Neonicotinoid pesticides exert metabolic effects on avian pollinators

Abstract

Abstract Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic systemic insecticides applied extensively worldwide. The impacts of common neonicotinoids like imidacloprid on non-target invertebrate pollinators have been widely studied, however effects on vertebrate pollinators have received little attention. Here, we describe the first study evaluating the effects of short-term (3 d) exposure to a range of environmentally relevant concentrations ( $${0.2}\,\upmu \hbox {g g}^{-1}$$ 0.2 μ g g - 1 to $${2.5}\,\upmu \hbox {g g}^{-1}\cdot$$ 2.5 μ g g - 1 · Body Weight) of imidacloprid on wild-caught ruby-throated hummingbirds. Within 2 h of exposure, hummingbirds exhibited a significant depression in energy expenditure (up to $$25\% \pm 11\%$$ 25 % ± 11 % ). We did not observe significant effects on foraging behaviour measured in the subsequent 2 h to 4 h, although the effect size estimate was large (0.29). We also analyzed tissues collected 24 h after the final dose and did not observe significant effects on immune response or cholinesterase activity, although this may be related to our small sample size. We determined that hummingbirds excrete imidacloprid quickly (elimination half-life of $$2.1\hbox { h} \pm 0.1\hbox { h}$$ 2.1 h ± 0.1 h ) relative to other bird species. Hummingbirds have high energetic demands and store relatively little energy, especially during migration and breeding seasons. Therefore, changes in their metabolism following exposures to imidacloprid observed herein could bear important survivorship consequences for hummingbirds.