A restatement of the natural science evidence base concerning neonicotinoid insecticides and insect pollinators.
There is evidence that in Europe and North America many species of pollinators are in decline, both in abundance and distribution. Although there is a long list of potential causes of this decline, there is concern that neonicotinoid insecticides, in particular through their use as seed treatments are, at least in part, responsible. This paper describes a project that set out to summarize the natural science evidence base relevant to neonicotinoid insecticides and insect pollinators in as policy-neutral terms as possible. A series of evidence statements are listed and categorized according to the nature of the underlying information. The evidence summary forms the appendix to this paper and an annotated bibliography is provided in the electronic supplementary material.
Oxford Martin School, c/o Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK neonics@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk.
H Charles J
HC
Godfray
Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Tjeerd
T
Blacquière
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK.
Linda M
LM
Field
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK.
Rosemary S
RS
Hails
Oxford Martin School, c/o Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
Gillian
G
Petrokofsky
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
Simon G
SG
Potts
School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK.
Nigel E
NE
Raine
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Edinburgh EH26 0QB, UK.
Adam J
AJ
Vanbergen
Oxford Martin School, c/o Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK neonics@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk.
Angela R
AR
McLean
D000691:Anabasine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000187:drug effects*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D054817:Pollination
D007306:Insecticides; D000691:Anabasine
bumblebee; honeybee; insecticides; neonicotinoids; pollination; pollinator