Impacts of toxic cyanobacteria blooms on bees and their pollination services in agro-ecosystems

Water bodies in agricultural landscapes often host a wide range of highly potent cyanobacterial toxins to animal health (humans, fish or aquatic invertebrates) as a result of nutrient run-off from agriculture and the subsequent mass proliferation of toxic cyanobacteria.

We know very little on how these toxins affect bee pollinators when they are exposed through drinking water, and subsequently their pollination services.

In addition, these potential impacts could exacerbate with climate change because elevated temperatures are expected to intensity toxic cyanobacterial bloom formation, while simultaneously increase water requirements for bees.

In this project, we build on already existing preliminary evidence that links the importance of cyanobacterial toxin occurrence and water resource quality to bee health and pollination services.

In a series of controlled laboratory and mesocosm experiments, we will first evaluate how toxic cyanobacteria affect bee health at the individual and colony level, and under different climate scenarios.

We will then scale-up our experimental approaches to evaluate impacts of toxic cyanobacteria on bee health and pollination services under natural conditions in the field.

Expected results will provide critical mechanistic insights linking a largely ignored stressor (toxic cyanobacterial bloom occurrence in water bodies) with recent declines in bee diversity and abundance, and their pollination services in agro-ecosystems.