Julia Desprat
Research interests
Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used in agriculture to prevent damage caused by insect pests. Owing to their mode of action, they have been considered much less toxic to vertebrates than insects. However, seed-eating vertebrates may be exposed to sublethal doses when they consume treated seeds, and studies suggest that sublethal effects, such as reduction of feeding, movement impairment or loss of functional reproduction may be induced at doses lower than the ones with acute toxicity. However, no studies have investigated whether very low chronic sublethal doses (e.g. daily doses of 0.05% of the LD50 over several weeks) of neonicotinoids have any impact on complex behavioural traits such as cognitive capacities. Using an experimental approach, my project aims to provide insights into the effects of chronic sublethal doses of neonicotinoids on the behaviours, the cognitive capacities and the physiology of small birds.
Publications
