Meeting Abstract
Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic systemic insecticides that have become the most widely used group of insecticides worldwide. These compounds affect the nervous system, interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses and impairing vital physiological processes. There is a growing concern about their environmental impacts, particularly linked to bee colony collapse disorder and drastic reductions in insect populations. While the loss of pollination services provided by bees to ecosystems and agriculture has been widely studied, the neonicotinoid effects in other pollinators such as hummingbirds haven’t been assessed yet. Hummingbirds in particular present a great risk of exposure to pesticides due to their high daily nectar intake, making them also more vulnerable to the adverse effects of these toxic substances. We examined the sublethal toxic effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid in captive Ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). Using a multibiomarker approach we evaluated biochemical, physiological and behavioral impairments. Two doses were tested, a high dose based on previous toxicity assessments in similar size species and a low dose calculated from the potential daily consumption of imidacloprid by hummingbirds feeding in blueberry crops. To determine cellular neurotoxic effects, Cholinesterase activity and oxidative stress response were measured. As physiological response Resting Metabolic Rate and immune function were examined. Likewise, the toxicokinetics of the insecticide were assessed through urine analyses. This is the first study assessing the effect of pesticides in hummingbirds, our results will provide insights of pesticide exposure as a potential threat for populations of these species and will help management agencies improve regulation.
