UNASSIGNED: There is a pressing need to better understand the factors contributing to declines of wild pollinators such as bumblebees. Many different contributors have been postulated including: loss of flower-rich habitats and nesting sites; monotonous diets; impacts of invasive pathogens; exposure to pesticides such as neonicotinoids. Past research has tended to investigate the impacts of these stressors in isolation, despite the increasing recognition that @entity5157 are simultaneously exposed to a combination of stressors, with potentially additive or synergistic effects. No studies to date have investigated the combined effects of a monotonous diet and exposure to pesticides. Using queenless micro-colonies of @entity20993 audax, we examined this interaction by providing @entity5157 with monofloral or polyfloral pollen that was either contaminated with field-realistic levels of @entity14155 , a commonly used neonicotinoid, or not contaminated. Both treatments were found to have a significant effect on various parameters relating to micro-colony performance. Specifically, both pesticide-treated micro-colonies and those fed monofloral pollen grew more slowly than those given polyfloral pollen or pollen without pesticides. The two factors appeared to act additively. Micro-colonies given monofloral pollens also exhibited lower reproductive efforts and produced smaller drones. Although further research is needed to examine whether similar effects are found in whole colonies, these findings increase our understanding of the likely effects of multiple stressors associated with agricultural intensification on @entity5157 declines.

The combined effects of a monotonous diet and exposure to XXXX on the performance of bumblebee micro-colonies.

@entity14155 :: ('MESH:C416660', 'Chemical') :: ['thiamethoxam'] @entity20993 :: ('30195', 'Species') :: ['Bombus terrestris'] @entity5157 :: ('7460', 'Species') :: ['bees', 'bee']
@entity14155 :: (MESH:C416660,Chemical) :: ['thiamethoxam']
