Abstract
The ongoing loss of global biodiversity is endangering ecosystem functioning and human food security. While environmental pollutants are well known to reduce fertility, the potential effects of common neonicotinoid insecticides on insect fertility remain poorly understood. Here, we show that field-realistic neonicotinoid exposure can drastically impact male insect fertility. In the laboratory, male and female solitary bees Osmia cornuta were exposed to four concentrations of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam to measure survival, food consumption, and sperm traits. Despite males being exposed to higher dosages of thiamethoxam, females revealed an overall increased hazard rate for survival; suggesting sex-specific differences in toxicological sensitivity. All tested sublethal concentrations (i.e., 1.5, 4.5 and 10 ng g−1) reduced sperm quantity by 57% and viability by 42% on average, with the lowest tested concentration leading to a reduction in total living sperm by 90%. As the tested sublethal concentrations match estimates of global neonicotinoid pollution, this reveals a plausible mechanism for population declines, thereby reflecting a realistic concern. An immediate reduction in environmental pollutants is required to decelerate the ongoing loss of biodiversity.
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Author: PeterNeumann
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter_Neumann5 Education:
Umhabilitation in Zoology - University of Bern (2007); Habilitation in Zoology - MLU Halle-Wittenberg (2004); PhD (1998) in Molecular Ecology - MLU Halle-Wittenberg; MSc (1994) in Ecology - FU Berlin
Major academic positions:
Since 2013: Vinetum Professor of Bee Health, Director Institute of Bee Health - University of Bern; President COLOSS association; Extraordinary Professor - University of Pretoria;
2015-2018: Adjunct Professor - Chiang Mai University; Chair research network European honey bees surviving Varroa destructor by means of natural selection;
2014-2018: Vice Chair COST Action SUPER-B (SUstainable Pollination in Europe: joint Research on Bees and other pollinators);
2008-2013: Chair COST Action COLOSS;
2009-2012: Senior Research Scientist - Agroscope - Bern;
2009-2012: Head of Bee Pathology - Agroscope - Bern;
2006-2009: Research Scientist - Agroscope - Bern;
2005-2006: Chair reseach network Diagnosis and control of small hive beetles;
2004-2005: Professor per procurationem for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity of Animals - MLU Halle-Wittenberg;
2001-2005: Emmy Noether Fellow - MLU Halle-Wittenberg;
1999-2001: Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Rhodes University
Awards and fellowships: 5 personal awards (incl. taxonomic patronym: Nosema neumanni n. sp. (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) and 9 fellowships (incl. Academia Europea Fellow 2014); 14 awards of supervised students (best poster - best talk - distinguished thesis)
Output: >70 grants with >11.0 Mio €; >250 papers in international peer-reviewed journals
