Abstract
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.
Acknowledgements
We thank Teresa Zeni, Theresia Telser, and Florian Reischer for assistance in the laboratory; Joelle Kröll, Alexa Nitzel, and Sebastian Wildauer for help with geometric morphometrics; Wolfgang Arthofer for help with assembling field equipment; Hohe Tauern National Park Administration for the collection permit; Ludwig Neureiter for providing the gate pass to Kolm-Saigurn; the teams of Naturfreunde Haus in Kolm-Saigurn for support with sample storage; and three anonymous reviewers for constructive criticism of an earlier version of the paper.
Funding
Our study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG V-A programme Austria—Germany/Bavaria 2014-2020 (AB173), with co-financing from the Central Institution for Meterology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), Vienna, the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, and the University of Innsbruck and a Research grant of the National Parks Austria.
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Hierlmeier-Hackl, V.R., Krapf, P., Gurten, S. et al. Trophic-level dependent concentrations of forever chemicals in insects of pristine areas are linked to morphological changes.
Commun Biol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10586-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10586-1
Source: Ecology - nature.com
