Chernobyl-level radiation exposure damages bumblebee reproduction: a laboratory experiment.

ABSTRACT: The consequences for wildlife of living in radiologically contaminated environments are uncertain. Previous laboratory studies suggest insects are relatively radiation-resistant; however, some field studies from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone report severe adverse effects at substantially lower radiation dose rates than expected. Here, we present the first laboratory investigation to study how environmentally relevant radiation exposure affects bumblebee life history, assessing the shape of the relationship between radiation exposure and fitness loss. Dose rates comparable to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (50-400 µGy h^-1) impaired bumblebee reproduction and delayed colony growth but did not affect colony weight or longevity. Our best-fitting model for the effect of radiation dose r

SUBMITTER: Raines KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7661291 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature