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Neonicotinoid pesticide limits improvement in buzz pollination by bumblebees
P R Whitehorn1,2, C Wallace3, M Vallejo-Marin3
1School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK. p.whitehorn.brown@kit.edu.
Scientific Reports
|November 16, 2017
Summary
Neonicotinoid pesticides impair bumblebees' ability to learn buzz pollination. Exposed bees collected significantly less pollen, impacting this vital ecosystem service.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Neonicotinoid pesticides contribute to declines in beneficial insects like bumblebees.
- Sub-lethal exposure to neonicotinoids causes neurotoxic effects, impacting learning and foraging.
- Complex behaviors, such as buzz pollination, may be particularly vulnerable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of chronic thiamethoxam exposure on bumblebee sonication behavior.
- To evaluate how pesticide exposure affects pollen collection efficiency over time.
- To understand the effects on buzz pollination strategies.
Main Methods:
- Field-realistic, chronic exposure of bumblebees to thiamethoxam.
- Monitoring the development of sonication buzz characteristics.
- Quantifying pollen collection from buzz-pollinated flowers over 10 trials.
Main Results:
- Bumblebees exposed to thiamethoxam showed less improvement in pollen collection with experience.
- Exposed bees collected 47-56% less pollen by the end of trials compared to controls.
- Two strategies for maximizing pollen collection were observed: extending buzz duration and overall buzzing time.
Conclusions:
- Neonicotinoid exposure compromises the development of buzz pollination skills in bumblebees.
- Impaired buzz pollination by bees can negatively affect this crucial ecosystem service.
- Complex behaviors essential for pollination are threatened by pesticide exposure.
