Project data

Insect pollinators are undergoing alarming declines, with chemical pollution identified as a key driver. Although ecotoxicological studies often focus on insecticides, pollinators in agricultural environments are also exposed to other chemicals, including fungicides, herbicides, heavy metals, and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Their effects remain largely understudied, and exposure to chemical mixtures is still poorly addressed in current risk assessments. POLYPOLL main goal is to cover these gaps by assessing the impact of different chemical pollutants, administered alone and in combination, on three model species with contrasting life history traits: the social honey bee A. mellifera, the solitary red mason bee O. bicornis and the hoverfly E. tenax. POLYPOLL specific aims are to: 1)determine species-specific responses to chemical stressors, including potential synergistic effects; 2)verify whether these stressors reduce survival, alter gut microbiome and induce sublethal toxicological effect; 3)identify key biomarkers and develop statistical models to rank stress levels for each investigated species. By assessing multi-biochemical and cellular biomarkers, POLYPOLL will clarify the molecular mechanisms by which pollinators respond to stressors, develop early warning signals, will improve knowledge on how chemical pollutants affect gut microbiome. The project will generate benefits aligned with the European Green Deal, supporting the transition to a sustainable food system.

 

Project website: https://site.unibo.it/polypoll/it

 

Disclaimer: Funded by Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), European Union – NextGenerationEU under the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) – Mission 4 “Education and Research” – Component C2 – Investment 1.1 “Fondo per il Programma Nazionale di Ricerca e Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN)”. PRIN 2022 notice issued by DD N. 104 of 02/02/2022 – Project code MUR: Prot. 2022MWASET.