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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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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Ecological traits interact with landscape context to determine bees’ pesticide risk

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(4), P. 547 - 556

Published: Feb. 27, 2023

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 assays pollen nectar collected by Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris Osmia bicornis, representing extensive, intermediate limited foraging traits. found that extensive foragers (A. mellifera) experienced highest risk-additive toxicity-weighted concentrations. only (B. terrestris) (O. bicornis) responded context-experiencing lower less land. Pesticide correlated among bee species between food sources was greatest A. mellifera-collected pollen-useful information future postapproval monitoring. provide trait- landscape-dependent occurrence, concentration identity encounter estimate risk, is necessary more realistic assessment essential tracking policy goals reduce risk.

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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Flower plantings support wild bee reproduction and may also mitigate pesticide exposure effects

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 59(8), P. 2117 - 2127

Published: May 28, 2022

Abstract Sustainable agriculture relies on pollinators, and wild bees benefit yield of multiple crops. However, the combined exposure to pesticides loss flower resources, driven by agricultural intensification, contribute declining diversity abundance many bee taxa. Flower plantings along margins fields offer diverse food resources not directly treated with pesticides. To investigate potential mitigate pesticide effects support reproduction, we selected replicated sites in intensively farmed landscapes where half contained plantings. We assessed solitary Osmia lignaria bumble Bombus vosnesenskii nesting reproduction throughout season these landscapes. also quantified local landscape used bee‐collected pollen determine forage resource use risk. plantings, their increased O. probability. was more strongly related than resources. Bees at without experienced similar risk, flowers, alongside flowers landscape, were sources particularly for . mitigated negative B. reproduction. Synthesis applications are threatened through intensification. Therefore, finding solutions deficiency is urgent. Our findings point towards as a solution populations mitigating providing key forage. Further investigation balance between benefits added risk needed reveal contexts net occur.

Language: Английский

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Evidence of exploitative competition between honey bees and native bees in two California landscapes

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 92(9), P. 1802 - 1814

Published: June 29, 2023

Human-mediated species introductions provide real-time experiments in how communities respond to interspecific competition. For example, managed honey bees Apis mellifera (L.) have been widely introduced outside their native range and may compete with for pollen nectar. Indeed, multiple studies suggest that overlap use of floral resources. However, resource negatively impact collection by bees, availability must also decline, few investigate impacts bee competition on visits simultaneously. In this study, we increasing abundance visitation patterns, diets, nectar two Californian landscapes: wildflower plantings the Central Valley montane meadows Sierra. We collected data flowers, availability, carried bodies across sites Sierra Valley. then constructed plant-pollinator networks assess impacted perceived apparent (PAC), a measure niche overlap, pollinator specialization (d'). compared PAC values against null expectations address whether observed changes were greater or less than what would expect given relative abundances interacting partners. find clear evidence exploitative both ecosystems based following results: (1) increased between (2) led decreased (3) responded shifting visits, some becoming more specialized others generalized depending ecosystem taxon considered. Although can adapt coexistence is tenuous will depend availability. Preserving augmenting resources therefore essential mitigating negative California ecosystems, decreases flowers alters diets potential implications conservation wildlands management.

Language: Английский

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Moving past neonicotinoids and honeybees: A systematic review of existing research on other insecticides and bees

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 235, P. 116612 - 116612

Published: July 14, 2023

Synthetic pesticides (e.g. herbicides, fungicides and insecticides) are used widely in agriculture to protect crops from pests, weeds disease. However, their use also comes with a range of environmental concerns. One key concern is the effect insecticides on non-target organisms such as bees, who provide pollination services for wild plants. This systematic literature review quantifies existing research bees broadly, then focuses more specifically non-neonicotinoid non-honeybees. We find that articles honeybees (Apis sp.) account 80% all research, other combined making up 20%. Neonicotinoids were studied 34% across most insecticide class non-honeybees overall, almost three times many studies than second class. Of classes non-honeybees, pyrethroids organophosphates followed by carbamates, represented bee taxa bumblebees (Bombus), leaf-cutter (Megachile) mason (Osmia). Research has taken place several countries, highest numbers Brazil US, notable gaps countries Asia, Africa Oceania. Mortality was type, while sub-lethal effects behaviour less studied. Few tested how influenced multiple pressures, climate change co-occurring (cocktail effects). As anthropogenic pressures do not occur isolation, we suggest future addresses these knowledge gaps. Given changing global patterns use, increasing inclusion both pesticide risk assessment, there need expanding beyond its current state ensure strong scientific evidence base development assessment associated policy.

Language: Английский

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A review of the influence of environmental pollutants (microplastics, pesticides, antibiotics, air pollutants, viruses, bacteria) on animal viruses

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 468, P. 133831 - 133831

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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Understanding interactive effects between habitat configuration and pesticide use for pollination: towards better informed landscape management

Ecological Processes, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 3, 2025

The restoration of natural landscape elements is a frequently adopted pathway to improve wild pollinator abundance, diversity, and their pollination services in intensively used agricultural landscapes. However, pollinators the intended refuges can become exposed agrochemicals when foraging surrounding fields. In order effectively design conservation measures such as habitat or pesticide reduction schemes, effect land use configuration on exposure service requires further investigation. We developed model that extends existing approaches by simulating both flights concurrent toxic pesticides, enabling estimation impacts services. calculated health for set artificial landscapes, which varied percentage agriculture, clustering these uses, well mortality hazard arising from pesticides applied agriculture. Our results show landscapes with less than 10% highly are mostly safeguarded compact patches habitat, this shelters more exposure. With increasing amount applications causing 50% pollinators, dispersed achieve better landscape. tested application different ranges realistic scenario. For shorter ranges, immediate surroundings determines achieved pollination. species longer availability resources at scale controls study highlights importance assessing spatial effects local pollinators. By applying insights, managers devise arrangements protect habitats establish buffer zones support activity pesticide-intensive As current guidelines largely lack spatially-explicit measures, we suggest direct future research policies towards underlying processes facilitation parcel, farm, scale. online version contains supplementary material available 10.1186/s13717-025-00587-z.

Language: Английский

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Honey bee immune response to trace concentrations of clothianidin goes beyond the macronutrients found in artificial diets

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: March 28, 2025

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) often encounter a variety of stressors in their environment, including poor nutrition and pesticides. These interact can be exacerbated large-scale agroecosystems. We investigated how diets varying macronutrient ratios affect nurse bee susceptibility to pesticide stressors. Nurse were fed trace concentrations clothianidin (CLO), neonicotinoid insecticide known have sublethal lethal effects on honey bees, after newly emerged given proteins lipids, natural pollen diet, or sucrose solution diet. Bees had improved longevity, physiology, enzyme activity, gene expression related detoxification. The artificial helped improve health physiology but did little promote detoxification enzymes genes. There was no effect the CLO treatments its own, there an interactive between our higher treatment longevity vitellogenin expression. Our results suggest that (1) exposure even with undermine adult (2) macronutrients help other nutrients pollen, such as potentially phytochemicals, are more directly linked tolerance stress.

Language: Английский

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