Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees Molina-Montenegro MA, Acuna-Rodriguez AS, Ballesteros GI, Baldelomar M, Torres-Diaz C, Broitman BR, Vazquez DP. Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees. Sci. Adv. 9, eadh1455 (2023). doi:10.1126/sciadv.adh1455. Abstract We assessed the effect that electromagnetic field (EMF) exerts on honeybees’ pollination efficiency using field and laboratory experiments. First, we measured levels of gene and protein expression in metabolic pathways involved in stress and behavioral responses elicited by EMF. Second, we assessed the effect of EMF on honeybee behavior and seed production by the honeybee-pollinated California poppy and, lastly, by measuring the consequences of pollination failure on plants’ community richness and abundance. EMF exposure exerted strong physiological stress on honeybees as shown by the enhanced expression of heat-shock proteins and genes involved in antioxidant activity and affected the expression levels of behavior-related genes. Moreover, California poppy individuals growing near EMF received fewer honeybee visits and produced fewer seeds than plants growing far from EMF. Last, we found a hump-shaped relationship between EMF and plant species richness and plant abundance. Our study provides conclusive evidence of detrimental impacts of EMF on honeybee’s pollination behavior, leading to negative effects on plant community. Excerpts ... In this study, we used a combination of observational field studies and experimental manipulations using a purpose-built solenoid to simulate and assess the impacts of EMF induced by six high-voltage towers on honeybee’s physiology, behavior, and pollination service on the self-incompatible herbaceous plant Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) (Fig. 1A). The towers selected for this study were tall structures (20 m of height), built mainly with steel and some parts of copper, used to support a high-voltage overhead power line with an energy box storer in the upper section of the tower. These devices generate an EMF close to 10 μT, with a peak recorded between 12 and 17 m from the base of the tower and at 25 to 30 cm of height, and decrease to almost extinction at 200 m from the base of the tower (Fig. 1, B and C).... In summary, our findings support the notion that EMF can have direct negative impacts on pollination service by honeybees, with detrimental consequences on the seed output of insect-pollinated plant species and indirect negative impacts on plant community (abundance and richness) due to possible impairment in the pollination service required by the plant community (40). We also highlight that the magnitude of the impact of EMF on pollination service, at local scale, can be much greater than previously thought. Honeybees use electric fields for intraspecific (within hive) and interspecific (plant-pollinator) communication (9) and are able to detect the anthropogenic EMF, and their capacity for orientation, navigation, and foraging is being impaired, which would ultimately affect their health and survival (9, 28, 45). Our study provides strong evidence of detrimental effects of EMF on honeybee’s visitation and plant reproduction and may contribute to explaining, at least in part, the global pollination crisis that risks the adequate production of many crops. Open access paper: science.org

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using field and laboratory experiments (including a solenoid to simulate EMF from high-voltage towers), EMF exposure was associated with physiological stress responses in honeybees (enhanced heat-shock proteins and antioxidant-related gene expression) and altered expression of behavior-related genes. California poppy plants near EMF received fewer honeybee visits and produced fewer seeds than plants farther from EMF. Plant species richness and abundance showed a hump-shaped relationship with EMF.

Outcomes measured

• Gene expression in metabolic pathways related to stress and behavioral responses
• Protein expression (heat-shock proteins)
• Honeybee visitation/behavior (pollination efficiency)
• Seed production in California poppy
• Plant community richness
• Plant community abundance

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in provided abstract/excerpts
• EMF frequency characteristics not specified in provided abstract/excerpts (only field strength reported)
• Exposure duration/timing not specified in provided abstract/excerpts

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  Exposure source is high-voltage transmission infrastructure; relevant to power-line EMF context (not explicitly occupational in abstract).

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "high-voltage power line/towers (overhead transmission)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Honeybees; honeybee-pollinated California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and associated plant community",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Gene expression in metabolic pathways related to stress and behavioral responses",
        "Protein expression (heat-shock proteins)",
        "Honeybee visitation/behavior (pollination efficiency)",
        "Seed production in California poppy",
        "Plant community richness",
        "Plant community abundance"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Using field and laboratory experiments (including a solenoid to simulate EMF from high-voltage towers), EMF exposure was associated with physiological stress responses in honeybees (enhanced heat-shock proteins and antioxidant-related gene expression) and altered expression of behavior-related genes. California poppy plants near EMF received fewer honeybee visits and produced fewer seeds than plants farther from EMF. Plant species richness and abundance showed a hump-shaped relationship with EMF.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/excerpts",
        "EMF frequency characteristics not specified in provided abstract/excerpts (only field strength reported)",
        "Exposure duration/timing not specified in provided abstract/excerpts"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF EMF",
        "high-voltage towers",
        "power lines",
        "honeybees",
        "pollination",
        "heat-shock proteins",
        "antioxidant genes",
        "behavior-related genes",
        "seed production",
        "plant community richness",
        "plant community abundance"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Exposure source is high-voltage transmission infrastructure; relevant to power-line EMF context (not explicitly occupational in abstract)."
        }
    ]
}

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