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Revealing antagonistic interactions in the adverse effects of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) microplastics in bumblebees
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Researchers exposed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) to polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) microplastics singly and in combination to assess sublethal effects on survival, feeding behavior, and memory. Single-type exposures reduced survival in a concentration-dependent manner but combined exposure showed antagonistic (no significant) survival effects; PMMA impaired memory while the mixture enhanced sucrose responsiveness, revealing complex interaction effects.
Microplastics pose a significant ecological threat, yet their actual impact on terrestrial ecosystems and organisms remains poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of two common microplastics, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS), on the pollinator Bombus terrestris, exploring their combined and sublethal effects at three different concentrations (0.5, 5 and 50 mg l-1). PMMA and PS single exposure reduced bee survival in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas combined exposure (MIX) had no significant effect. PS reduced bee sucrose responsiveness, PMMA had no significant effect and MIX enhanced it. Learning and memory tests showed impaired mid-term and early long-term memory in bees exposed to PMMA and PS, with concentration-dependent effects. Interestingly, MIX exposure had no effect on memory retention. Our findings emphasize the differential effects of individual microplastics on bumblebee behaviour, suggesting potential risks to pollinator survival, cognitive function and possibly overall colony health, but also unexpected antagonistic interactions between these pollutants. The PS-PMMA antagonistic interactions highlight a challenge in assessing the toxicity of microplastics. Combined effects may not mirror the individual toxicity of PS and PMMA, highlighting the need for a careful assessment of polymer interactions, especially in environments or organisms contaminated by different microplastics.
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Unravelling the microplastic menace: different polymers work in synergy to increase bee vulnerability
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Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) microplastics, both individually and combined, on honeybees. They found that the mixture of different microplastic polymers produced synergistic harmful effects that were worse than either polymer alone, including increased mortality and disrupted gut microbiota. The study highlights that real-world microplastic exposure, which typically involves mixtures of polymers, may pose greater risks to pollinators than single-polymer laboratory studies suggest.
Effects of different microplastic types and co-exposure on the survival of Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806) and its associated microbial communities
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Researchers fed honey bees three types of microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and polymethyl methacrylate) individually and in combination, and found that all treatments significantly reduced bee survival compared to controls. The combination of all three microplastic types had the strongest negative effect, and the gut microbial community showed time- and treatment-specific shifts that may represent an initial compensatory response to maintain functional stability.
Unravelling the microplastic menace: Different polymers additively increase bee vulnerability
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Researchers exposed bees to two common types of microplastics, both individually and combined, and found that the mixture caused additive harmful effects on survival and behavior. The microplastics impaired the bees' ability to learn and remember, which is critical for finding food and navigating. Since bees are essential pollinators for food crops, microplastic pollution threatening bee health could have indirect consequences for human food production.
Combined effects of microplastics and flupyradifurone on gut microbiota and oxidative status of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)
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Researchers found that honeybees exposed to both polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide flupyradifurone suffered significantly worse health outcomes than when exposed to either substance alone, including reduced survival and disrupted gut bacteria. The combination depleted beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria in the bees' guts, and supplementing with these bacteria improved survival. While focused on bees, this study demonstrates how microplastics can amplify the toxicity of other environmental chemicals, a principle that likely applies across species.
Combined exposure to flupyradifurone and microplastics: differential toxicity across three pollinator species.
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Researchers tested how microplastics combined with a pesticide (flupyradifurone) affected honeybees, bumblebees, and hoverflies. Pesticide alone caused most of the deaths, but in bumblebees, adding microplastics lowered the dose needed to be lethal. Effects varied by species, and a reliable toxic dose could not be determined for hoverflies.
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