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Vázquez DE, Verellen F, Farina WM. Early exposure to glyphosate during larval development induces late behavioural effects on adult honey bees. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 360:124674. [PMID: 39111532 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
As the most abundant pollinator insect in crops, Apis mellifera is a sentinel species of the pollinator communities. In these ecosystems, honey bees of different ages and developmental stages are exposed to diverse agrochemicals. However, most toxicological studies analyse the immediate effects during exposure. Late effects during adulthood after early exposure to pollutants during larval development are poorly studied in bees. The herbicide glyphosate (GLY) is the most applied pesticide worldwide. GLY has been detected in honey and beebread from hives near treated crops. Alterations in growth, morphogenesis or organogenesis during pre-imaginal development could induce late adverse effects after the emergence. Previous studies have demonstrated that GLY alters honey bee development, immediately affecting survival, growth and metabolism, followed by late teratogenic effects. The present study aims to determine the late impact on the behaviour and physiology of adult bees after pre-imaginal exposure to GLY. For that, we reared brood in vitro or in the hive with sub-chronic exposure to the herbicide with the average detected concentration in hives. Then, all newly emerged bees were reared in an incubator until maturity and tested when they became nurse-aged bees. Three behavioural responses were assessed as markers of cognitive and physiological impairment. Our results show i) decreased sensitivity to sucrose regardless of the rearing procedure, ii) increased choice latency and locomotor alterations during chemotaxis and iii) impaired associative learning. These late toxicity signs could indicate adverse effects on task performance and colony efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego E Vázquez
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Facundo Verellen
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Walter M Farina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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2
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Gilgenreiner M, Kurze C. Age dominates flight distance and duration, while body size shapes flight speed in Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20241001. [PMID: 39079662 PMCID: PMC11288671 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Flight plays a crucial role in the fitness of insect pollinators, such as bumblebees. Despite their relatively large body size compared with their wings, bumblebees can fly under difficult ambient conditions, such as cooler temperatures. While their body size is often positively linked to their foraging range and flight ability, the influence of age remains less explored. Here, we studied the flight performance (distance, duration and speed) of ageing bumblebee workers using tethered flight mills. Additionally, we measured their intertegular distance and dry mass as proxies for their body size. We found that the flight distance and duration were predominantly influenced by age, challenging assumptions that age does not play a key role in foraging and task allocation. From the age of 7 to 14 days, flight distance and duration increased sixfold and fivefold, respectively. Conversely, the body size primarily impacted the maximum and average flight speed of workers. Our findings indicate that age substantially influences the flight distance and duration in bumblebee workers, affecting foraging performance and potentially altering task allocation strategies. This underscores the importance of considering individual age and physiological changes alongside body size/mass in experiments involving bumblebee workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Gilgenreiner
- Institute for Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Kurze
- Institute for Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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3
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Morammazi S, Shokrollahi B, Hassan FU. Genomic characterization, phylogenetic and expression analysis of foraging gene in Apis mellifera. Gene 2024; 910:148318. [PMID: 38408615 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The genomic characterization of the foraging gene and its expression analysis are required to better understand the behavior of honey bees (Apis mellifera). The present study performed a genome-wide characterization of the foraging gene, analyzing its physicochemical properties, phylogenetic features, and expression. An in silico analysis was carried out to characterize the foraging gene and the motifs and conserved domains of the encoded protein to predict its physicochemical properties. Moreover, a phylogenetic analysis of the foraging gene was performed in different species using MEGAX. The relative expression of the foraging gene was determined using qRT-PCR in two groups of forager bee samples (incoming and outgoing bees) during two seasons (five times per day). In addition, the queen effect was evaluated in another experiment. The results revealed that foraging gene expression and bee traffic were influenced by the interaction of season and daytime. The daily foraging traffic and transcription level of the foraging gene were the same in both seasons. The traffic of bees and the transcription abundance of the foraging gene were the highest in the middle and at the end of the day in the first and second seasons, respectively. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of the foraging gene was relatively higher in incoming bees than in outgoing bees. The queen also had a significant effect on the outgoing bees. We conclude that gene-environment interactions affect the foraging behavior of bees through the modulation of the foraging gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salim Morammazi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr 75169, Iran.
| | - Borhan Shokrollahi
- Hanwoo Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, Pyeongchang-gun 25340, Republic of Korea; Department of Animal Science, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran.
| | - Faiz-Ul Hassan
- Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
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4
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Quinlan GM, Grozinger CM. Evaluating the role of social context and environmental factors in mediating overwintering physiology in honey bees (Apis mellifera). J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247314. [PMID: 38516936 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In temperate climates, honey bees show strong phenotypic plasticity associated with seasonal changes. In summer, worker bees typically only survive for about a month and can be further classified as young nurse bees (which feed the developing brood) and older forager bees. In winter, brood production and foraging halt and the worker bees live for several months. These differences in task and longevity are reflected in their physiology, with summer nurses and long-lived winter bees typically having large fat bodies, high expression levels of vitellogenin (a longevity-, nutrition- and immune-related gene), and large provisioning glands in their head. The environmental factors (both within the colony and within the surrounding environment) that trigger this transition to long-lived winter bees are poorly understood. One theory is that winter bees are an extended nurse bee state, brought on by a reduction in nursing duties in autumn (i.e. lower brood area). We examined that theory here by assessing nurse bee physiology in both the summer and autumn, in colonies with varying levels of brood. We found that season is a better predictor of nurse bee physiology than brood area. This suggests that seasonal factors beyond brood area, such as pollen availability and colony demography, may be necessary for inducing the winter bee phenotype. This finding furthers our understanding of winter bee biology, which could have important implications for colony management for winter, a critical period for colony survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela M Quinlan
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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5
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Encerrado-Manriquez AM, Pouv AK, Fine JD, Nicklisch SCT. Enhancing knowledge of chemical exposures and fate in honey bee hives: Insights from colony structure and interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170193. [PMID: 38278225 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees are unintentionally exposed to a wide range of chemicals through various routes in their natural environment, yet research on the cumulative effects of multi-chemical and sublethal exposures on important caste members, including the queen bee and brood, is still in its infancy. The hive's social structure and food-sharing (trophallaxis) practices are important aspects to consider when identifying primary and secondary exposure pathways for residential hive members and possible chemical reservoirs within the colony. Secondary exposures may also occur through chemical transfer (maternal offloading) to the brood and by contact through possible chemical diffusion from wax cells to all hive members. The lack of research on peer-to-peer exposures to contaminants and their metabolites may be in part due to the limitations in sensitive analytical techniques for monitoring chemical fate and dispersion. Combined application of automated honey bee monitoring and modern chemical trace analysis techniques could offer rapid progress in quantifying chemical transfer and accumulation within the hive environment and developing effective mitigation strategies for toxic chemical co-exposures. To enhance the understanding of chemical fate and toxicity within the entire colony, it is crucial to consider both the intricate interactions among hive members and the potential synergistic effects arising from combinations of chemical and their metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amara K Pouv
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Julia D Fine
- Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3026 Bee Biology Rd., Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sascha C T Nicklisch
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Oliveira Orsi R, Zaluski R, de Barros LC, Barraviera B, Pimenta DC, Ferreira Junior RS. Standardized guidelines for Africanized honeybee venom production needed for development of new apilic antivenom. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2024; 27:73-90. [PMID: 38247328 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2023.2300786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Africanized bees have spread across the Americas since 1956 and consequently resulted in human and animal deaths attributed to massive attacks related to exposure from Argentina to the USA. In Brazil, more than 100,000 accidents were registered in the last 5 years with a total of 303 deaths. To treat such massive attacks, Brazilian researchers developed the first specific antivenom against Africanized honey bee sting exposure. This unique product, the first of its kind in the world, has been safely tested in 20 patients during a Phase 2 clinical trial. To develop the antivenom, a standardized process was undertaken to extract primary venom antigens from the Africanized bees for immunization of serum-producing horses. This process involved extracting, purifying, fractionating, characterizing, and identifying the venom (apitoxin) employing mass spectrometry to generate standardized antigen for hyperimmunization of horses using the major toxins (melittin and its isoforms and phospholipase A2). The current guide describes standardization of the entire production chain of venom antigens in compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMP) required by regulatory agencies. Emphasis is placed upon the welfare of bees and horses during this process, as well as the development of a new biopharmaceutical to ultimately save lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Oliveira Orsi
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Animal Sciences (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Zaluski
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Luciana Curtolo de Barros
- Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Benedito Barraviera
- Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Clinical Research, Botucatu Medical School (FMB) and CEVAP, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Daniel Carvalho Pimenta
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Butantan Institute (BI), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rui Seabra Ferreira Junior
- Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Clinical Research, Botucatu Medical School (FMB) and CEVAP, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
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7
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Ulgezen ZN, Van Langevelde F, van Dooremalen C. Stress-induced loss of social resilience in honeybee colonies and its implications on fitness. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232460. [PMID: 38196354 PMCID: PMC10777151 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Stressors may lead to a shift in the timing of life-history events of species, causing a mismatch with optimal environmental conditions, potentially reducing fitness. In honeybees, the timing of brood rearing and nest emergence in late winter/early spring is critical as colonies need to grow fast after winter to prepare for reproduction. However, the effects of stress on these life-history events in late winter/early spring and the possible consequences are not well understood. Therefore, we tested whether (i) honeybee colonies shift timing of brood rearing and nest emergence as response to stressors, and (ii) if there is a consequent loss of social resilience, reflected in colony fitness (survival, growth and reproduction). We monitored stressed (high load of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor or nutrition restricted) colonies and presumably non-stressed colonies from the beginning of 2020 till spring of 2021. We found that honeybee colonies do not shift the timing of brood rearing and nest emergence in spring as a coping mechanism to stressors. However, we show that there is loss of social resilience in stressed colonies, leading to reduced growth and reproduction. Our study contributes to better understanding the effects of stressors on social resilience in eusocial organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep N. Ulgezen
- Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Van Langevelde
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Coby van Dooremalen
- Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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8
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Pel AV, Van Nest BN, Hathaway SR, Fahrbach SE. Impact of odorants on perception of sweetness by honey bees. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290129. [PMID: 38150461 PMCID: PMC10752549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Organic volatiles produced by fruits can result in overestimation of sweetness by humans, but it is unknown if a comparable phenomenon occurs in other species. Honey bees collect nectar of varying sweetness at different flowering plants. Bees discriminate sugar concentration and generally prefer higher concentrations; they encounter floral volatiles as they collect nectar, suggesting that they, like humans, could be susceptible to sweetness enhancement by odorant. In this study, limonene, linalool, geraniol, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol were tested for their ability to alter behaviors related to perception of sweetness by honey bees. Honey bees were tested in the laboratory using proboscis extension response-based assays and in the field using feeder-based assays. In the laboratory assays, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol and geraniol, but neither linalool nor limonene, significantly increased responses to low concentrations of sucrose compared with no odorant conditions in 15-day and 25-day-old adult worker honey bees, but not in 35-day-old bees. Limonene reduced responding in 15-day-old bees, but not in the older bees. There was no odorant-based difference in performance in field assays comparing geraniol and limonene with a no odorant control. The interaction of the tested plant volatiles with sucrose concentration revealed in laboratory testing is therefore unlikely to be a major determinant of nectar choice by honey bees foraging under natural conditions. Because geraniol is a component of honey bee Nasonov gland pheromone as well as a floral volatile, its impact on responses in the laboratory may reflect conveyance of different information than the other odorants tested.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Byron N. Van Nest
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Stephanie R. Hathaway
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Susan E. Fahrbach
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
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9
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Menail HA, Cormier SB, Léger A, Robichaud S, Hebert-Chatelain E, Lamarre SG, Pichaud N. Age-related flexibility of energetic metabolism in the honey bee Apis mellifera. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23222. [PMID: 37781970 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300654r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms that underpin aging are still elusive. In this study, we suggest that the ability of mitochondria to oxidize different substrates, which is known as metabolic flexibility, is involved in this process. To verify our hypothesis, we used honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) at different ages, to assess mitochondrial oxygen consumption and enzymatic activities of key enzymes of the energetic metabolism as well as ATP5A1 content (subunit of ATP synthase) and adenylic energy charge (AEC). We also measured mRNA abundance of genes involved in mitochondrial functions and the antioxidant system. Our results demonstrated that mitochondrial respiration increased with age and favored respiration through complexes I and II of the electron transport system (ETS) while glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) oxidation was relatively decreased. In addition, glycolytic, tricarboxylic acid cycle and ETS enzymatic activities increased, which was associated with higher ATP5A1 content and AEC. Furthermore, we detected an early decrease in the mRNA abundance of subunits of NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit B2 (NDUFB2, complex I), mitochondrial cytochrome b (CYTB, complex III) of the ETS as well as superoxide dismutase 1 and a later decrease for vitellogenin, catalase and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1, complex IV). Thus, our study suggests that the energetic metabolism is optimized with aging in honey bees, mainly through quantitative and qualitative mitochondrial changes, rather than showing signs of senescence. Moreover, aging modulated metabolic flexibility, which might reflect an underpinning mechanism that explains lifespan disparities between the different castes of worker bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hichem A Menail
- New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Simon B Cormier
- New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Adèle Léger
- New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Samuel Robichaud
- New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Etienne Hebert-Chatelain
- New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Simon G Lamarre
- Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pichaud
- New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
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Anderson A, Keime N, Fong C, Kraemer A, Fassbinder-Orth C. Resilin Distribution and Abundance in Apis mellifera across Biological Age Classes and Castes. INSECTS 2023; 14:764. [PMID: 37754732 PMCID: PMC10532044 DOI: 10.3390/insects14090764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The presence of resilin, an elastomeric protein, in insect vein joints provides the flexible, passive deformations that are crucial to flapping flight. This study investigated the resilin gene expression and autofluorescence dynamics among Apis mellifera (honey bee) worker age classes and drone honey bees. Resilin gene expression was determined via ddPCR on whole honey bees and resilin autofluorescence was measured in the 1m-cu, 2m-cu, Cu-V, and Cu2-V joints on the forewing and the Cu-V joint of the hindwing. Resilin gene expression varied significantly with age, with resilin activity being highest in the pupae. Autofluorescence of the 1m-cu and the Cu-V joints on the ventral forewing and the Cu-V joint on the ventral hindwing varied significantly between age classes on the left and right sides of the wing, with the newly emerged honey bees having the highest level of resilin autofluorescence compared to all other groups. The results of this study suggest that resilin gene expression and deposition on the wing is age-dependent and may inform us more about the physiology of aging in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Anderson
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA;
| | - Noah Keime
- Biology Department, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Chandler Fong
- Biology Department, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | | | - Carol Fassbinder-Orth
- Biology Department, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
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11
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Dormagen DM, Wild B, Wario F, Landgraf T. Machine learning reveals the waggle drift's role in the honey bee dance communication system. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad275. [PMID: 37746326 PMCID: PMC10516631 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The honey bee waggle dance is one of the most prominent examples of abstract communication among animals: successful foragers convey new resource locations to interested followers via characteristic "dance" movements in the nest, where dances advertise different locations on different overlapping subregions of the "dance floor." To this day, this spatial separation has not been described in detail, and it remains unknown how it affects the dance communication. Here, we evaluate long-term recordings of Apis mellifera foraging at natural and artificial food sites. Using machine learning, we detect and decode waggle dances, and we individually identify and track dancers and dance followers in the hive and at artificial feeders. We record more than a hundred thousand waggle phases, and thousands of dances and dance-following interactions to quantitatively describe the spatial separation of dances on the dance floor. We find that the separation of dancers increases throughout a dance and present a motion model based on a positional drift of the dancer between subsequent waggle phases that fits our observations. We show that this separation affects follower bees as well and results in them more likely following subsequent dances to similar food source locations, constituting a positive feedback loop. Our work provides evidence that the positional drift between subsequent waggle phases modulates the information that is available to dance followers, leading to an emergent optimization of the waggle dance communication system.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Dormagen
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Wild
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Fernando Wario
- Department of Electronics, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, 44430 Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Tim Landgraf
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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12
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Doi I, Deng W, Ikegami T. Spontaneous and information-induced bursting activities in honeybee hives. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11015. [PMID: 37419944 PMCID: PMC10329038 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37785-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Social entrainment is important for functioning of beehive organization. By analyzing a dataset of approximately 1000 honeybees (Apis mellifera) tracked in 5 trials, we discovered that honeybees exhibit synchronized activity (bursting behavior) in their locomotion. These bursts occurred spontaneously, potentially as a result of intrinsic bee interactions. The empirical data and simulations demonstrate that physical contact is one of the mechanisms for these bursts. We found that a subset of honeybees within a hive which become active before the peak of each burst, and we refer to these bees as "pioneer bees." Pioneer bees are not selected randomly, but rather, are linked to foraging behavior and waggle dancing, which may help spread external information in the hive. By using transfer entropy, we found that information flows from pioneer bees to non-pioneer bees, which suggest that the bursting behavior is caused by foraging behavior and spreading the information through the hive and promoting integrated group behavior among individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itsuki Doi
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
| | - Weibing Deng
- Key Laboratory of Quark and Lepton Physics (MOE) and Institute of Particle Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Takashi Ikegami
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan
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13
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Dziechciarz P, Strachecka A, Borsuk G, Olszewski K. Workers of Apis mellifera Reared in Small-Cell Combs Show Higher Activity of the Proteolytic System in Hemolymph than Workers Reared in Standard-Cell Combs in Laboratory Cage Tests. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081368. [PMID: 37106931 PMCID: PMC10135212 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the activities of proteases and their inhibitors in the hemolymph of honeybee workers reared in small-cell combs (SMC) and standard-cell combs (STC) in laboratory cage tests. The analyses conducted in laboratory conditions facilitated assessment of the impact of the comb cell width (small vs. standard) along with eliminating the influence of many environmental factors on the results. The width of the comb cells in which the workers were reared had a significant effect on the protein concentrations and proteolytic system activities in the hemolymph. Irrespective of the age of the workers, higher protein concentrations were found in the hemolymph of the SMC workers. In turn, the activities of proteases and their inhibitors in the hemolymph of 1-day-old bees were higher in the STC workers. In older bees, aged 7-21 days, activity was higher in the SMC workers. The role of the considerable cell width variability in natural combs that were built without the use of an artificially produced wax foundation is worth investigating. It is highly probable that the impact of the comb cell width on the features of workers reared in these combs modifies the age polyethism in the worker caste as well. The investigation results of one-season studies of honeybees could be seriously affected by random factors. To reduce the risk of these effects, it is advisable to continue experiments over a few consecutive years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Dziechciarz
- Subdepartment of Apidology, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Strachecka
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Borsuk
- Subdepartment of Apidology, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Olszewski
- Subdepartment of Apidology, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
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14
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Brejcha M, Prušáková D, Sábová M, Peska V, Černý J, Kodrík D, Konopová B, Čapková Frydrychová R. Seasonal changes in ultrastructure and gene expression in the fat body of worker honey bees. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 146:104504. [PMID: 36935036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics of honey bees are affected by the season as well as division of labor. In this study, we examined the structure, ultrastructure, and gene expression of fat body cells in both long-lived winter and short-lived summer worker bees (the youngest stage of hive bees and forager bees). In contrast to hive bees, foragers and winter bees have a higher metabolism due to intensive muscle activity during their flight (foragers) or endothermic heat production (winter bees). These workers differ from hive bees in the biology of their mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lysosomes as well as in the expression of the genes involved in lipid, carbohydrate, amino acid metabolism, insulin, and TGF- β signaling. Additionally, the expression of genes related to phospholipid metabolism was higher in the hive bees. However, we found no differences between workers in the expression of genes controlling cell organelles, such as the Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, nucleus, and vacuoles, as well as genes for DNA replication, cell cycle control, and autophagy. Furthermore, lysosomes, autophagic processes and lipofuscin particles were more frequently observed in winter bees using electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloslav Brejcha
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Prušáková
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Sábová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Peska
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Černý
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Kodrík
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Konopová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radmila Čapková Frydrychová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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15
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Hernandez J, Varennes Y, Aebi A, Dietemann V, Kretzschmar A. Agroecological measures in meadows promote honey bee colony development and winter survival. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Hernandez
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
- Swiss Bee Research Centre Agroscope Bern Switzerland
- Fondation Rurale Interjurassienne (FRI) Courtételle Switzerland
| | | | - Alexandre Aebi
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
- Institute of Anthropology University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
| | - Vincent Dietemann
- Swiss Bee Research Centre Agroscope Bern Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution Biophore, UNIL‐Sorge, University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
| | - André Kretzschmar
- INRAE, Unité Biostatistique et Processus Spatiaux, Site Agroparc Avignon France
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16
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Corby-Harris V, Snyder L, Meador C, Watkins-DeJong E, Obernesser BT, Brown N, Carroll MJ. Diet and pheromones interact to shape honey bee (Apis mellifera) worker physiology. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 143:104442. [PMID: 36195173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Honey bee colony health is a function of the individuals, their interactions, and the environment. A major goal of honey bee research is to understand how colonies respond to stress. Individual-level studies of the bee stress response are tractable, but their results do not always translate to the colony level. Nutritional stress is an important factor in colony declines. Nutrition studies are typically conducted on individual nurse workers (nurses), who are primarily responsible for converting pollen into brood. Nurse physiology is sensitive to both pollen and pheromones, which communicate signals among colony members. Here, we asked whether pheromones influence nurse nutrient pathways involved in brood care, and whether diet influences colony communication. We exposed caged, nurse-aged workers to different combinations of pheromones and pollen, and measured traits related to brood care. We found that pheromones enhanced pollen-dependent processes such as hypopharyngeal gland growth and mrjp1 expression, and buffered the negative effects of starvation. Pollen also enhanced how nurse phenotypes respond to pheromones. Therefore, diet and pheromones interact to influence nurse nutritional physiology and aspects of brood care. These findings have implications for studying colony function and health in an increasingly stressful climate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucy Snyder
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
| | - Charlotte Meador
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
| | | | | | - Nicholas Brown
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
| | - Mark J Carroll
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
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17
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Sevin S, Bommuraj V, Chen Y, Afik O, Zarchin S, Barel S, Arslan OC, Erdem B, Tutun H, Shimshoni JA. Lithium salts: assessment of their chronic and acute toxicities to honey bees and their anti-Varroa field efficacy. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:4507-4516. [PMID: 35808970 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Varroa control is essential for the maintenance of healthy honey bee colonies. Overuse of acaricides has led to the evolution of resistance to those substances. Studies of the short-term acaricidal effects and safety of various lithium (Li) salts recently have been reported. This study examined the long-term in vitro and in vivo bee toxicities, short-term motor toxicity to bees and long-term anti-Varroa field efficacy of several Li salts. RESULTS In an in vitro chronic-toxicity assay, lithium citrate (18.8 mm) was the most toxic of the examined salts, followed by lithium lactate (29.5 mm), and lithium formate (32.5 mm). In terms of acute locomotor toxicity to bees, all of the Li salts were well-tolerated and none of the treatment groups differed from the negative control group. In an in vitro survival study, all of the Li treatments significantly reduced bee life spans by a factor of 1.8-7.2, as compared to the control. In terms of life expectancy, lithium citrate was the most toxic salt, with no significant differences noted between lithium formate and lithium lactate. In the bee-mortality field study, none of the examined treatments differed from the negative control. Amitraz and lithium formate exhibited similar acaricide effects, which were significantly different from those observed for lithium lactate and the negative control. CONCLUSION In light of lithium formate's honey bee safety and efficacy as an acaricide, additional sublethal toxicity studies in brood, drones and queens, as well as tests aimed at the optimization of administration frequency are warranted. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Sevin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Vijayakumar Bommuraj
- Department of Food Quality & Safety, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Yaira Chen
- Department of Food Quality & Safety, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Ohad Afik
- Agricultural Extension Service, Ministry of Agriculture and rural development, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Shlomi Zarchin
- Agricultural Extension Service, Ministry of Agriculture and rural development, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Shimon Barel
- Kimron Veterinary Institute, Department of Toxicology, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Okan Can Arslan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Babür Erdem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hidayet Tutun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey
| | - Jakob A Shimshoni
- Department of Food Quality & Safety, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
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18
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Rajagopal S, Brockmann A, George EA. Environment-dependent benefits of interindividual variation in honey bee recruitment. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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19
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Tan S, Li G, Guo H, Li H, Tian M, Liu Q, Wang Y, Xu B, Guo X. Identification of the cuticle protein AccCPR2 gene in Apis cerana cerana and its response to environmental stress. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:634-646. [PMID: 35619242 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular proteins (CPs) are known to play important roles in insect development and defence responses. The loss of CP genes can lead to changes in insect morphology and sensitivity to the external environment. In this study, we identified the AccCPR2 gene, which belongs to the CPR family (including the R&R consensus motif) of CPs, and explored its function in the response of Apis cerana cerana to adverse external stresses. Our results demonstrated that AccCPR2 was highly expressed in the late pupal stage and epidermis, and the expression of AccCPR2 may be induced or inhibited under different stressors. RNA interference experiments showed that knockdown of AccCPR2 reduced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, led to the accumulation of oxidative damage and suppressed the expression of several antioxidant genes. In addition, knockdown of AccCPR2 also reduced the pesticide resistance of A. cerana cerana. The overexpression of AccCPR2 in a prokaryotic system further confirmed its role in resistance to various stresses. In summary, AccCPR2 may play pivotal roles in the normal development and environmental stress response of A. cerana cerana. This study also enriched the theoretical knowledge of the resistance biology of bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Guilin Li
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, P. R. China
| | - Hengjun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Han Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Ming Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Qingxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Baohua Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Xingqi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China
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20
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Smith ML, Davidson JD, Wild B, Dormagen DM, Landgraf T, Couzin ID. Behavioral variation across the days and lives of honey bees. iScience 2022; 25:104842. [PMID: 36039297 PMCID: PMC9418442 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In honey bee colonies, workers generally change tasks with age (from brood care, to nest work, to foraging). While these trends are well established, our understanding of how individuals distribute tasks during a day, and how individuals differ in their lifetime behavioral trajectories, is limited. Here, we use automated tracking to obtain long-term data on 4,100+ bees tracked continuously at 3 Hz, across an entire summer, and use behavioral metrics to compare behavior at different timescales. Considering single days, we describe how bees differ in space use, detection, and movement. Analyzing the behavior exhibited across their entire lives, we find consistent inter-individual differences in the movement characteristics of individuals. Bees also differ in how quickly they transition through behavioral space to ultimately become foragers, with fast-transitioning bees living the shortest lives. Our analysis framework provides a quantitative approach to describe individual behavioral variation within a colony from single days to entire lifetimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Smith
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849, USA
| | - Jacob D. Davidson
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Benjamin Wild
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - David M. Dormagen
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tim Landgraf
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Iain D. Couzin
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
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21
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Community Dynamics in Structure and Function of Honey Bee Gut Bacteria in Response to Winter Dietary Shift. mBio 2022; 13:e0113122. [PMID: 36036626 PMCID: PMC9600256 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01131-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperate honey bees (Apis mellifera) are challenged by low temperatures and abrupt dietary shifts associated with behavioral changes during winter. Case studies have revealed drastic turnover in the gut microbiota of winter bees, highlighted by the seasonal dominance of a non-core bacterium Bartonella. However, neither biological consequence nor underlying mechanism of this microbial turnover is clear. In particular, we ask whether such changes in gut profile are related to winter dietary shift and possibly beneficial to host and associated gut microbiome? Here, we integrated evidences from genomics, metagenomics, and metabolomics in three honey bee subspecies maintained at the same locality of northern China to profile both diversity and functional variations in gut bacteria across seasons. Our results showed that winter dominance of Bartonella was shared in all tested honey bee lineages. This seasonal change was likely a consequence of winter dietary shifts characterized by greatly reduced pollen consumption and accumulation of metabolic waste due to restricted excretion. Bartonella showed expanded genomic capacity in utilizing more diverse energy substrates, such as converting metabolic wastes lactate and ethanol into pyruvate, an energy source for self-utilization and possibly also for host and other symbionts. Furthermore, Bartonella was the only bacterium capable of both producing and secreting tryptophan and phenylalanine, whose metabolic products were detected in bee guts, even though all gut bacteria lacked relevant digestion enzymes. These results thus suggested a possible mechanism where the gut bacteria might benefit the host by supplementing them with essential amino acids lacking in a protein shortage diet.
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22
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St. Clair AL, Suresh S, Dolezal AG. Access to prairie pollen affects honey bee queen fecundity in the field and lab. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.908667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Beekeepers experience high annual losses of colonies, with environmental stressors like pathogens, reduced forage, and pesticides as contributors. Some factors, like nutritional stress from reduced flower abundance or diversity, are more pronounced in agricultural landscapes where extensive farming limits pollen availability. In addition to affecting other aspects of colony health, quantity and quality of pollen available are important for colony brood production and likely for queen egg laying. While some US beekeepers report >50% of colony loss due to queen failure, the causes of poor-quality queens are poorly understood. Access to resources from native prairie habitat is suggested as a valuable late-season resource for honey bees that can reverse colony growth declines, but it is not clear how prairie forage influences queen egg laying. We hypothesized that the pollen resources present in an extensive Midwestern corn/soybean agroecosystem during the critical late season period affect honey bee queen egg laying and that access to native prairies can increase queen productivity. To test this, we designed a field experiment in Iowa, keeping colonies in either soybean or prairie landscapes during a critical period of forage dearth, and we quantified queen egg laying as well as pollen collection (quantity and species). Then, using pollen collected in the field experiments, we created representative dietary mixtures, which we fed to bees using highly controlled laboratory cages to test how consumption of these diets affected the egg laying of naive queens. In two out of three years, queens in prairies laid more eggs compared to those in soybean fields. Pollen quantity did not vary between the two landscapes, but composition of species did, and was primarily driven by collection of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). When pollen representative of the two landscapes was fed to caged bees in the laboratory queens fed prairie pollen laid more eggs, suggesting that pollen from this landscape plays an important role in queen productivity. More work is needed to tease apart the drivers of these differences, but understanding how egg laying is regulated is useful for designing landscapes for sustainable pollinator management and can inform feeding regimes for beekeepers.
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23
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Zhang ZJ, Zheng H. Bumblebees with the socially transmitted microbiome: A novel model organism for gut microbiota research. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:958-976. [PMID: 35567381 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial bumble and honey bees are important pollinators for global ecology and the agricultural economy. Although both the bumble and honey bees possess similar and host-restricted gut microbiota, they differ in aspects of morphology, autonomy, physiology, behavior, and life cycle. The social bee gut bacteria exhibit host specificity that is likely a result of long-term co-evolution. The unique life cycle of bumblebees is key for the acquisition and development of their gut microbiota, and affects the strain-level diversity of the core bacterial species. Studies on bumblebee gut bacteria show that they retain less functional capacity for carbohydrate metabolism compared with that of the honeybee. We discuss the potential roles of the bumblebee gut microbiota against pathogenic threats and the application of host-specific probiotics for bumblebees. Given the advantages of the bumblebee microbiome, including the simple structure and host specificity, and the ease of manipulating bumblebee colonies, we propose that bumblebees may provide a valuable system for understanding the general principles of host-microbe interactions, gut-brain axis, and vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jing Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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24
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Toxicity of Formulated Systemic Insecticides Used in Apple Orchard Pest Management Programs to the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera (L.)). ENVIRONMENTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/environments9070090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are one of the most important pollinating species of flowering plants. Recently, populations of honey bees have been declining due to a combination of factors, including the widespread use of agricultural pesticides. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the acute oral toxicity of different formulated pesticides to honey bee adults. In particular, we assessed the acute oral toxicity of two neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, Assail 30SG and thiamethoxam, Actara 25WDG) and two other systemic insecticide products (sulfoxaflor, Closer 2SC and flupyradifurone, Sivanto 200SL), all of which are generally used in pest management programs in commercial apple orchards in the Eastern United States. Honey bees were fed a range of doses of each pesticide in order to create a response curve, and LC50, LC90, and LD50 values were determined. The pesticide formulation containing flupyradifurone as the active ingredient was found to be the least toxic to honey bees followed by the formulations containing sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid. The toxicity values obtained in this study differ from other studies testing only technical active ingredient compounds, suggesting the need to evaluate formulated products while conducting ecotoxicological risk assessment.
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25
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Wójcik Ł, Chęć M, Skowronek P, Grabowski M, Persona K, Strachecka A. Do the different life history strategies of ants and honeybees determine fat body morphology? ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2022; 69:101186. [PMID: 35696737 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2022.101186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The separation of two sister groups such as ants and bees in the Cretaceous involved the development of distinctive characteristics to occupy separate ecological niches. From the point of view of biology and ecology, it is important to see how different life history strategies affect the physiology of these insects. The fat body is the most metabolically important tissue in the organism of each insect. Therefore, we conducted a comparative analysis of the morphological image of the subcuticular fat body in different localisation/segments in Formica (Seviformica) cinerea and Apis mellifera mellifera foragers, because of the similarity of their functions in colonies. We observed that the fat bodies of ants and bees were composed of the same cell types: trophocytes and oenocytes. However, in each of the segments, the fat body cells in ants were bigger and there were fewer of them in comparison with bees. The dorsal part of the fat body of ants had a bilayer structure, where the outer layer was formed by binucleated oenocytes. Binucleated oenocytes were also found in the inner layer near the heart and tracheole. In bees, the fat body was unilayered and the trophocytes and oenocytes were present side by side. The similarities and, in particular, the differences in the structure of the fat body are the adaptation of these sister groups to life in a diverse environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Wójcik
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Chęć
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033, Lublin, Poland
| | - Patrycja Skowronek
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Marcin Grabowski
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Kamil Persona
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Strachecka
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
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Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of honeybee brains identifies vitellogenin as caste differentiation-related factor. iScience 2022; 25:104643. [PMID: 35800778 PMCID: PMC9254125 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a well-known eusocial insect. In honeybee colonies, thousands of sterile workers, including nurse and forager bees, perform various tasks within or outside the hive, respectively. The queen is the only fertile female and is responsible for reproduction. The queen and workers share similar genomes but occupy different caste statuses. We established single-cell transcriptomic atlases of brains from queens and worker subcastes and identified five major cell groups: Kenyon, optic lobe, olfactory projection, glial, and hemocyte cells. By dividing Kenyon and glial cells into multiple subtypes based on credible markers, we observed that vitellogenin (vg) was highly expressed in specific glial-cell subtypes in brains of queens. Knockdown of vg at the early larval stage significantly suppressed the development into adult queens. We demonstrate vg expression as a "molecular signature" for the queen caste and suggest involvement of vg in regulating caste differentiation. scRNA-seq revealed distinct gene expression in the brains of queens and workers Vitellogenin (vg) may represent a "molecular signature" of the queen caste Knockdown of vg at early larval stage suppressed development into adult queens Vg may be involved in regulating caste differentiation
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Zhang Z, Mu X, Cao Q, Shi Y, Hu X, Zheng H. Honeybee gut Lactobacillus modulates host learning and memory behaviors via regulating tryptophan metabolism. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2037. [PMID: 35440638 PMCID: PMC9018956 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29760-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybees are highly social insects with a rich behavioral repertoire and are a versatile model for neurobiological research. Their gut microbiota comprises a limited number of host-restricted bacterial phylotypes that are important for honeybee health. However, it remains unclear how specific gut members affect honeybee behaviors. Here, we find that antibiotic exposure disturbs the gut community and influences honeybee phenotypes under field conditions. Using laboratory-generated gnotobiotic bees, we show that a normal gut microbiota is required for olfactory learning and memory abilities. Brain transcriptomic profiling reveals distinct brain gene expression patterns between microbiota-free and conventional bees. Subsequent metabolomic analyses of both hemolymph and gut samples show that the microbiota mainly regulates tryptophan metabolism. Our results indicate that host-specific Lactobacillus strains promote memory behavior by transforming tryptophan to indole derivatives that activate the host aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Our findings highlight the contributions of specific gut members to honeybee neurological processes, thus providing a promising model to understand host-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijing Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohuan Mu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Qina Cao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Shi
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaosong Hu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China.
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Effects of Two Commercial Protein Diets on the Health of Two Imago Ages of Apis mellifera L. Reared in Laboratory. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12080968. [PMID: 35454215 PMCID: PMC9032503 DOI: 10.3390/ani12080968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Beekeepers often feed their bees with supplemented artificial diets. The formulation of an integrative diet for honey bee colonies able to prevent nutritional deficiencies is yet to be found. In this work, the effects of pollen diet substitution with commercial protein diets in newly emerged bees (that still feed a little on pollen) and in forager bees (that usually do not feed on pollen) were tested. Results obtained suggest that commercial protein diets do not compensate pollen diets in newly emerged bees and do not determine an increase in life span or immunity in forager bees. Further investigations on the effect of concentration and quality of proteins are desirable in order to provide beekeepers with scientific evidence on protein-based feeding. Abstract Protein-supplemented artificial diets are widely used by beekeepers during winter and whenever food availability is low, yet no data are available concerning their effects on bees’ health. In this work, the effects of two commercial diets enriched with 1.7% and 7.7% protein concentration on feed intake, survival rate, glucose oxidase, phenoloxidase and glutathione S-transferase in newly emerged and forager bees were tested. Administration of a 7.7% protein-enriched diet significantly reduced the lifespan of both newly emerged and forager bees, while only in foragers a significantly higher feed intake was recorded. In newly emerged bees, administration of a high-protein-enriched diet stimulated glucose oxidase production at the 10th day of feeding, determined a reduction of phenoloxidase and did not affect glutathione S-transferase activity. In forager bees, a high level of protein inclusion did not determine any significant variation in either glucose oxidase, phenoloxidase or glutathione S-transferase activity. Therefore, the results obtained in this investigation suggest that administration of commercial protein diets negatively affect honey bee health, determining an increase in mortality. Further investigations on the effect of concentration and quality of proteins are desirable to provide beekeepers with scientific evidence on protein feeding.
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Snow JW. Nosema apis and N. ceranae Infection in Honey bees: A Model for Host-Pathogen Interactions in Insects. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 114:153-177. [PMID: 35544003 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There has been increased focus on the role of microbial attack as a potential cause of recent declines in the health of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. The Nosema species, N. apis and N. ceranae, are microsporidian parasites that are pathogenic to honey bees, and infection by these species has been implicated as a key factor in honey bee losses. Honey bees infected with both Nosema spp. display significant changes in their biology at the cellular, tissue, and organismal levels impacting host metabolism, immune function, physiology, and behavior. Infected individuals lead to colony dysfunction and can contribute to colony disease in some circumstances. The means through which parasite growth and tissue pathology in the midgut lead to the dramatic physiological and behavioral changes at the organismal level are only partially understood. In addition, we possess only a limited appreciation of the elements of the host environment that impact pathogen growth and development. Critical for answering these questions is a mechanistic understanding of the host and pathogen machinery responsible for host-pathogen interactions. A number of approaches are already being used to elucidate these mechanisms, and promising new tools may allow for gain- and loss-of-function experiments to accelerate future progress.
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Ulgezen ZN, van Dooremalen C, van Langevelde F. Understanding social resilience in honeybee colonies. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 1:100021. [PMID: 36003609 PMCID: PMC9387495 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2021.100021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Honeybee colonies experience high losses, induced by several stressors that can result in the collapse of colonies. Experiments show what effects stressors, such as parasites, pathogens and pesticides, can have on individual honeybees as well as colonies. Although individuals may die, colonies do not always collapse from such disturbances. As a superorganism, the colony can maintain or return back to homeostasis through colony mechanisms. This capacity is defined as social resilience. When the colony faces a high stress load, this may lead to breakdown in mechanisms, loss in resilience and eventually colony collapse. Before social resilience can be measured in honeybees, we need to examine the mechanisms in colonies that allow recovery and maintenance after stressor exposure. Here, we discuss some of these mechanisms and how they affect the social resilience of honeybee colonies. Understanding social resilience in honeybees is essential to managing colony health and loss prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep N. Ulgezen
- Bees@wur, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Coby van Dooremalen
- Bees@wur, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Frank van Langevelde
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- School of Life Sciences, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
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31
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Litsey EM, Chung S, Fine JD. The Behavioral Toxicity of Insect Growth Disruptors on Apis mellifera Queen Care. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.729208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As social insects, honey bees (Apis mellifera) rely on the coordinated performance of various behaviors to ensure that the needs of the colony are met. One of the most critical of these behaviors is the feeding and care of egg laying honey bee queens by non-fecund female worker attendants. These behaviors are crucial to honey bee reproduction and are known to be elicited by the queen’s pheromone blend. The degree to which workers respond to this blend can vary depending on their physiological status, but little is known regarding the impacts of developmental exposure to agrochemicals on this behavior. This work investigated how exposing workers during larval development to chronic sublethal doses of insect growth disruptors affected their development time, weight, longevity, and queen pheromone responsiveness as adult worker honey bees. Exposure to the juvenile hormone analog pyriproxyfen consistently shortened the duration of pupation, and pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron inconsistently reduced the survivorship of adult bees. Finally, pyriproxyfen and methoxyfenozide treated bees were found to be less responsive to queen pheromone relative to other treatment groups. Here, we describe these results and discuss their possible physiological underpinnings as well as their potential impacts on honey bee reproduction and colony performance.
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Silva D, Ceballos R, Arismendi N, Dalmon A, Vargas M. Variant A of the Deformed Wings Virus Alters the Olfactory Sensitivity and the Expression of Odorant Binding Proteins on Antennas of Apis mellifera. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12100895. [PMID: 34680665 PMCID: PMC8541218 DOI: 10.3390/insects12100895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Honey bees, Apis melllifera, are the most commonly managed bee in the world for pollination services. However, worldwide continuous colony losses have been reported for almost a decade. One factor of these losses is associated to pathogens being the virus one of the most important problems in honey bee health. One of the known viruses that affect the honey bee population is deformed wing virus (DWV). DWV causes physical malformation and behavioral disturbances, but also, this virus can be found in the antenna affecting the anatomical integrity of infected areas, which could compromise normal antennal functioning associated to aroma perception. Thus, we evaluate olfactory sensitivity and the expression of antenna-specific odorant-binding proteins (OBP) genes in honey bees inoculated with variant A of the DWV. We performed olfactory sensitivity analysis using the essential oils Eucalyptus globulus and Mentha piperita, but also, and molecular analysis of gene expression of nine OBPs. We found that the high level of replication of DWV-A in the antennae decreased the olfactory sensitivity and led to a down-regulation of some OBPs in middle- and forager-age worker bees. Thus, DWV-A infection in adults of honey bees could compromise volatile compound recognition inside the hive and outside the hive. Abstract Insects have a highly sensitive sense of smell, allowing them to perform complex behaviors, such as foraging and peer recognition. Their sense of smell is based on the recognition of ligands and is mainly coordinated by odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). In Apis mellifera, behavior can be affected by different pathogens, including deformed wing virus (DWV) and its variants. In particular, it has been shown that variant A of DWV (DWV-A) is capable of altering the ultra-cellular structure associated with olfactory activity. In this study was evaluated olfactory sensitivity and the expression of OBP genes in honey bees inoculated with DWV-A. Electroantennographic analyses (EAG) were carried out to determine the olfactory sensitivity to the essential oils Eucalyptus globulus and Mentha piperita. The expression of nine antenna-specific OBP genes and DWV-A load in inoculated bees was also quantified by qPCR. We observed an inverse relationship between viral load and olfactory sensitivity and the expression of some OBP proteins. Thus, high viral loads reduced olfactory sensitivity to essential oils and the gene expression of the OBP2, OBP5, OBP11, and OBP12 proteins on the antennas of middle- and forager-age bees. These results suggest that DWV-A could have negative effects on the processes of aroma perception by worker bees, affecting their performance in tasks carried out in and outside the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Silva
- Laboratorios de Virología y Patologías en Abejas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán 3780000, Chile;
| | - Ricardo Ceballos
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Quilamapu, Av. Vicente Méndez 515, Chillán 3780000, Chile;
| | - Nolberto Arismendi
- Centro de Investigación Austral Biotech, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Av. Picarte 1130–1160, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
| | - Anne Dalmon
- Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, INRAE, F-84000 Avignon, France;
| | - Marisol Vargas
- Laboratorios de Virología y Patologías en Abejas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán 3780000, Chile;
- Correspondence:
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33
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Hu X, Zhang W, Chi X, Wang H, Liu Z, Wang Y, Ma L, Xu B. Non-targeted lipidomics and transcriptomics analysis reveal the molecular underpinnings of mandibular gland development in Apis mellifera ligustica. Dev Biol 2021; 479:23-36. [PMID: 34332994 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The mandibular gland is an important exocrine gland of worker bees, which mainly secretes fatty acids and pheromones. Lipids have important roles in energy storage, membrane structure stabilization, and signaling. However, molecular underpinnings of mandibular gland development and lipid remodeling at the different physiological stages of worker bees is still lacking. In this study, we used scanning and transmission electron microscopy to reveal the morphological changes in secretory cells, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and RNA-seq to investigate the lipidome and gene transcripts during development. The morphology of secretory cells was flat in newly emerged workers, becoming vacuolated and turgid when they were activated in nurse bees and foragers. Transport vesicles became denser from newly emerged bees to 21-day worker bees. Concentrations of 10-HDA reached a maximum within 15d workers and changes in genes expression were consistent with 10-HDA content. Non-targeted lipidomics analysis of newly emerged, 6d, and 15d worker bees revealed that PC and TAG were the main lipids in mandibular gland, and lipids dramatically altered across developmental stages. TAG 54:4 was increased most strongly at 6d and 15d worker bees, meanwhile, the abundances of TAG 54:1 and TAG 54:2 were decreased sharply. Further, transcriptomics analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in key nutrient metabolic pathways, particularly lipid metabolism, in 6d and 15d bees. This multi-omic perspective provides a unique resource and deeper insight into bee mandibular gland development and baseline data for further study of the mandibular gland in worker bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyi Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Weixing Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xuepeng Chi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Hongfang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Zhenguo Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Lanting Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Baohua Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China.
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34
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Traniello IM, Robinson GE. Neural and Molecular Mechanisms of Biological Embedding of Social Interactions. Annu Rev Neurosci 2021; 44:109-128. [PMID: 34236891 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-092820-012959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Animals operate in complex environments, and salient social information is encoded in the nervous system and then processed to initiate adaptive behavior. This encoding involves biological embedding, the process by which social experience affects the brain to influence future behavior. Biological embedding is an important conceptual framework for understanding social decision-making in the brain, as it encompasses multiple levels of organization that regulate how information is encoded and used to modify behavior. The framework we emphasize here is that social stimuli provoke short-term changes in neural activity that lead to changes in gene expression on longer timescales. This process, simplified-neurons are for today and genes are for tomorrow-enables the assessment of the valence of a social interaction, an appropriate and rapid response, and subsequent modification of neural circuitry to change future behavioral inclinations in anticipation of environmental changes. We review recent research on the neural and molecular basis of biological embedding in the context of social interactions, with a special focus on the honeybee.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M Traniello
- Neuroscience Program and Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA;
| | - Gene E Robinson
- Neuroscience Program and Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA; .,Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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35
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Chen YR, Tzeng DTW, Ting C, Hsu PS, Wu TH, Zhong S, Yang EC. Missing Nurse Bees-Early Transcriptomic Switch From Nurse Bee to Forager Induced by Sublethal Imidacloprid. Front Genet 2021; 12:665927. [PMID: 34220942 PMCID: PMC8248817 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.665927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The environmental residue/sublethal doses of neonicotinoid insecticides are believed to generate a negative impact on pollinators, including honey bees. Here we report our recent investigation on how imidacloprid, one of the major neonicotinoids, affects worker bees by profiling the transcriptomes of various ages of bees exposed to different doses of imidacloprid during the larval stage. The results show that imidacloprid treatments during the larval stage severely altered the gene expression profiles and may induce precocious foraging. Differential expression of foraging regulators was found in 14-day-old treated adults. A high transcriptome similarity between larvae-treated 14-day-old adults and 20-day-old controls was also observed, and the similarity was positively correlated with the dose of imidacloprid. One parts per billion (ppb) of imidacloprid was sufficient to generate a long-term impact on the bee's gene expression as severe as with 50 ppb imidacloprid. The disappearance of nurse bees may be driven not only by the hive member constitution but also by the neonicotinoid-induced precocious foraging behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ru Chen
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - David T W Tzeng
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chieh Ting
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Shou Hsu
- Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Gongguan, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hsien Wu
- Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Gongguan, Taiwan
| | - Silin Zhong
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - En-Cheng Yang
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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36
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Han B, Wei Q, Wu F, Hu H, Ma C, Meng L, Zhang X, Feng M, Fang Y, Rueppell O, Li J. Tachykinin signaling inhibits task-specific behavioral responsiveness in honeybee workers. eLife 2021; 10:64830. [PMID: 33760729 PMCID: PMC8016481 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral specialization is key to the success of social insects and leads to division of labor among colony members. Response thresholds to task-specific stimuli are thought to proximally regulate behavioral specialization, but their neurobiological regulation is complex and not well understood. Here, we show that response thresholds to task-relevant stimuli correspond to the specialization of three behavioral phenotypes of honeybee workers in the well-studied and important Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. Quantitative neuropeptidome comparisons suggest two tachykinin-related peptides (TRP2 and TRP3) as candidates for the modification of these response thresholds. Based on our characterization of their receptor binding and downstream signaling, we confirm a functional role of tachykinin signaling in regulating specific responsiveness of honeybee workers: TRP2 injection and RNAi-mediated downregulation cause consistent, opposite effects on responsiveness to task-specific stimuli of each behaviorally specialized phenotype but not to stimuli that are unrelated to their tasks. Thus, our study demonstrates that TRP signaling regulates the degree of task-specific responsiveness of specialized honeybee workers and may control the context specificity of behavior in animals more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Han
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China.,Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, United States
| | - Qiaohong Wei
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China.,Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Han Hu
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan Ma
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Lifeng Meng
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Xufeng Zhang
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China.,Institute of Horticultural Research, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Mao Feng
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Fang
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Jianke Li
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
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Wild B, Dormagen DM, Zachariae A, Smith ML, Traynor KS, Brockmann D, Couzin ID, Landgraf T. Social networks predict the life and death of honey bees. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1110. [PMID: 33597518 PMCID: PMC7889932 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21212-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In complex societies, individuals' roles are reflected by interactions with other conspecifics. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) generally change tasks as they age, but developmental trajectories of individuals can vary drastically due to physiological and environmental factors. We introduce a succinct descriptor of an individual's social network that can be obtained without interfering with the colony. This 'network age' accurately predicts task allocation, survival, activity patterns, and future behavior. We analyze developmental trajectories of multiple cohorts of individuals in a natural setting and identify distinct developmental pathways and critical life changes. Our findings suggest a high stability in task allocation on an individual level. We show that our method is versatile and can extract different properties from social networks, opening up a broad range of future studies. Our approach highlights the relationship of social interactions and individual traits, and provides a scalable technique for understanding how complex social systems function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wild
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - David M Dormagen
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Michael L Smith
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Kirsten S Traynor
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Global Biosocial Complexity Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, FL, USA
| | - Dirk Brockmann
- Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Iain D Couzin
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Tim Landgraf
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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38
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Davidson JD, Vishwakarma M, Smith ML. Hierarchical Approach for Comparing Collective Behavior Across Scales: Cellular Systems to Honey Bee Colonies. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.581222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
How individuals in a group lead to collective behavior is a fundamental question across biological systems, from cellular systems, to animal groups, to human organizations. Recent technological advancements have enabled an unprecedented increase in our ability to collect, quantify, and analyze how individual responses lead to group behavior. However, despite a wealth of data demonstrating that collective behavior exists across biological scales, it is difficult to make general statements that apply in different systems. In this perspective, we present a cohesive framework for comparing groups across different levels of biological organization, using an intermediate link of “collective mechanisms” that connects individual responses to group behavior. Using this approach we demonstrate that an effective way of comparing different groups is with an analysis hierarchy that asks complementary questions, including how individuals in a group implement various collective mechanisms, and how these various mechanisms are used to achieve group function. We apply this framework to compare two collective systems—cellular systems and honey bee colonies. Using a case study of a response to a disturbance, we compare and contrast collective mechanisms used in each system. We then discuss how inherent differences in group structure and physical constraints lead to different combinations of collective mechanisms to solve a particular problem. Together, we demonstrate how a hierarchical approach can be used to compare and contrast different systems, lead to new hypotheses in each system, and form a basis for common research questions in collective behavior.
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Peng T, Derstroff D, Maus L, Bauer T, Grüter C. Forager age and foraging state, but not cumulative foraging activity, affect biogenic amine receptor gene expression in the honeybee mushroom bodies. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:e12722. [PMID: 33325617 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Foraging behavior is crucial for the development of a honeybee colony. Biogenic amines are key mediators of learning and the transition from in-hive tasks to foraging. Foragers vary considerably in their behavior, but whether and how this behavioral diversity depends on biogenic amines is not yet well understood. For example, forager age, cumulative foraging activity or foraging state may all be linked to biogenic amine signaling. Furthermore, expression levels may fluctuate depending on daytime. We tested if these intrinsic and extrinsic factors are linked to biogenic amine signaling by quantifying the expression of octopamine, dopamine and tyramine receptor genes in the mushroom bodies, important tissues for learning and memory. We found that older foragers had a significantly higher expression of Amdop1, Amdop2, AmoctαR1, and AmoctβR1 compared to younger foragers, whereas Amtar1 showed the opposite pattern. Surprisingly, our measures of cumulative foraging activity were not related to the expression of the same receptor genes in the mushroom bodies. Furthermore, we trained foragers to collect sucrose solution at a specific time of day and tested if the foraging state of time-trained foragers affected receptor gene expression. Bees engaged in foraging had a higher expression of Amdop1 and AmoctβR3/4 than inactive foragers. Finally, the expression of Amdop1, Amdop3, AmoctαR1, and Amtar1 also varied with daytime. Our results show that receptor gene expression in forager mushroom bodies is complex and depends on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianfei Peng
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dennis Derstroff
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lea Maus
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Timo Bauer
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Christoph Grüter
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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40
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Fine JD. Evaluation and comparison of the effects of three insect growth regulators on honey bee queen oviposition and egg eclosion. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 205:111142. [PMID: 32829209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are highly valued pollinators that help to ensure national food security in the United States, but reports of heavy annual losses to managed colonies have caused concerns and prompted investigations into the causes of colony losses. One factor that can negatively affect honey bee health and survival is agrochemical exposure. Investigations into the sublethal effects of agrochemicals on important metrics of colony health such as reproduction and queen fecundity has been limited by the availability of targeted methods to study honey bee queens. This work investigates the effects of three insect growth regulators (IGR), a class of agrochemicals known to target pathways involved in insect reproduction, on honey bee queen oviposition, egg hatching, and worker hypopharyngeal development in order to quantify their effects on the fecundity of mated queens. The reported results demonstrate that none of the IGRs affected oviposition, but all three affected egg eclosion. Worker bees consuming methoxyfenozide had significantly larger hypopharyngeal glands at two weeks of age than bees not fed this compound. The results suggest that although IGRs may not exhibit direct toxic effects on adult honey bees, they can affect larval eclosion from eggs and the physiology of workers, which may contribute to colony population declines over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D Fine
- Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3026 Bee Biology Rd., Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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41
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Carlesso D, Smargiassi S, Sassoli L, Cappa F, Cervo R, Baracchi D. Exposure to a biopesticide interferes with sucrose responsiveness and learning in honey bees. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19929. [PMID: 33199794 PMCID: PMC7670424 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76852-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is a widely used biopesticide that is considered as an effective alternative to classical agrochemicals. B. bassiana is thought to be safe for pollinators although little is known about its side-effects on pollinators' behaviour and cognition. Here, we focused on honey bees and used the proboscis extension response (PER) protocol to assess whether B. bassiana affects individual sucrose responsiveness, non-associative and associative olfactory learning and memory. Fungus-treated bees displayed an enhanced sucrose responsiveness, which could not be explained by metabolic alterations. Strikingly, exposed bees were twice as inconsistent as controls in response to sucrose, showing PER to lower but not to higher sucrose concentrations. Exposed bees habituated less to sucrose and had a better acquisition performance in the conditioning phase than controls. Further, neither mid- nor long-term memory were affected by the fungus. As sucrose responsiveness is the main determinant of division of foraging labour, these changes might unsettle the numerical ratio between the sub-castes of foragers leading to suboptimal foraging. Although the use of biocontrol strategies should be preferred over chemical pesticides, careful assessment of their side-effects is crucial before claiming that they are safe for pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Carlesso
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Stefania Smargiassi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | - Lara Sassoli
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Federico Cappa
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Rita Cervo
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - David Baracchi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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42
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Shih SR, Huntsman EM, Flores ME, Snow JW. Reproductive potential does not cause loss of heat shock response performance in honey bees. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19610. [PMID: 33184302 PMCID: PMC7661715 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74456-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In other species characterized to date, aging, as a function of reproductive potential, results in the breakdown of proteaostasis and a decreased capacity to mount responses by the heat shock response (HSR) and other proteostatic network pathways. Our understanding of the maintenance of stress pathways, such as the HSR, in honey bees, and in the reproductive queen in particular, is incomplete. Based on the findings in other species showing an inverse relationship between reproductive potential and HSR function, one might predict that that HSR function would be lost in the reproductive queens. However, as queens possess an atypical uncoupling of the reproduction-maintenance trade-off typically found in solitary organisms, HSR maintenance might also be expected. Here we demonstrate that reproductive potential does not cause loss of HSR performance in honey bees as queens induce target gene expression to levels comparable to those induced in attendant worker bees. Maintenance of HSR function with advent of reproductive potential is unique among invertebrates studied to date and provides a potential model for examining the molecular mechanisms regulating the uncoupling of the reproduction-maintenance trade-off in queen bees, with important consequences for understanding how stresses impact different types of individuals in honey bee colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Shih
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - E M Huntsman
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - M E Flores
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - J W Snow
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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43
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Muijres FT, van Dooremalen C, Lankheet M, Lugt H, de Vries LJ, Van Langevelde F. Varroa destructor infestation impairs the improvement of landing performance in foraging honeybees. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:201222. [PMID: 33047066 PMCID: PMC7540786 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is an important contributor to the high losses of western honeybees. Forager bees from Varroa-infested colonies show reduced homing and flight capacity; it is not known whether flight manoeuvrability and related learning capability are also affected. Here, we test how honeybees from Varroa-infested and control colonies fly in an environment that is unfamiliar at the beginning of each experimental day. Using stereoscopic high-speed videography, we analysed 555 landing manoeuvres recorded during 12 days of approximately 5 h in length. From this, we quantified landing success as percentage of successful landings, and assessed how this changed over time. We found that the forager workforce of Varroa-infested colonies did not improve their landing success over time, while for control bees landing success improved with approximately 10% each hour. Analysis of the landing trajectories showed that control bees improved landing success by increasing the ratio between in-flight aerodynamic braking and braking at impact on the landing platform; bees from Varroa-infested colonies did not increase this ratio over time. The Varroa-induced detriment to this landing skill-learning capability might limit forager bees from Varroa-infested colonies to adapt to new or challenging conditions; this might consequently contribute to Varroa-induced mortality of honeybee colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian T. Muijres
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martin Lankheet
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Heleen Lugt
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lana J. de Vries
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bees@WUR, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Van Langevelde
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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44
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Donkersley P, Elsner-Adams E, Maderson S. A One-Health Model for Reversing Honeybee ( Apis mellifera L.) Decline. Vet Sci 2020; 7:E119. [PMID: 32867044 PMCID: PMC7560035 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7030119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Global insect decline impacts ecosystem resilience; pollinators such as honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) have suffered extensive losses over the last decade, threatening food security. Research has focused discretely on in-hive threats (e.g., Nosema and Varroa destructor) and broader external causes of decline (e.g., agrochemicals, habitat loss). This has notably failed to translate into successful reversal of bee declines. Working at the interdisciplinary nexus of entomological, social and ecological research, we posit that veterinary research needs to adopt a "One-Health" approach to address the scope of crises facing pollinators. We demonstrate that reversing declines will require integration of hive-specific solutions, a reappraisal of engagement with the many stakeholders whose actions affect bee health, and recontextualising both of these within landscape scale efforts. Other publications within this special issue explore novel technologies, emergent diseases and management approaches; our aim is to place these within the "One-Health" context as a pathway to securing honeybee health. Governmental policy reform offers a particularly timely pathway to achieving this goal. Acknowledging that healthy honeybees need an interdisciplinary approach to their management will enhance the contributions of veterinary research in delivering systemic improvements in bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Donkersley
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA14YQ, UK
| | | | - Siobhan Maderson
- Department of Geography & Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY233FL, UK;
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45
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Friedman DA, Johnson BR, Linksvayer TA. Distributed physiology and the molecular basis of social life in eusocial insects. Horm Behav 2020; 122:104757. [PMID: 32305342 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The traditional focus of physiological and functional genomic research is on molecular processes that play out within a single multicellular organism. In the colonial (eusocial) insects such as ants, bees, and termites, molecular and behavioral responses of interacting nestmates are tightly linked, and key physiological processes are regulated at the scale of the colony. Such colony-level physiological processes regulate nestmate physiology in a distributed fashion, through various social communication mechanisms. As a result of physiological decentralization over evolutionary time, organismal mechanisms, for example related to pheromone detection, hormone signaling, and neural signaling pathways, are deployed in novel contexts to influence nestmate and colony traits. Here we explore how functional genomic, physiological, and behavioral studies can benefit from considering the traits of eusocial insects in this light. We highlight functional genomic work exploring how nestmate-level and colony-level traits arise and are influenced by interactions among physiologically-specialized nestmates of various developmental stages. We also consider similarities and differences between nestmate-level (organismal) and colony-level (superorganismal) physiological processes, and make specific hypotheses regarding the physiology of eusocial taxa. Integrating theoretical models of distributed systems with empirical functional genomics approaches will be useful in addressing fundamental questions related to the evolution of eusociality and collective behavior in natural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Friedman
- University of California, Davis, Department of Entomology, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America.
| | - B R Johnson
- University of California, Davis, Department of Entomology, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - T A Linksvayer
- University of Pennsylvania, Department of Biology, Pennsylvania, PA 19104, United States of America
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46
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Chakrabarti P, Lucas HM, Sagili RR. Evaluating Effects of a Critical Micronutrient (24-Methylenecholesterol) on Honey Bee Physiology. ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 113:176-182. [PMID: 32410742 PMCID: PMC7212396 DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saz067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Although poor nutrition is cited as one of the crucial factors in global pollinator decline, the requirements and role of several important nutrients (especially micronutrients) in honey bees are not well understood. Micronutrients, viz. phytosterols, play a physiologically vital role in insects as precursors of important molting hormones and building blocks of cellular membranes. There is a gap in comprehensive understanding of the impacts of dietary sterols on honey bee physiology. In the present study, we investigated the role of 24-methylenecholesterol-a key phytosterol-in honey bee nutritional physiology. Artificial diets with varying concentrations of 24-methylenecholesterol (0%, 0.1%. 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% dry diet weight) were formulated and fed to honey bees in a laboratory cage experiment. Survival, diet consumption, head protein content, and abdominal lipid contents were significantly higher in dietary sterol-supplemented bees. Our findings provide additional insights regarding the role of this important sterol in honey bee nutritional physiology. The insights gleaned from this study could also advance the understanding of sterol metabolism and regulation in other bee species that are dependent on pollen for sterols, and assist in formulation of a more complete artificial diet for honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Apidae).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah M Lucas
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Ramesh R Sagili
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
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47
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dos Santos Conceição Lopes B, Campbell AJ, Contrera FAL. Queen loss changes behavior and increases longevity in a stingless bee. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2811-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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48
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Koenig PA, Smith ML, Horowitz LH, Palmer DM, Petersen KH. Artificial shaking signals in honey bee colonies elicit natural responses. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3746. [PMID: 32111924 PMCID: PMC7048926 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60421-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee signals are primarily studied through natural observation combined with manipulations of the colony or environment, not direct manipulation of the signal stimulus or receivers. Consequently, we know little about which signal aspects are necessary to reproduce behavioral responses. Here, we focus on the shaking signal, wherein a worker grabs onto another bee and vibrates. All castes receive shaking signals, but individual responses depend on context, and the signal may be multi-modal (mechanical, odor, sound, etc.). We designed a tool to mimic the shaking signal. We tested whether a purely mechanical stimulus elicited the same behavioral response as a natural shaking signal, teasing apart the effects of signal and receiver characteristics. We found that both workers and drones increased their movement after being artificially shaken, and that shaken drones were more likely to engage in feeding and grooming than a sham control. These behavioral changes support the idea that the shaking signal serves to generally increase worker activity, but also serves to activate male reproductives (drones). With this tool, we show that vibration itself is responsible for eliciting much of the shaking signal’s behavioral response, in one of the few examples of direct playback in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe A Koenig
- Cornell University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ithaca, 14850, NY, United States.
| | - Michael L Smith
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Department of Collective Behavior, Konstanz, 78464, Germany.,University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Konstanz, 78464, Germany.,Centre for the Advanced Study of Animal Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, 78464, Germany
| | - Logan H Horowitz
- Cornell University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ithaca, 14850, NY, United States
| | - Daniel M Palmer
- Cornell University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ithaca, 14850, NY, United States
| | - Kirstin H Petersen
- Cornell University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ithaca, 14850, NY, United States
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49
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Chakrabarti P, Lucas HM, Sagili RR. Novel Insights into Dietary Phytosterol Utilization and Its Fate in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera L.). Molecules 2020; 25:E571. [PMID: 32012964 PMCID: PMC7036750 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor nutrition is an important factor in global bee population declines. A significant gap in knowledge persists regarding the role of various nutrients (especially micronutrients) in honey bees. Sterols are essential micronutrients in insect diets and play a physiologically vital role as precursors of important molting hormones and building blocks of cellular membranes. Sterol requirements and metabolism in honey bees are poorly understood. Among all pollen sterols, 24-methylenecholesterol is considered the key phytosterol required by honey bees. Nurse bees assimilate this sterol from dietary sources and store it in their tissues as endogenous sterol, to be transferred to the growing larvae through brood food. This study examined the duration of replacement of such endogenous sterols in honey bees. The dietary 13C-labeled isotopomer of 24-methylenecholesterol added to artificial bee diet showed differential, progressive in vivo assimilation across various honey bee tissues. Significantly higher survival, diet consumption, head protein content and abdominal lipid content were observed in the dietary sterol-supplemented group than in the control group. These findings provide novel insights into phytosterol utilization and temporal pattern of endogenous 24-methylenecholesterol replacement in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyadarshini Chakrabarti
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Hannah M Lucas
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Ramesh R Sagili
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
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50
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Groh C, Rössler W. Analysis of Synaptic Microcircuits in the Mushroom Bodies of the Honeybee. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11010043. [PMID: 31936165 PMCID: PMC7023465 DOI: 10.3390/insects11010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Mushroom bodies (MBs) are multisensory integration centers in the insect brain involved in learning and memory formation. In the honeybee, the main sensory input region (calyx) of MBs is comparatively large and receives input from mainly olfactory and visual senses, but also from gustatory/tactile modalities. Behavioral plasticity following differential brood care, changes in sensory exposure or the formation of associative long-term memory (LTM) was shown to be associated with structural plasticity in synaptic microcircuits (microglomeruli) within olfactory and visual compartments of the MB calyx. In the same line, physiological studies have demonstrated that MB-calyx microcircuits change response properties after associative learning. The aim of this review is to provide an update and synthesis of recent research on the plasticity of microcircuits in the MB calyx of the honeybee, specifically looking at the synaptic connectivity between sensory projection neurons (PNs) and MB intrinsic neurons (Kenyon cells). We focus on the honeybee as a favorable experimental insect for studying neuronal mechanisms underlying complex social behavior, but also compare it with other insect species for certain aspects. This review concludes by highlighting open questions and promising routes for future research aimed at understanding the causal relationships between neuronal and behavioral plasticity in this charismatic social insect.
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