Journal or Publishing Institution: Proceedings of Junior Science, Engineering, and Humanities Symposium
Author(s): Foulk, K.E. and Reeves, C.
Article Type: Study
Record ID: 702
Abstract: The world food supply and economy are directly dependent upon the pollination of crops and plants by honeybees. Due to the recently discovered condition known as Colony Collapse Disorder, the world honeybee population has declined significantly since 2006 (Kaplan 2008). It is estimated that one-third of all food in the human diet is dependent upon the work of honeybees; therefore, it can be assumed that the decline in honeybee population caused by Colony Collapse Disorder could lead to an acute decline in the world food supply (Delaplane 2000). Scientists have hypothesized that several possible factors may contribute to Colony Collapse Disorder, including the use of herbicides (Kaplan 2008). The purposes of this research are to determine whether there is a correlation between the use of Roundup QuikPro®, a glyphosate-containing herbicide, and the occurrence of Colony Collapse Disorder in bee populations from the State of Missouri, and to determine whether there is an increased mortality rate in honeybees that have been exposed to glyphosate-supplemented diets when compared to those that have been fed pure sugar water. Samples of bees and honey of hives from colonies that have and have not been affected by Colony Collapse Disorder were collected from beekeepers located throughout the State of Missouri. These samples were analyzed using a liquid-chromatography mass spectrometer to detect traces of glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid. Nine hives, built according to a design described by Dr. Marion Ellis of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, were filled with bees, and the nine hives were divided into three groups of three hives each. Each group was fed one of the following: sugar water, sugar water with glyphosate, or sugar water with Roundup QuikPro®. The amount of glyphosate added was based on a study performed by Blackburn and Boutin (2003). All hives were kept in a dark, humidified room located in the science department in Camdenton High School, Camdenton, MO. Data on mortality were collected and subjected to a two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Samples of bees and comb from each experimental hive were analyzed using a liquid-chromatography mass spectrometer (USGS Water Research Facility, Lawrence, KS). The results of this study indicate that the mortality rate of bees that were fed glyphosate supplemented diets, both pure glyphosate and Roundup QuikPro®, were significantly greater than that of hives without glyphosate supplemented diets (p < 0.001). Results from the LS/MS are pending development of a new testing protocol by the USGS research facility for this project.
Citation: Foulk, K.E. and Reeves, C., 2009. Identifying the role of glyphosate-containing herbicides on honeybee mortality rates and colony collapse disorder. In Proceedings of Junior Science, Engineering, and Humanities Symposium, Camdenton, MO, USA (pp. 2-23).
