>Initial tests of toxicity performed on Artemia salina nauplii showed no
toxicity of the nectar, even at concentrations as high as1mg/ml. The theory
that bumble bee death is caused by poisonous nectar is thus refuted.

Wouldn't that test refute that tilia nectar was not toxic to brine shrimp?

Let's say that we dosed a bunch of mice with imidacloprid.  None would
die.  But I'd hesitate to claim that imidacloprid wasn't toxic to bumble
bees.

The authors' hypothesis that the bumblebees were simply dying of old age
may be correct.  However, it would first behoove them to feed some
bumblebees Tilia nectar and see whether there were adverse effects.  THAT
would refute the toxicity hypothesis.
-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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