SolBeePop_ecotox: A Population Model for Pesticide Risk Assessments of Solitary Bees

Area of Science:

• Environmental toxicology
• Ecology
• Pollinator health

Background:

• Solitary bees are vital pollinators in agricultural landscapes, facing potential pesticide exposure.
• Assessing risks to diverse solitary bee species is challenging due to varied lifestyles and habitats.
• Population models are crucial for estimating pesticide effects and supporting risk assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present SolBeePop_ecotox, a trait-based population model for solitary bees.
• To incorporate pesticide exposure routes and effects into ecological risk assessments.
• To extend the model's applicability to various solitary bee species and scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Developed SolBeePop_ecotox, a population model for solitary bees.
• Integrated a simplified toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic model, BeeGUTS, for pesticide effects.
• Validated the model using semifield studies with Osmia bicornis.

Main Results:

• The model successfully simulated pesticide effects on solitary bees.
• Simulations were extended to hypothetical studies with soil-nesting species (Nomia melanderi, Eucera pruinosa).
• SolBeePop_ecotox demonstrated versatility for higher-tier risk assessments.

Conclusions:

• SolBeePop_ecotox is a valuable tool for ecological risk assessments of solitary bees.
• The model can estimate pesticide exposure effects and extrapolate data to untested conditions.
• This approach supports the conservation of diverse bee populations in agricultural ecosystems.