Metals could challenge pollinator conservation in legacy cities

Scott, Sarah B.; Sivakoff, Frances S.; Meuti, Megan E.; Gardiner, Mary M.

doi:10.1007/s10841-023-00474-y

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 132 publications

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“…Such unidirectional gene flow from a source population to a sink population can also lead to genetic homogeneity (Matschiner et al, 2009). For instance, cities might act as 'attractive sinks' (Delibes et al, 2001), providing abundant and diverse flowers and nesting habitats but potentially causing reduced fitness due to factors like metal contamination, which has been linked to longer development times and increased brood mortality in pollinators (Scott et al, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic connectivity is maintained in two insect pollinators across a human‐altered landscape

Schleimer,

Wittische,

Luttringer

et al. 2024

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Population genetics is a valuable tool for assessing the impact of human‐altered landscapes on genetic connectivity in various species. However, when applied to insects, challenges arise due to potentially large effective population sizes (), high dispersal capacities and the recency of anthropogenic impacts. This study assessed the population genetic structure of two pollinators across a human‐altered landscape in Luxembourg. Samples from the ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria, N = 201) and the greater bee fly (Bombylius major, N = 637) were genotyped at 25 microsatellite loci, including a genotyping‐by‐amplicon‐sequencing approach for A. cineraria. Despite high statistical power of > 0.002 in B. major and > 0.0025 in A. cineraria, no deviations from genetic homogeneity were detected. For both species, there was no evidence for isolation‐by‐distance or genetic clustering. Genetic homogeneity was most likely the result of high levels of gene flow that compensate for the effects of genetic drift. Estimates of ranged between several thousand to tens of thousands, although precision was low. Simulations highlighted that genetic lag times can substantially affect our ability to detect recent (<50 generations) population differentiation when is very large. Lag times were shorter with data from 25,000 simulated di‐allelic loci, but only when sample sizes remained high. Insect genetic studies should consider lag times due to large and ensure sample size and markers offer adequate power to reject the null hypothesis of no landscape effect on genetic connectivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic connectivity is maintained in two insect pollinators across a human‐altered landscape

Schleimer,

Wittische,

Luttringer

et al. 2024

Insect Conserv Diversity

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“…Many pollinators are found in severely metal-altered land types; however, for their biological traits, it is difficult to ascertain the chronic metal contamination of an exact site [ 40 ]. Deepening the knowledge of how environmental pollutants along with other stressors (e.g., temperature changes and reduced habitat quality) influence pollinators’ health is required for conservation planning [ 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bee exposure to metals is known to be linked to local farming practices, including the usage of pesticides and fertilizers, but it is also connected to airborne metal content. Indeed, elevated concentrations of Cr, Cu, As, Cd, Al, and Zn can be found in urban soils near former industrial and waste disposal, as well as in landscapes far away from a metal point source [ 40 ]. As already highlighted by Goretti et al [ 7 ], enrichment of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Mn in honey bees was related to metal contamination occurring in different Umbrian land types.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, ROS enhancement, along with lowered GR activity, may promote Ni and Fe toxicity in bees. Although most studies examining how exposure to common soil contaminants (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn) within many legacy cities influence pollinator health, As, Cr, Ni, and Fe can also be recurrently found at elevated levels, severely triggering insect pollinators [ 40 ]. Indeed, the altered antioxidant biomarker levels may be recognized as early metal-mediated injury in honey bees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applying Artificial Neural Networks to Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Forager Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) for Ecological Assessment

La Porta,

Magara,

Goretti

et al. 2023

Toxics

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Insect pollinators provide an important ecosystem service that supports global biodiversity and environmental health. The study investigates the effects of the environmental matrix on six oxidative stress biomarkers in the honey bee Apis mellifera. Thirty-five apiaries located in urban, forested, and agricultural areas in Central Italy were sampled during the summer season. Enzyme activities in forager bees were analyzed using an artificial neural network, allowing the identification and representation of the apiary patterns in a Self-Organizing Map. The SOM nodes were correlated with the environmental parameters and tissue levels of eight heavy metals. The results indicated that the apiaries were not clustered according to their spatial distribution. Superoxide dismutase expressed a positive correlation with Cr and Mn concentrations; catalase with Zn, Mn, Fe, and daily maximum air temperature; glutathione S-transferase with Cr, Fe, and daily maximal air temperature; and glutathione reductase showed a negative correlation to Ni and Fe exposure. This study highlights the importance of exploring how environmental stressors affect these insects and the role of oxidative stress biomarkers. Artificial neural networks proved to be a powerful approach to untangle the complex relationships between the environment and oxidative stress biomarkers in honey bees. The application of SOM modeling offers a valuable means of assessing the potential effects of environmental pressures on honey bee populations.

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“…Numerous chemical and biological pollution pathways in urban areas are evident, but these urgently need further investigation to understand impacts on insect species and communities. Pollutants that require attention include the effect of volatile organic compounds on olfactory learning and memory (Leonard et al, 2019;Ryalls et al, 2022), potential impacts of pet parasiticides on urban freshwater invertebrates (Preston-Allen et al, 2023) and impacts of soil pollution on a range of below and above ground insects (Audusseau et al, 2020;Scott et al, 2023).…”

Section: Anthropogenic Pollution: Heat Noise Light and Other Contamin...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect ecology and conservation in urban areas: An overview of knowledge and needs

Collins,

Audusseau,

Hassall

et al. 2024

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Urban expansion across the globe profoundly impacts local biodiversity. The growing body of urban ecology research on animals has largely focused on mammals and birds, whereas knowledge of insect ecology and conservation in urban areas remains limited. To anchor this Special Issue (SI), we have taken a broad approach to editorial and conducted a structured literature search to set the scene. We provide here an overview of existing literature reviews on urban insect ecology and conservation, indicate where the articles included in this SI contribute to developing our understanding and point to priority areas for further investigation. Key themes in the growing literature (at individual, species, and/or community level) include the influence of habitat quality, quantity and land use type on insect diversity; the impacts of anthropogenic pollution (for instance, heat, noise, light and chemicals); habitat connectivity and changes in habitat structure and impacts of urban density on genetic diversity. Insect diversity and abundance broadly decline with urban density and loss of habitat. Beyond this, variation in responses of different taxa, or in different regions, and methodological limitations of individual studies make it challenging to identify general patterns. Insect ecology and conservation research in urban environments should focus on applying ecological theory to understand variation in diversity patterns; investigating interactions between climate change and urban contexts; identifying impacts of novel environments on insect biodiversity; addressing methodological limitations and harmonising methodological approaches; and exploring the influence of social and historical factors on urban insect biodiversity. Insect conservation must also consider research into how best to communicate the value of urban insects to urban humans.

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Metals could challenge pollinator conservation in legacy cities

Cited by 8 publications

References 132 publications

Genetic connectivity is maintained in two insect pollinators across a human‐altered landscape

Genetic connectivity is maintained in two insect pollinators across a human‐altered landscape

Applying Artificial Neural Networks to Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Forager Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) for Ecological Assessment

Insect ecology and conservation in urban areas: An overview of knowledge and needs

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