Preliminary Evidence That Fiji Water Has Protective Effects against Aluminum Toxicity in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The honey bee (Apis mellifera) plays a crucial role as a pollinator in agricultural production. As such, it is important to protect the health of honey bees and their hives. One danger to honey bees is bioavailable aluminum chloride (AlCl3), which negatively impacts bee and hive health. Additionally, AlCl3 has been shown to cause impairments in foraging behavior and locomotion. We tested whether Fiji water reduced the impact of AlCl3 on honey bee rhythmicity, average daily activity, and mortality. The bees that received Fiji water and aluminum exhibited significant differences in rhythmicity, average daily activity, and mortality compared to the bees that received deionized (DI) water and aluminum. Overall, our findings provide tentative evidence that Fiji water may act as a protectant against the deleterious effects of AlCl3. ABSTRACT: Researchers have determined that bioavailable aluminum chloride (AlCl3) may affect honey bee behavior (e.g., foraging patterns and locomotion) and physiology (e.g., abdominal spasms). The purpose of these experiments was to determine if Fiji water reduces the impacts of AlCl3 toxicity in bees by measuring circadian rhythmicity (number of times bees crossed the centerline during the day and night), average daily activity (average number of times bees crossed the centerline per day), and mortality rates (average number of days survived) using an automated monitor apparatus. Overall, the AlCl3 before and after Fiji groups had significantly higher average daily activity and rhythmicity rates compared to their respective AlCl3 before and after deionized water (DI) groups. One of the AlCl3 before DI groups exhibited no difference in rhythmicity rates compared to its respective AlCl3 after Fiji group. Overall, these results suggest that Fiji water might exert protective effects against AlCl3. The AlCl3 groups paired with Fiji water had higher activity and rhythmicity levels compared to the AlCl3 groups paired with DI. It is important for researchers to continue to study aluminum and possible preventatives for aluminum uptake.