Abstract

Neonicotinoids are a globally prevalent class of pesticides that can negatively impact bees and the pollination services they provide. While there is evidence suggesting that colony size may play an important role in mitigating neonicotinoid exposure in bees, mechanisms underlying these effects are not well understood. Here, a recently developed, agent-based computational model is used to investigate how the effects of sub-lethal neonicotinoid exposure on intranest behavior of bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) are modulated by colony size. Simulations from the model, parameterized using empirical data on bumblebee workers exposed to imidacloprid (a common neonicotinoid pesticide), suggest that colony size has significant effects on behavior neonicotinoid-sensitivity within bumblebee nests. Specifically, differences are reduced between treated and untreated workers in larger colonies for several key aspects of behavior within nests. Our results suggest that changes in both number of workers and nest architecture may contribute to making larger colonies less sensitive to pesticide exposure.

Highlights

  • IntroductionAgricultural use of neonicotinoid pesticides may negatively affect bees (Cresswell, 2011; Rundlöf et al, 2015; Woodcock et al, 2016, 2017) and the ecosystem services they provide (Stanley et al, 2015a) by altering worker behavior (Gill et al, 2012; Whitehorn et al, 2012; Kessler et al, 2015)

  • Our goal is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of neonicotinoid exposure on worker behavior within bumblebee nests and how these effects are modulated by colony size

  • We used BeeNestABM to examine the effects of colony size and exposure treatment intensities on worker behavior

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Agricultural use of neonicotinoid pesticides may negatively affect bees (Cresswell, 2011; Rundlöf et al, 2015; Woodcock et al, 2016, 2017) and the ecosystem services they provide (Stanley et al, 2015a) by altering worker behavior (Gill et al, 2012; Whitehorn et al, 2012; Kessler et al, 2015). Mechanistic models of behavior within bee colonies can consider complex impacts of pesticides and other stressors under different scenarios (Bryden et al, 2013; Laycock and Cresswell, 2013; Sponsler and Johnson, 2016; Cresswell, 2017; Henry et al, 2017). Models have been developed for populations of bumblebees (Sponsler and Johnson, 2016; Thorbek et al, 2016; Betti et al, 2017; Henry et al, 2017; Becher et al, 2018) with and without exposure to neonicotinoids

Objectives
Results
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.