Clothianidin seed-treatment has no detectable negative impact on honeybee colonies and their pathogens

Abstract

Interactions between multiple stressors have been implicated in elevated honeybee colony losses. Here, we extend our landscape-scale study on the effects of placement at clothianidin seed-treated oilseed rape fields on honeybees with an additional year and new data on honeybee colony development, swarming, mortality, pathogens and immune gene expression. Clothianidin residues in pollen, nectar and honeybees were consistently higher at clothianidin-treated fields, with large differences between fields and years. We found large variations in colony development and microbial composition and no observable negative impact of placement at clothianidin-treated fields. Clothianidin treatment was associated with an increase in brood, adult bees and Gilliamella apicola (beneficial gut symbiont) and a decrease in Aphid lethal paralysis virus and Black queen cell virus - particularly in the second year. The results suggest that at colony level, honeybees are relatively robust to the effects of clothianidin in real-world agricultural landscapes, with moderate, natural disease pressure.

Published in

Nature Communications
2019, volume: 10, article number: 692
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU Authors

• Goss, Julia

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
  • Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

• Wintermantel, Dimitry

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA)
  • The National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)

• Locke Grandér, Barbara

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jonsson, Ove

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Semberg, Emilia

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Onorati, Piero

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Forsgren, Eva

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bommarco, Riccardo

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Rodrigues de Miranda, Joachim

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08523-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/98483