Polystyrene microplastics reduce honeybee survival by disrupting gut microbiota and metabolism

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) pose significant risks to honeybee health. However, how microplastics (MPs) adversely influence honeybee survival through the gut pathway, especially the metabolic processes, remains poorly understood. To conduct the experiment, the honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) were exposed to PS-MPs (0.5 μm and 5 μm) at environmental concentrations of 25 mg/L and 50 mg/L for 21 days. Results revealed that PS-MPs reduced honeybee survival rates and food consumption. The accumulation of PS-MPs in honeybee guts caused structural damage to gut walls and elevated oxidative stress levels. Additionally, PS-MPs altered gut microbial communities, with a decrease in Lactobacillus and an increase in Bartonella. Gut metabolomics analysis indicated that PS-MPs disrupted metabolic pathways, upregulated amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, and downregulated alpha-linolenic acid and lipid metabolism. Our study offers important insights into the physiological effects of accumulated MPs on honeybees, highlighting the critical need for effective strategies to manage environmental pollutants.