Thiamethoxam soil contaminations reduce fertility of soil-dwelling beetles, Aethina tumida.
Chemosphere
; 339: 139648, 2023 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37506888
ABSTRACT
There in increasing evidence for recent global insect declines. This is of major concern as insects play a critical role in ecosystem functionality and human food security. Even though environmental pollutants are known to reduce insect fertility, their potential effects on insect fitness remain poorly understood - especially for soil-dwelling species. Here, we show that fertility of soil-dwelling beetles, Aethina tumida, is reduced, on average, by half due to field-realistic neonicotinoid soil contaminations. In the laboratory, pupating beetles were exposed via soil to concentrations of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam that reflect global pollution of agricultural and natural habitats. Emerged adult phenotypes and reproduction were measured, and even the lowest concentration reported from natural habitats reduced subsequent reproduction by 50%. The data are most likely a conservative estimate as the beetles were only exposed during pupation. Since the tested concentrations reflect ubiquitous soil pollution, the data reveal a plausible mechanism for ongoing insect declines. An immediate reduction in environmental pollutants is urgently required if our aim is to mitigate the prevailing loss of species biodiversity.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Coleoptera
/
Environmental Pollutants
/
Insecticides
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Chemosphere
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos
Country of publication:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM