A5018511161- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
- Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
- Agricultural safety and regulations
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Scientific Computing and Data Management
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Genetically Modified Organisms Research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
Trinity College Dublin
2023-2024
University College Dublin
2022-2024
Royal Holloway University of London
2020-2023
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
2020-2021
Abstract Pollinators underpin global food production, but they are suffering significant declines across the world. Pesticides thought to be important drivers of these declines. Herbicides most widely applied type pesticides and broadly considered ‘bee safe’ by regulatory bodies who explicitly allow their application directly onto foraging bees. We aimed test mortality effects spraying world's popular herbicide brand (Roundup ® ) bumble bees Bombus terrestris audax . used three Roundup...
Abstract Pollinators, particularly wild bees, are suffering declines across the globe, and pesticides thought to be drivers of these declines. Research into, regulation has focused on active ingredients, their impact bee health. In contrast, additional components in pesticide formulations have been overlooked as potential threats. By testing an acute oral dose fungicide product Amistar, equivalent doses each individual co-formulant, we were able measure toxicity formulation identify...
There is growing evidence that pesticides may be among the causes of worldwide bee declines, which has resulted in repeated calls for their increased scrutiny regulatory assessments. One recurring concern current frameworks biased towards assessing risks to honey bee. This paradigm requires extrapolating toxicity information across species. Most research effort therefore focused on quantifying differences sensitivity However, our understanding how responses vary within a species still very...
Abstract The impact of human-mediated environmental change on the evolutionary trajectories wild organisms is poorly understood. In particular, capacity species to adapt rapidly (in hundreds generations or less), reproducibly and predictably extreme unclear. Silene uniflora predominantly a coastal species, but it has also colonized isolated, disused mines with phytotoxic, zinc-contaminated soils. To test whether rapid, parallel adaptation anthropogenic pollution taken place, we used reduced...
How pesticides are used is very important in determining the risk they pose to both user, and environment. Given can have toxic properties, if misused could cause serious harm users health as well a range of environmental damage. Despite this, little research has quantified whether agricultural use compliant with legally binding obligations associated guidance surrounding application. In this survey we an online, fully anonymous, questionnaire ask Irish farmers about how pesticides. We...
Pesticides are recognised as a key threat to pollinators, impacting their health in many ways. One route through which pesticides can affect pollinators like bumblebees is the gut microbiome, with knock-on effects on immune system and parasite resistance. We tested impacts of high acute oral dose glyphosate microbiome buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), glyphosate's interaction (Crithidia bombi). used fully crossed design measuring bee mortality, intensity bacterial composition...
Pesticides pose a potential threat to bee health, especially in combination with other stressors, such as parasites. However, pesticide risk assessment tests pesticides isolation from stresses, i.e., on otherwise healthy bees. Through molecular analysis, the specific impacts of or its interaction another stressor can be elucidated. Molecular mass profiling by MALDI BeeTyping® was used haemolymph explore signature pesticidal and parasitic impacts. This approach complemented bottom-up...
Pesticides help produce food for humanity's growing population, yet they have negative impacts on the environment. Limiting these impacts, while maintaining supply, is a crucial challenge modern agriculture. Mitigation measures are actions taken by pesticide users, which modify risk of application to nontarget organisms, such as bees. Through these, pesticides can be reduced, with minimal efficacy pesticide. Here we collate scientific evidence behind mitigation designed reduce bees using...
Current global change substantially threatens pollinators, which directly impacts the pollination services underpinning stability, structure and functioning of ecosystems. Amongst these threats, many synergistic drivers, such as habitat destruction fragmentation, increasing use agrochemicals, decreasing resource diversity, well climate change, are known to affect wild managed bees. Therefore, reliable indicators for pollinator sensitivity threats needed. Biological traits, phenotype (e.g....
Abstract Bees are important pollinators in wild and agricultural ecosystems, understanding the factors driving their global declines is key to maintaining these pollination services. Learning, which has been a focus of previous ecotoxicological studies bees, may play role colony fitness. Here we move beyond standard single-stressor approach ask how multiple stressors, an agrochemical (sulfoxaflor, relatively new insecticide) parasite ( Crithidia bombi , prevalent gut bumblebees), impact...
Background Glyphosate is the world’s most used pesticide and it without mitigation measures that could reduce exposure of pollinators to it. However, studies are starting suggest negative impacts this on bees, an essential group pollinators. Accordingly, whether glyphosate, alone or alongside other stressors, detrimental bee health a vital question. Bees suffering declines across globe, pesticides, including have been suggested as being factors in these declines. Methods Here we test, range...
Many pollinators, including bumble bees, are in decline. Such declines known to be driven by a number of interacting factors. Decreases bee populations may also negatively impact the key ecosystem service, pollination, that they provide. Pesticides and parasites often cited as two drivers declines, particularly have previously been found interact with one another detriment health. Here we test effects an insecticide, sulfoxaflor, highly prevalent parasite, Crithidia bombi, on Bombus...
Bees and other pollinators are exposed to co-formulants adjuvants at very high levels in agriculture. Thorough, targeted, assessment of the toxicity is urgently required. Created with BioRender.com. Co-formulants do not have mitigation measures attached their use. Instead, they applied for formulation being sprayed with. This makes sense insecticide applications, where active ingredient likely be considerably more hazardous than or adjuvants. However, ingredients low intermediate toxicities...
Abstract The impact of human mediated environmental change on the evolutionary trajectories wild organisms is poorly understood. In particular, species’ capacity to adapt rapidly (in hundreds generations or less), reproducibly and predictably extreme unclear. Silene uniflora predominantly a coastal species, but it has also colonised isolated, disused mines with phytotoxic, zinc-contaminated soils. Here, we found that rapid parallel adaptation anthropogenic pollution taken place without...
Abstract Cuckoo bumblebees ( Bombus subgenus Psithyrus ) are social parasites that have lost the ability to establish their own nests, and instead usurp nest of a bumblebee host reproduce. Accordingly, they entirely dependent upon species complete life cycle, therefore vulnerable co–extinction. Despite this, current consensus is there remains much we do not know about fundamental ecology many cuckoo species, which crucial for conservation. To investigate data gaps bumblebees, conducted...
To understand the impacts of pesticides on non-targets, it is important to what pesticide products are authorised for use. Different formulations with same active ingredient can pose different risks non-target organisms due inclusion co-formulants which modify their toxicity. We collated datasets from United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland containing information all (pesticide adjuvants). reveal that there 2,463 use by professionals in UK, representing 266 ingredients. also amateur formulations,...
Pesticides, widely used in modern agriculture, are applied formulations that contain the main ingredient (active ingredient) and additional chemicals like solvents surfactants (co-formulants). Both active ingredients co-formulants can cause human environmental toxicity. However, under European Union United States law, full details of co-formulant composition kept secret from public researchers. Only producer regulators know details. Here I argue legislators should end 'co-formulant secrecy'...
To understand the impacts of pesticides on non-targets, it is important to what pesticide products are authorised for use. Different formulations with same active ingredient can pose different risks non-target organisms due inclusion co-formulants which modify their toxicity. We collated datasets from United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland containing information all (pesticide adjuvants). reveal that there 2,463 use by professionals in UK, representing 266 ingredients. also amateur formulations,...
Abstract Bees and pesticides is a topic which attracts considerable amount of research media attention. It also an applied topic, with experimental results informing policy. Policy decisions have‐real world consequences for food production need to be made using the best available evidence. This article aims entry point increasing number researchers now studying who may not have worked beforehand. We assumed general knowledge bee ecology, but no pesticides. build up base throughout article,...