Can AI-powered monitoring, and modeling bridge the knowledge gap between honey bee ecotoxicology studies in the lab and field?

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

1:30 PM – 1:42 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 224 B, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

SK

Silvio Knaebe

Scientist
Eurofins Agroscience Services
Niefern-Oeschelbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Co-Author(s)

MW

Ming Wang

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
FT

Frederic Tausch

APIC
Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
KS

Katharina Schmidt

APIC
Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
MD

Matthias Diehl

APIC
Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
HB

Holger Bargen

Eurofins Agroscience Services
Niefern, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
FF

Farnaz Faramarzi

Eurofins Agroscience Services
Niefern, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
VG

Volker Grimm

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany

Chemical insecticides are essential for modern agriculture, but their impact on non-target organisms necessitates rigorous regulation to prevent environmental harm. The European Union has banned the use of three neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and clothianidin) due to the fact, that no usage that is safe for pollinators, could be established. The neonics have an established laboratory toxicity, particularly their neurotoxic effects at sublethal doses impairing cognitive functions. However, field studies have not consistently replicated these findings. To investigate the effects of sublethal neonicotinoid exposure in real-world settings, two small-scale feeding studies were conducted five years apart. Standard beehives were equipped with AI-supported bee monitoring technology to assess bee activity including pollen collection. For ten days, bees were fed a sublethal dose of imidacloprid (200 µg/kg sugar), followed by a 21-day observation period (one brood cycle). Both studies revealed a significant reduction in the number of pollen-collecting bees. This observation was successfully modeled using BEEHAVE, a mechanistic simulation tool. Model interpretation suggested that imidacloprid exposure increased the duration of foraging trips for pollen-collecting bees. These findings bridge the gap between laboratory and field observations, demonstrating the real-world impact of sublethal neonicotinoid exposure on bee behavior, and highlighting the need for continued monitoring and research in real-world settings.