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Pesticides & Pollinators: Assessing the Impact of Chronic Sublethal Neonicotinoid Exposure on Behavioral Flexibility in Native Bumblebee Species

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Neonicotinoid pesticides are widely thought to be a major contributing factor in the recent worldwide decline of insect pollinators, yet mechanisms involved are poorly understood. I examined sublethal effects of chronic oral Clothianidin exposure on the behavior of bumblebees (Bombus impatiens). Foragers exposed to field-realistic doses showed a significantly reduced ability to flexibly switch between different floral resources. Pesticide-exposed foragers also showed a strong bias for selected flowers based on color rather than odor. These results suggest that chronic neonicotinoid exposure can impair neural functions required for foragers to effectively collect floral resources. Future work will determine if these behavioral changes in foragers are sufficient to cause population decline.

  • This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.
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  • E-project-043015-105940
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  • 2015
Date created
  • 2015-04-30
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