Neonicotinoid pesticides can reduce honeybee colony genetic diversity

dc.contributor.authorForfert, Nadege
dc.contributor.authorTroxler, Aline
dc.contributor.authorRetschnig, Gina
dc.contributor.authorGauthier, Laurent
dc.contributor.authorStraub, Lars
dc.contributor.authorMoritz, Robin F.A.
dc.contributor.authorNeumann, Peter
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Geoffrey R.
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-21T13:10:38Z
dc.date.available2017-11-21T13:10:38Z
dc.date.issued2017-10-23
dc.descriptionS1 Table. Raw data of the worker offspring genotyping for each mated honeybee queens (Apis mellifera). Tweenty to 24 worker offspring (individuals) per queen were genotyped using five closely linked microsatellite loci (HB007, HB005, HB004, SV240 and HB15). Alleles were scored as fragment lengths in base pairs. Colony source refers to the colony from which queens were reared. Treatments are noted ªPº when the queens were exposed to neonicotinoids (thiamethoxam and clothianidin) during developmental stage, or ªCº for controls.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractNeonicotinoid insecticides can cause a variety of adverse sub-lethal effects in bees. In social species such as the honeybee, Apis mellifera, queens are essential for reproduction and colony functioning. Therefore, any negative effect of these agricultural chemicals on the mating success of queens may have serious consequences for the fitness of the entire colony. Queens were exposed to the common neonicotinoid pesticides thiamethoxam and clothianidin during their developmental stage. After mating, their spermathecae were dissected to count the number of stored spermatozoa. Furthermore, their worker offspring were genotyped with DNA microsatellites to determine the number of matings and the genotypic composition of the colony. Colonies providing the male mating partners were also inferred. Both neonicotinoid and control queens mated with drones originating from the same drone source colonies, and stored similar number of spermatozoa. However, queens reared in colonies exposed to both neonicotinoids experienced fewer matings. This resulted in a reduction of the genetic diversity in their colonies (i.e. higher intracolonial relatedness). As decreased genetic diversity among worker bees is known to negatively affect colony vitality, neonicotinoids may have a cryptic effect on colony health by reducing the mating frequency of queens.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2017en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Vinetum, Ricola, and Swiss National Science foundations, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, Agroscope, and the FIT BEE project (Bundesministerium fur Ernahrung und Landwirtschaft).en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.plosone.orgen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationForfert N, Troxler A, Retschnig G, Gauthier L, Straub L, Moritz RFA, et al. (2017) Neonicotinoid pesticides can reduce honeybee colony genetic diversity. PLoS ONE 12(10): e0186109. https://DOI.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0186109.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1371/journal.pone.0186109
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/63253
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.rights© 2017 Forfert et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.en_ZA
dc.subjectBeesen_ZA
dc.subjectNeonicotinoid insecticidesen_ZA
dc.subjectColonyen_ZA
dc.subjectHoneybee (Apis mellifera)en_ZA
dc.subjectExposureen_ZA
dc.subjectFrequencyen_ZA
dc.subjectEvolutionen_ZA
dc.subjectInsecticideen_ZA
dc.subjectBee coloniesen_ZA
dc.subjectSocial insectsen_ZA
dc.subjectRisk assessmenten_ZA
dc.subjectLearning performancesen_ZA
dc.subjectExtreme polyandryen_ZA
dc.titleNeonicotinoid pesticides can reduce honeybee colony genetic diversityen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Forfert_Neonicotinoid_2017.pdf
Size:
1.37 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Forfert_NeonicotinoidTabS1_2017.docx
Size:
119.69 KB
Format:
Microsoft Word XML
Description:
Table S1

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: