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Unit for Agricultural and Business Studies and Tourism, Academy of Applied Studies Šabac, Academy of Applied Studies Šabac , Šabac , Serbia
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Unit for Agricultural and Business Studies and Tourism, Academy of Applied Studies Šabac, Academy of Applied Studies Šabac , Šabac , Serbia
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Independent researcher, Independent researcher , Belgrade , Serbia
Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are reliable bioindicators of environmental quality due to their role as pollinators, their wide foraging range, and their continuous interaction with various components of the ecosystem. The aim of this paper is to examine the importance of honey bees as bioindicators by analysing the mechanisms of pollutant accumulation and their application in ecological risk assessment. During the collection of nectar, pollen, water, and plant resins, honey bees come into contact with pollutants originating from air, water, and soil, including heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastic particles, which can subsequently be detected in their tissues and bee products. In addition to chemical analyses, changes in the behaviour, physiological condition, and mortality of bee colonies represent important indicators of environmental contamination. Particular attention is given to pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, owing to their pronounced toxic and sublethal effects. Although research on the presence of microplastics in bee products is still evolving, current findings indicate their potential value in biomonitoring. Overall, honey bees represent an effective and cost-efficient tool for environmental biomonitoring, with considerable importance for ecological risk assessment and biodiversity conservation.
This work was self-funded by the authors, without external financial support.
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