We highlight these individual‐level, trait‐based connect intraspecific trait variation (as frequency distributions multiple traits) dynamic communities. This approach can better explain interaction plasticity, changes probabilities network structure over spatiotemporal or other gradients. argue that only through appreciating such plasticity accurately forecast potential vulnerability follow this general guidance collect analyse high‐resolution data, hope improving predictions for targeted effective conservation.

Language: Английский

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Buzz-pollinating bees deliver thoracic vibrations to flowers through periodic biting

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(18), P. 4104 - 4113.e3

Published: Aug. 16, 2024

Pollinator behavior is vital to plant-pollinator interactions, affecting the acquisition of floral rewards, patterns pollen transfer, and plant reproductive success. During buzz pollination, bees produce vibrations with their indirect flight muscles extract from tube-like flowers. Vibrations can be transmitted flower via mandibles, abdomen, legs, or thorax directly. Vibration amplitude at determines rate release should vary coupling bee flower. This often occurs through anther biting, but no studies have quantified how biting affects vibration. Here, we used high-speed filmography investigate vibration changes during in Bombus terrestris visiting two species buzz-pollinated flowering plants: Solanum dulcamara rostratum (Solanaceae). We found that buzzing drives head up 3 times greater than those thorax, which doubles compared transmission when not biting. However, efficiency this depends on angle bites anther. Variation mechanisms, combined diversity across species, yields a rich assortment potential strategies could employ access rewards

Language: Английский

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Wild Bee Nutritional Ecology: Integrative Strategies to Assess Foraging Preferences and Nutritional Requirements

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: April 14, 2022

Bees depend on flowering plants for their nutrition, and reduced availability of floral resources is a major driver declines in both managed wild bee populations. Understanding the nutritional needs different species, how these are met by varying provided plant taxa, can greatly inform land management recommendations to support populations associated ecosystem services. However, most nutrition research has focused three commonly commercially reared taxa—honey bees, bumble mason bees—with fewer studies bees other such as leafcutting stingless alkali bees. Thus, we have limited information about requirements foraging preferences vast majority species. Here, discuss approaches traditionally used understand ecology: identification visitors selected focal evaluation adults species (larvae or adults) controlled settings, examine methods may be adapted study wider range We also highlight emerging technologies that potential facilitate ecology well evaluate at significantly larger spatio-temporal scales than were previously feasible. While focus this review many techniques applied pollinator taxa well.

Language: Английский

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Microplastics reach the brain and interfere with honey bee cognition

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 7, 2023

Abstract Scientific research exploring the impact of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial systems is still at an early stage but has already confirmed that exposure to plastics leads various detrimental health effects several organisms. Although recent studies have shown toxicological single MP polymers on honey bees, different polymer combinations and their consequences cognitive behavioural performance remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated MPs, both individually combination, abilities bee Apis mellifera . We evaluated acute oral toxicity Polystyrene (PS) Plexiglass (PMMA) as well a combination two (MIX), three concentrations (0.5, 5 50 mg/L -1 ) analysed sucrose responsiveness appetitive olfactory learning memory. also explored whether these MPs could reach accumulate insect brain using Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy (TPFM) with optimized version DISCO clearing technique. The results revealed PS reduced foragers sucrose, whereas PMMA had no significant impact; however, pronounced negative effect responsiveness. In addition, PS, MIX, impaired formation memory retrieval, exhibiting most severe effects. Regarding our imaging analysis performed TFPM, found after only days exposure, penetrate brain. These raise concerns about potential mechanical, cellular, biochemical damage may cause central nervous system.

Language: Английский

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Exposure to a biopesticide interferes with sucrose responsiveness and learning in honey bees

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Nov. 16, 2020

Abstract The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is a widely used biopesticide that considered as an effective alternative to classical agrochemicals . B. thought be safe for pollinators although little known about its side-effects on pollinators’ behaviour and cognition. Here, we focused honey bees the proboscis extension response (PER) protocol assess whether affects individual sucrose responsiveness, non-associative associative olfactory learning memory. Fungus-treated displayed enhanced which could not explained by metabolic alterations. Strikingly, exposed were twice inconsistent controls in sucrose, showing PER lower but higher concentrations. Exposed habituated less had better acquisition performance conditioning phase than controls. Further, neither mid- nor long-term memory affected fungus. As responsiveness main determinant of division foraging labour, these changes might unsettle numerical ratio between sub-castes foragers leading suboptimal foraging. Although use biocontrol strategies should preferred over chemical pesticides, careful assessment their crucial before claiming they are pollinators.

Language: Английский

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Nectar non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) do not change nectar palatability but enhance learning and memory in honey bees

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 4, 2020

Abstract Floral nectar is a pivotal element of the intimate relationship between plants and pollinators its chemical composition likely to have been shaped by strong selective pressures. Nectars are composed plethora nutritionally valuable compounds but also hundreds secondary metabolites (SMs) whose ecological role still not completely understood. Here we performed set behavioural experiments study whether five ubiquitous non-protein amino acids (NPAAs: β-alanine, GABA, citrulline, ornithine taurine) interact with gustation, feeding preference, learning memory in pollinator Apis mellifera . We showed that harnessed foragers were unable discriminate NPAAs from water when only accessing antennal chemo-tactile information freely moving bees did exhibit innate preferences for NPAA-laced sucrose solutions. Also, dietary consumption alter food or longevity caged over 10 days. Taken together our data suggest ecologically relevant concentrations palatability bees. Olfactory conditioning assays honey more learn scent it signalled reward containing either β-alanine GABA enhanced specific retention. Conversely, ingested two hours prior conditioning, taurine weakened bees’ acquisition performances retention, which was case taurine. Neither citrulline nor affected memory. Our suggests nectars may represent cooperative strategy adopted attract beneficial pollinators, while simultaneously enhancing pollen transfer among conspecific flowers. Future work should validate these results scenarios extend as many SMs possible, alone combination, well other species pollinators.

Language: Английский

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