We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Negative effects of increased ozone concentrations and heat stress on bumblebees are exacerbated by microplastics
Summary
This experimental study found that microplastic exposure worsened the harmful effects of ozone pollution and heat stress on bumblebees. When combined, these stressors caused greater health damage than any single one alone, suggesting that microplastic pollution may amplify the impacts of climate change on important pollinators.
Working question: Does exposure of Bombus terrestris to ozone, heat stress, and microplastic (MP) pollution (individually and in combination) affect bumblebee health on individual level? Are effects more pronounced when individuals are exposed to multiple stressors? Experimental design --> B. terrestris individuals + ozone /+ heat stress /+ LDPE (low density poly ethylene) Experimental animals inidividuals: B. terrestris workers, picked form colonies the day before the experiment (into cages for acclimatization, fed with sugar water --> 1:1, Apiinvert:water) Divided into eight groups of 48 individuals (6 of each colony from 8 colonies, 3 individuals for fat body analyses, 3 individuals for proteome analyses) 384 workers in total (with eight individuals per colony as reserve for acclimatization, à 448 experimental animals) Multiple stressor experiment with individuals: Individuals were exposed to the stressors for 10 days. The individuals were kept in individual Nicot Queen cages, they were fed ad libitum with a ball of food dough (Apifonda + powdered sugar OR Apifonda + LDPE (20 µm - 75 µm) +powdered sugar; 0.8 g ± 0.1 g) attached to the top of the syringe and provided with water from the syringes ad libitum (4 ml). The tips of the syringes were shortened to ensure access to the water. The syringes were refreshed (food dough and water) every three days. To prevent the food dough from drying out, it was sprayed through the cage once a day (after ozone exposure/control exposure) with 2 ml deionised water. The Individuals were kept in climate cabinets (at 27°C or 33 °C, under constant darkness), from which they were taken daily for exposure to ozone/control exposure. After exposure, they were put back in the climate cabinets randomized to guarantee rotation within the cabinets. Exposure to ozone/control exposure was conducted daily for 2 hours in an airtight fumigated glass tank, positioned in an incubator. Prior to the 2 hours of exposure time, the values (RH 50 % - 80 %, T, O3 in ppb) were allowed to stabilize for 30 min (in which the animals were already in the closed glass tank). The 3-D coordintes of where an individual was positioned in the glass tank was noted upon loading of the glass tank. There were 8 Treatments: Control (C): Kept at 27 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 0 ppb O3, no MP in food dough MP: Kept at 27 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 0 ppb O3, 8.8 % LDPE in food dough Heat (H): Kept at 33 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 0 ppb O3, no MP in food dough Ozone (O3): Kept at 27 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 120 ppb O3, no MP in food dough MP+H: Kept at 33 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 0 ppb O3, 8.8 % LDPE in food dough MP+O3: Kept at 27 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 120 ppb O3, 8.8 % LDPE in food dough H+O3: Kept at 33 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 120 ppb O3, no MP in food dough MP+H+O3: Kept at 33 °C (50-80% relative humidity (RH)), 120 ppb O3, 8.8 % LDPE in food dough For all of the animals the weight was measured upon the end of the experiment . Individuals for fat body assays were euthanized on dry ice (cold + CO2) then frozen and stored at -20 °C.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Negative effects of increased ozone concentrations and heat stress on bumblebees are exacerbated by microplastics
This study found that microplastic exposure worsened the negative effects of heat stress and increased ozone levels on bumblebees. When bees were exposed to multiple stressors at once, including microplastics, the combined harm was greater than any single stressor alone. This matters because bees pollinate many of the crops humans eat, and their decline could affect food security.
Effects of microplastic, heat and ozone on Bombus terrestris mortality and relative fat body content
This study tested how microplastic exposure, heat stress, and ozone affect bumblebee survival and fat reserves. The results showed that combining multiple stressors, including microplastics, had worse effects on bees than any single stressor alone. Bumblebee health matters to humans because these pollinators are essential for producing many fruits and vegetables in our food supply.
Long-term exposure to microplastics and heat affects bumblebee behavior patterns, colony development and social networks
Bumblebee colonies were exposed to microplastics and/or elevated temperature (simulating climate warming) for one generation and monitored for individual behavior, colony development, and social network structure. Microplastic exposure combined with heat stress reduced colony size and altered foraging behavior and social network metrics, suggesting compounding effects on pollinator health.
Combined effects of microplastics and flupyradifurone on gut microbiota and oxidative status of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)
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.
Microplastic ingestion and co-exposure to Nosema ceranae and flupyradifurone reduce the survival of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)
Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastics, the insecticide flupyradifurone, and the gut parasite Nosema ceranae on honey bee health. They found that all treatments reduced bee survival compared to controls, with the three-way combination being the most harmful, and that microplastics and the pesticide increased parasite reproduction. The study suggests that microplastics may worsen the effects of other stressors on bee health, compounding existing threats to pollinators.