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<p>Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (PBTs) are notoriously harmful, but their impact on insects in remote areas remains insufficiently explored. We investigate effects of PBTs on insects at remote high elevations in the European Alps, using herbivorous bumblebees, omnivorous ants, and necrophagous beetles – species of three trophic levels. We detect 30 PBTs in the insects’ bodies, including mercury, brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The concentrations increase from herbivores to omnivores to necrophages. For mercury, the concentrations are even 120-fold higher in carrion beetles than in bumblebees. Individual PBTs correlate positively with fluctuating asymmetry values (FA) in all species, representing morphological change and suggesting reduced fitness. Inbreeding values, as alternative cause of FA, are low and unlinked to FA. Nevertheless, correlations become non-significant for certain combinations of species and substances when including measurement uncertainty using Monte Carlo simulations. The impact of specific PBTs on FA must therefore be considered carefully, and measurement precision is still a limiting factor for field studies. Our data highlight the exposition and accumulation of PBTs along trophic levels in insects of pristine areas and evidence detrimental effects. We conclude that PBTs are likely a driving factor of today’s insect decline.</p><p></p>

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Trophic-level dependent concentrations of forever chemicals in insects of pristine areas are linked to morphological changes

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

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  • Veronika Rosa Hierlmeier-Hackl,
  • Patrick Krapf,
  • Sabrina Gurten,
  • Carolin Margit Strutzmann,
  • Valentin Titus Schlenz,
  • Timotheus Kopf,
  • Wolfgang Moche,
  • Korbinian Peter Freier,
  • Florian Michael Steiner,
  • Birgit Christiane Schlick-Steiner

摘要

Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (PBTs) are notoriously harmful, but their impact on insects in remote areas remains insufficiently explored. We investigate effects of PBTs on insects at remote high elevations in the European Alps, using herbivorous bumblebees, omnivorous ants, and necrophagous beetles – species of three trophic levels. We detect 30 PBTs in the insects’ bodies, including mercury, brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The concentrations increase from herbivores to omnivores to necrophages. For mercury, the concentrations are even 120-fold higher in carrion beetles than in bumblebees. Individual PBTs correlate positively with fluctuating asymmetry values (FA) in all species, representing morphological change and suggesting reduced fitness. Inbreeding values, as alternative cause of FA, are low and unlinked to FA. Nevertheless, correlations become non-significant for certain combinations of species and substances when including measurement uncertainty using Monte Carlo simulations. The impact of specific PBTs on FA must therefore be considered carefully, and measurement precision is still a limiting factor for field studies. Our data highlight the exposition and accumulation of PBTs along trophic levels in insects of pristine areas and evidence detrimental effects. We conclude that PBTs are likely a driving factor of today’s insect decline.