ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF BOSCALID AND COPPER-BASED COMPOUNDS ON POLLINATORS

Fungicides and heavy metals are essential tools in agriculture, but recent research has focused on their potential adverse effects on non-target organisms such as pollinators. Simultaneous exposure to multiple chemicals may also result in synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects with unpredictable consequences. The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of two fungicides widely used in agriculture (Boscalid and copper) on different pollinator species. Thirty-four articles evaluating the effects of these fungicides on Apis mellifera, Apis cerana cerana, Osmia lignaria, Osmia bicornis, Partamona helleri, Bombus huntii, Melipona quadrifasciata, and Syrphid were considered. Residues of Boscalid after field applications caused adverse effects on flight performance, memory, learning and nest recognition abilities, as well as microbiota composition in different pollinator species (e.g. sublethal doses of 0.063 mg/mL in Apis cerana, and 1.6 kg/ha in Osmia lignaria). Similarly, Copper-based compounds were found to exhibit acute toxicity to bees, influencing antioxidant enzyme activities at sublethal doses (e.g. 142.95 μg/ml of CuSO4 in Partamona helleri and 10 mg/L of CuCl2 in Apis Mellifera). Articles also highlighted the potential risks of long-term exposure to sublethal concentrations of chemicals on gut microbiota with impact on the microbial community composition, compromising honeybee immunity and indicating potential vulnerabilities within immune defence mechanisms. In a second phase the chronic effect of sublethal doses of copper chloride and Boscalid administered singularly and in combination was evaluated on Osmia bicornis in laboratories trials specifically set up to assess survival, microbiome, and biomarkers. Test were executed singularly on Osmia bees in test cages. In conclusion, shedding light on the effects of different phytosanitary products, such as Boscalid and copper-based compounds, in laboratory studies provides a foundational understanding crucial for subsequent investigations, informing agricultural practices and safeguarding non-target pollinators.