Agrochemicals interact synergistically to increase bee mortality

Siviter, Harry; Bailes, Emily J.; Martin, Callum D.; Oliver, Thomas R.; Koricheva, Julia; Leadbeater, Ellouise; Brown, Mark J. F.

doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03787-7

Cited by 219 publications

(211 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…In contrast to the observed synergistic negative effect on adult drone survival, we found that the two stressors had an antagonistic effect on drone emergence mass. Similar, contradictory observations were observed by a recent metaanalysis of agrochemical pesticide interactions, whereby proxies of honey bee fitness like behavior and physiology revealed additive or antagonistic effects, whereas synergistic effects were common on honey bee mortality (Siviter et al, 2021). A possible explanation for our observation may be because neonicotinoids are known to affect honey bee carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (Derecka et al, 2013;Cook, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Individually, they can elicit a range of negative consequences on honey bees, ranging from sub-lethal physiological and behavioral effects to lethal ones that result in reduced survival (Havard et al, 2020). When acting in concert, diverse effects are observed, ranging from antagonistic parasitic-pesticide interactions to synergistic pesticide-pesticide ones (Straub et al, 2020;Bird et al, 2021;Siviter et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions Between Varroa destructor Mites and Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Male Apis mellifera Honey Bees

et al. 2021

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Pressures from multiple, sometimes interacting, stressors can have negative consequences to important ecosystem-service providing species like the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). The introduced parasite Varroa destructor and the neonicotinoid class of insecticides each represent important, nearly ubiquitous biotic and abiotic stressors to honey bees, respectively. Previous research demonstrated that they can synergistically interact to negatively affect non-reproductive honey bee female workers, but no data exist on how concurrent exposure may affect reproductive honey bee males (drones). This is important, given that the health of reproductive females (queens), possibly because of poor mating, is frequently cited as a major driver of honey bee colony loss. To address this, known age cohorts of drones were obtained from 12 honey bee colonies—seven were exposed to field-relevant concentrations of two neonicotinoids (4.5 ppb thiamethoxam and 1.5 ppb clothianidin) during development via supplementary pollen patties; five colonies received patties not spiked with neonicotinoids. Artificially emerged drones were assessed for natural V. destructor infestation, weighed, and then allocated to the following treatment groups: 1. Control, 2. V. destructor only, 3. Neonicotinoid only, and 4. Combined (both mites and neonicotinoid). Adult drones were maintained in laboratory cages alongside attendant workers (1 drone: 2 worker ratio) until they have reached sexual maturity after 14 days so sperm concentration and viability could be assessed. The data suggest that V. destructor and neonicotinoids interacted synergistically to negatively affect adult drone survival, but that they interacted antagonistically on emergence mass. Although sample sizes were too low to assess the effects of V. destructor and combined exposure on sperm quality, we observed no influence of neonicotinoids on sperm concentration or viability. Our findings highlight the diverse effects of concurrent exposure to stressors on honey bees, and suggest that V. destructor and neonicotinoids can severely affect the number of sexually mature adult drones available for mating.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions Between Varroa destructor Mites and Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Male Apis mellifera Honey Bees

et al. 2021

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“…In contrast to our expectations, the colony strength (number of workers and brood) of the combined treatment was not different from the neonicotinoid and virus treatment. Thus, at colony level, the two stressors interact antagonistically, meaning that co-exposed colonies are doing better than expected if the individual effects of viruses and neonicotinoids are summed up 36 , 37 , 81 . These findings are in line with studies in bees suggesting that interactions between pesticides and pathogens are often antagonistic, particularly interactive effects on proxies of fitness such as behaviour, parasite load and immune responses 36 , 37 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, at colony level, the two stressors interact antagonistically, meaning that co-exposed colonies are doing better than expected if the individual effects of viruses and neonicotinoids are summed up 36 , 37 , 81 . These findings are in line with studies in bees suggesting that interactions between pesticides and pathogens are often antagonistic, particularly interactive effects on proxies of fitness such as behaviour, parasite load and immune responses 36 , 37 . Overall, these results highlight that the nature of stressor impacts and interactions strongly depends on the variable and effect level looked at.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, long-term exposure inevitably leads to co-exposure and potential interactions with other stressors. Although interactions amongst stressors are often assumed to be synergistic per se, they may be additive or even antagonistic depending on the nature of the stressors and susceptibility of an organism 36 , 37 , which in turn underlies inter- and intra-species specific variability 31 . Factors such as age, developmental stage or sex influence stressor susceptibility leading to within-species differences 31 , 38 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Varying impact of neonicotinoid insecticide and acute bee paralysis virus across castes and colonies of black garden ants, Lasius niger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Schläppi

Kettler

Glauser

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Pesticides and pathogens are known drivers of declines in global entomofauna. However, interactions between pesticides and viruses, which could range from antagonistic, over additive to synergistic, are poorly understood in ants. Here, we show that in ants the impact of single and combined pesticide and virus stressors can vary across castes and at the colony level. A fully-crossed laboratory assay was used to evaluate interactions between a sublethal dose of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) in black garden ants, Lasius niger. After monitoring colonies over 64 weeks, body mass, neonicotinoid residues and virus titres of workers and queens, as well as worker behavioural activity were measured. ABPV, but not thiamethoxam, reduced activity of workers. Neonicotinoid exposure resulted in reduced body mass of workers, but not of queens. Further, thiamethoxam facilitated ABPV infections in queens, but not in workers. Overall, virus exposure did not compromise detoxification and body mass, but one colony showed high virus titres and worker mortality. Although the data suggest additive effects at the level of individuals and castes, co-exposure with both stressors elicited antagonistic effects on colony size. Our results create demand for long-term holistic risk assessment of individual stressors and their interactions to protect biodiversity.

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Habitat area and local habitat conditions outweigh fragmentation effects on insect communities in vineyards

Bosco

Moser

Jones

et al. 2023

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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1. Fragmentation of habitat, for example by intensive agricultural practices, can be detrimental to local biodiversity. However, it often remains unclear whether such biodiversity declines are caused by loss of habitat area or increased fragmentation, and how habitat quality factors into it. In our study system, vegetated vineyards are typically small, and isolated from one another, potentially limiting the distribution and dispersal of organisms.2. In a full-factorial experiment of a priori selected vegetated vineyard patches of differing size and fragmentation, we aimed to disentangle the effects of habitat area (area of vegetated vineyards), habitat fragmentation (number of vegetated vineyards per 100 ha) and field-scale ground vegetation density on ground beetle, leafhopper and wild bee communities using a combined framework of multiscale and multispecies modelling (Hierarchical Model of Species Communities).

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Agrochemicals interact synergistically to increase bee mortality

Cited by 219 publications

References 44 publications

Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions Between Varroa destructor Mites and Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Male Apis mellifera Honey Bees

Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions Between Varroa destructor Mites and Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Male Apis mellifera Honey Bees

Varying impact of neonicotinoid insecticide and acute bee paralysis virus across castes and colonies of black garden ants, Lasius niger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Habitat area and local habitat conditions outweigh fragmentation effects on insect communities in vineyards

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