This section is focused on results from different experiments and parts of the BALANCE PROJECT that have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. All articles are published open access and hence can be downloaded from the publishers website without any costs. Newest publications appear on top of the section. This section is also updated regularly with newly published articles.
Herbertsson L, Klatt BK, Blasi M, Rundlöf M, Smith HG (2022). Seed-coating of rapeseed (Brassica napus) with the neonicotinoid clothianidin affects behaviour of red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) and pollination of strawberry flowers (Fragaria x ananassa). Plos one 17, e0273851.
In a mesocosm experiment, it was tested wether insecticide treatment on one crop can affect pollination and yield of another untreated crop. Treatment of oilseed rape with the neonicotinoid clothianidin increased time for flower visitation by red mason bees and thereby reduced the bees' pollination efficiency compared with mesocosm with untreated oilseed rape. Untreated strawberry plants had lower yield in mesocoms with treated oilseeed rape.
Link to the article on publishers website
Knapp JL, Bates A, Jonsson O, Klatt BK, Krausl T, Sahlin U, Svensson GP, Rundlöf M (2022). Pollinators, pests and yield — Multiple trade-offs from insecticide use in a mass-flowering crop. J Appl Ecol 59, 2419-2429.
The study aimed to investigate potential trade-offs between pest control and pollination in red clover. Whereas there was no effect on nectar production or bee visitation of red clover, the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid reduced seed-eating weevils and increased seed yield. Red clover in the landscape had a positive effect on bumblebee colony development independent on insecticide treatment.
Link to the article on publishers website
Klatt BK, de La Vega B, Smith HG (2021). Altered winter conditions impair plant development and yield in oilseed rape. J Agric Res 5, 100160.
Climate change is leading to rapidly changing environmental conditions with hitherto limitedly investigated effects for crop production. In an experiment conducted in climate chambers, autumn-sown oilseed rape plants were exposed to different winter conditions and afterwards placed in a mesocosm to provide natural pollination. Plant development was strongly reduced by shorter winter and even more so by warm winter conditions. Yield was strongly reduced by an extreme weather event that destroyed the plants before harvest but also by alterated winter conditions.
Link to the article on publishers website
Van Oystaeyen A, Klatt BK, Petit C, Lenaerts N, Wäckers F (2021). Short-term lab assessments and microcolonies are insufficient for the risk assessment of insecticides for bees. Chemosphere 273, 128518.
Risk assessment for pesticide exposure on bees is a widely discussed field and recent investigations of the European Food and Safety Authority EFSA came to the conclusion that regulations will have to be changed. In this study, different setups to investigate potential risks of insecticides to bumblebees were tested. Results show that the only sufficient tests are provided when fully functional bumblebee colonies are used under outdoor conditions over a longer time, whereas studies conducted in the laboratory, short-term studeis or studies using microcolonies (colonies without a queen where workers lay eggs and only males are produced) are insufficient.