Lethal effects and sex-specific tolerance of copper and cadmium in the buff-tailed bumble bee

[en] Exposure to environmental pollutants, including trace metals, is a major driver of bee decline worldwide. While pesticides undergo standardised risk assessments (i.e., LD50) and the implementation of online databases, no such approaches exist for trace metals. Here, using acute oral exposure, we determined the LC50, LD50, and mass- standardised LD50 of copper and cadmium, essential and non-essential metals, respectively, in workers and males of the buff-tailed bumble bee. We also evaluated gut damage and sucrose consumption in workers post- exposure. Cadmium was more toxic than copper for workers at same doses, although both metals induced se- vere gut melanisation and reduced sucrose consumption at high concentrations. Males displayed higher tolerance to cadmium, but it was correlated to their higher body mass, emphasising the necessity for reporting mass- standardised LD50 for genuine sex comparisons in risk assessments. Our findings advocate for the establish- ment of databases focusing on metal-induced lethal effects on model bee species.

Disciplines :

Environmental sciences & ecology

Author, co-author :

Gekiere, Antoine ; Université de Mons - UMONS > Faculté des Sciences > Service de Zoologie

Breuer, Luna; UMONS - Université de Mons [BE] > Faculté des Sciences > Service de Zoologie

Dorio, Luca ; Université de Mons - UMONS > Faculté des Sciences > Service de Zoologie

Vanderplanck, Maryse ; Université de Mons - UMONS > Faculté des Sciences > Service de Zoologie

Michez, Denis ; Université de Mons - UMONS > Faculté des Sciences > Service de Zoologie

Language :

English

Title :

Lethal effects and sex-specific tolerance of copper and cadmium in the buff-tailed bumble bee

Publication date :

27 September 2024

Journal title :

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

ISSN :

1382-6689

Publisher :

Elsevier BV

Volume :

110

Pages :

104546

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668924001868

Research unit :

S869 - Zoologie

Research institute :

R100 - Institut des Biosciences

Funders :

FRS-FNRS

Available on ORBi UMONS :

since 28 August 2024

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