21 research outputs found
Selenium Toxicity to Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Pollinators: Effects on Behaviors and Survival
We know very little about how soil-borne pollutants such as selenium (Se) can impact pollinators, even though Se has contaminated soils and plants in areas where insect pollination can be critical to the functioning of both agricultural and natural ecosystems. Se can be biotransferred throughout the food web, but few studies have examined its effects on the insects that feed on Se-accumulating plants, particularly pollinators. In laboratory bioassays, we used proboscis extension reflex (PER) and taste perception to determine if the presence of Se affected the gustatory response of honey bee (Apis mellifera L., Hymenoptera: Apidae) foragers. Antennae and proboscises were stimulated with both organic (selenomethionine) and inorganic (selenate) forms of Se that commonly occur in Se-accumulating plants. Methionine was also tested. Each compound was dissolved in 1 M sucrose at 5 concentrations, with sucrose alone as a control. Antennal stimulation with selenomethionine and methionine reduced PER at higher concentrations. Selenate did not reduce gustatory behaviors. Two hours after being fed the treatments, bees were tested for sucrose response threshold. Bees fed selenate responded less to sucrose stimulation. Mortality was higher in bees chronically dosed with selenate compared with a single dose. Selenomethionine did not increase mortality except at the highest concentration. Methionine did not significantly impact survival. Our study has shown that bees fed selenate were less responsive to sucrose, which may lead to a reduction in incoming floral resources needed to support coworkers and larvae in the field. If honey bees forage on nectar containing Se (particularly selenate), reductions in population numbers may occur due to direct toxicity. Given that honey bees are willing to consume food resources containing Se and may not avoid Se compounds in the plant tissues on which they are foraging, they may suffer similar adverse effects as seen in other insect guilds
Recommended from our members
Selective detection and identification of Se containing compounds - review and recent developments
The complexity of selenium (Se) chemistry in the environment and in living organisms presents broad analytical challenges. The selectivequalitative and quantitative determination of particular species of this element is vital in order to understand selenium’s metabolism andsignificance in biology, toxicology, clinical chemistry and nutrition. This calls for state-of-the-art analytical techniques such as hyphenatedmethods that are reviewed with particular emphasis on interfaced separation with element-selective detection and identification of the detectedselenium compounds. Atomic spectral element specific detection for monitoring chromatographic eluent enabled quantitative determinationof selenium species in selenized yeast and qualitative measurement for breath samples. Gas chromatography with atomic emission detection(AED) of ethylated species and fluoroacid ion pair HPLC applied to the analysis of currently produced or archived selenized yeast and Brassicajuncea have revealed the presence of a previously unrecognised Se–S amino acid, S-(methylseleno)cysteine
Recommended from our members
Identification and synthesis of a novel selenium-sulfur amino acid found in selenized yeast: Rapid indirect detection NMR methods for characterizing low-level Organoselenium compounds in complex matrices
3761-377
Recommended from our members