Replication, effect sizes and identifying the biological impacts of pesticides on bees under field conditions

Woodcock, Ben A. and Heard, Matthew S. and Jitlal, Mark S. and Rundlof, Maj and Bullock, James M. and Shore, Richard Francis and Pywell, Richard F. (2016) Replication, effect sizes and identifying the biological impacts of pesticides on bees under field conditions. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53. pp. 1358-1362. ISSN 0021-8901

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Summary Honeybees have world-wide importance as crop pollinators. To ensure their persistence in agricultural systems, statistically robust field trials of plant protection products are vital. We consider the implications of regulations from the European Food Safety Authority that require the detection of a 7% effect size change in bee colony sizes under field conditions. Based on a power analysis, we argue that the necessary levels of replication (68 replicates) may pose practical constraints to field testing. Policy implications. Regulatory studies benefit from data sources collated over a range of spatial scales, from laboratory to landscapes. Basing effect size thresholds solely on expert judgement, as has been done, may be inappropriate. Rather, definition through experimental or simulation studies that assess the biological consequences of changes in colony size for bee populations is required. This has implications for regulatory bodies outside the European Union.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Applied Ecology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303
Subjects:
?? agriculturebumblebeesexperimental designhoneybeesneonicotinoidspesticidespollinatorsregulatory risk assessmentstatistical power testingecology ??
ID Code:
80241
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
19 Nov 2019 12:10
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 16:10