Katarzyna Zajfert

Ms. Katarzyna Zajfert

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 April 2026 in Agriculture
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AMAgnieszka Murawska
Agnieszka Murawska
KZKatarzyna Zajfert
Katarzyna Zajfert
NBNatalia Białecka
Natalia Białecka
PKPatrycja Kleszczyńska
Patrycja Kleszczyńska
KLKrzysztof Latarowski
Krzysztof Latarowski
PMPaweł Migdał
Paweł Migdał
The effects of fungicides on pollinators remain relatively understudied despite their widespread use and high likelihood of environmental exposure. We assessed the effects of a single exposure to the commercial formulation Tebucur® 250 EW (containing tebuconazole as the active ingredient) on learning and memory in Bombus terrestris workers. Using the Free-Moving Proboscis Extension Response (FMPER) paradigm, bees were exposed to two concentrations: 9.4 µg of tebuconazole per mL (group T 1/100) and 94 ng of tebuconazole per mL (group T/10,000) of tebuconazole through either pure sucrose (Method 1) or Tebucur® 250 EW-supplemented sucrose (Method 2) during conditioning. No significant differences between groups were detected during the learning phase (all p > 0.05). In contrast, significant differences emerged during the memory test at the earliest time point (5 min). In Method 1, bees exposed to the higher concentration (treatment group T 1/100) showed significantly lower performance compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In Method 2, the lowest performance was observed in the group exposed to the lower concentration (treatment group T 1/10,000; p < 0.01). No significant differences were detected at later time points (10 and 30 min). These results indicate that a single exposure to Tebucur® 250 EW (active ingredient: tebuconazole, 250 g/L) can affect short-term memory in bumblebees without impairing initial learning performance. Although the observed effects were subtle and time-limited, they may have important implications for foraging efficiency and pollination under natural conditions.