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Palmer-Young EC, Malfi R, Zhou Y, Joyce B, Whitehead H, Van Wyk JI, Baylis K, Grubbs K, Boncristiani DL, Evans JD, Irwin RE, Adler LS. Sunflower-Associated Reductions in Varroa Mite Infestation of Honey Bee Colonies. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:68-77. [PMID: 36573405 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Landscapes can affect parasite epidemiology in wild and agricultural animals. Honey bees are threatened by loss of floral resources and by parasites, principally the mite Varroa destructor and the viruses it vectors. Existing mite control relies heavily on chemical treatments that can adversely affect bees. Alternative, pesticide-free control methods are needed to mitigate infestation with these ectoparasites. Many flowering plants provide nectar and pollen that confer resistance to parasites. Enrichment of landscapes with antiparasitic floral resources could therefore provide a sustainable means of parasite control in pollinators. Floral rewards of Asteraceae plants can reduce parasitic infection in diverse bee species, including honey and bumble bees. Here, we tested the effects of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cropland and pollen supplementation on honey bee resistance to macro- and microparasites. Although sunflower had nonsignificant effects on microparasites, We found that increased sunflower pollen availability correlated with reduced Varroa mite infestation in landscapes and pollen-supplemented colonies. At the landscape level, each doubling of sunflower crop area was associated with a 28% reduction in mite infestation. In field trials, late-summer supplementation of colonies with sunflower pollen reduced mite infestation by 2.75-fold relative to artificial pollen. United States sunflower crop acreage has declined by 2% per year since 1980, however, suggesting reduced availability of this floral resource. Although further research is needed to determine whether the observed effects represent direct inhibition of mite fecundity or mite-limiting reductions in honey bee brood-rearing, our findings suggest the potential for sunflower plantings or pollen supplements to counteract a major driver of honey bee losses worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosemary Malfi
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Yujun Zhou
- Department of Agricultural & Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana and Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Bryanna Joyce
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Hannah Whitehead
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer I Van Wyk
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Kathy Baylis
- Department of Agricultural & Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana and Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Kyle Grubbs
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | | | - Jay D Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca E Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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2
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Ashra H, Nair S. Review: Trait plasticity during plant-insect interactions: From molecular mechanisms to impact on community dynamics. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 317:111188. [PMID: 35193737 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity, prevalent in all domains of life, enables organisms to cope with unpredictable or novel changes in their growing environment. Plants represent an interesting example of phenotypic plasticity which also directly represents and affects the dynamics of biological interactions occurring in a community. Insects, which interact with plants, manifest phenotypic plasticity in their developmental, physiological, morphological or behavioral traits in response to the various host plant defenses induced upon herbivory. However, plant-insect interactions are generally more complex and multidimensional because of their dynamic association with their respective microbiomes and macrobiomes. Moreover, these associations can alter plant and insect responses towards each other by modulating the degree of phenotypic plasticity in their various traits and studying them will provide insights into how plants and insects reciprocally affect each other's evolutionary trajectory. Further, we explore the consequences of phenotypic plasticity on relationships and interactions between plants and insects and its impact on their development, evolution, speciation and ecological organization. This overview, obtained after exploring and comparing data obtained from several inter-disciplinary studies, reveals how genetic and molecular mechanisms, underlying plasticity in traits, impact species interactions at the community level and also identifies mechanisms that could be exploited in breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himani Ashra
- Plant-Insect Interaction Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, India
| | - Suresh Nair
- Plant-Insect Interaction Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, India.
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3
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Stireman JO, Singer MS. Tritrophic niches of insect herbivores in an era of rapid environmental change. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 29:117-125. [PMID: 30551817 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A multi-trophic perspective improves understanding of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of rapid environmental change on insect herbivores. Loss of specialized enemies due to human impacts is predicted to dramatically reduce the number of tritrophic niches of herbivores compared to a bitrophic niche perspective. Habitat fragmentation and climate change promote the loss of both specialist enemies and herbivores, favoring ecological generalism across trophic levels. Species invasion can fundamentally alter trophic interactions toward various outcomes and contributes to ecological homogenization. Adaptive evolution on ecological timescales is expected to dampen tritrophic instabilities and diversify niches, yet its ability to compensate for tritrophic niche losses in the short term is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- John O Stireman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA.
| | - Michael S Singer
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA
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4
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Wan NF, Cai YM, Shen YJ, Ji XY, Wu XW, Zheng XR, Cheng W, Li J, Jiang YP, Chen X, Weiner J, Jiang JX, Nie M, Ju RT, Yuan T, Tang JJ, Tian WD, Zhang H, Li B. Increasing plant diversity with border crops reduces insecticide use and increases crop yield in urban agriculture. eLife 2018; 7:e35103. [PMID: 29792597 PMCID: PMC5967864 DOI: 10.7554/elife.35103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban agriculture is making an increasing contribution to food security in large cities around the world. The potential contribution of biodiversity to ecological intensification in urban agricultural systems has not been investigated. We present monitoring data collected from rice fields in 34 community farms in mega-urban Shanghai, China, from 2001 to 2015, and show that the presence of a border crop of soybeans and neighboring crops (maize, eggplant and Chinese cabbage), both without weed control, increased invertebrate predator abundance, decreased the abundance of pests and dependence on insecticides, and increased grain yield and economic profits. Two 2 year randomized experiments with the low and high diversity practices in the same locations confirmed these results. Our study shows that diversifying farming practices can make an important contribution to ecological intensification and the sustainable use of associated ecosystem services in an urban ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian-Feng Wan
- Eco-environmental Protection Research InstituteShanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Low-carbon AgricultureShanghaiChina
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringShanghai Chongming Dongtan Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Biostatistics, Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming, (SIEC), Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - You-Ming Cai
- Eco-environmental Protection Research InstituteShanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Low-carbon AgricultureShanghaiChina
| | - Yan-Jun Shen
- Chongming Agricultural Technology Extension and Service CenterShanghaiChina
| | - Xiang-Yun Ji
- Eco-environmental Protection Research InstituteShanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Low-carbon AgricultureShanghaiChina
| | - Xiang-Wen Wu
- Shanghai Agricultural Technology Extension and Service CenterShanghaiChina
| | - Xiang-Rong Zheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringShanghai Chongming Dongtan Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Biostatistics, Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming, (SIEC), Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wei Cheng
- Shanghai Agricultural Technology Extension and Service CenterShanghaiChina
| | - Jun Li
- Climate Center of ShanghaiShanghaiChina
| | - Yao-Pei Jiang
- Shanghai Agricultural Technology Extension and Service CenterShanghaiChina
| | - Xin Chen
- College of Life SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jacob Weiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksbergDenmark
| | - Jie-Xian Jiang
- Eco-environmental Protection Research InstituteShanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Low-carbon AgricultureShanghaiChina
| | - Ming Nie
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringShanghai Chongming Dongtan Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Biostatistics, Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming, (SIEC), Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Rui-Ting Ju
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringShanghai Chongming Dongtan Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Biostatistics, Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming, (SIEC), Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Tao Yuan
- Eco-environmental Protection Research InstituteShanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Low-carbon AgricultureShanghaiChina
| | - Jian-Jun Tang
- College of Life SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Wei-Dong Tian
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringShanghai Chongming Dongtan Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Biostatistics, Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming, (SIEC), Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hao Zhang
- Eco-environmental Protection Research InstituteShanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Low-carbon AgricultureShanghaiChina
| | - Bo Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringShanghai Chongming Dongtan Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Biostatistics, Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming, (SIEC), Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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5
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Fernandez-Conradi P, Jactel H, Hampe A, Leiva MJ, Castagneyrol B. The effect of tree genetic diversity on insect herbivory varies with insect abundance. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Fernandez-Conradi
- Biogeco; INRA; University of Bordeaux; F-33610 Cestas France
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Universidad de Sevilla; Apdo, 1095 41080 Sevilla Spain
| | - Hervé Jactel
- Biogeco; INRA; University of Bordeaux; F-33610 Cestas France
| | - Arndt Hampe
- Biogeco; INRA; University of Bordeaux; F-33610 Cestas France
| | - Maria José Leiva
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Universidad de Sevilla; Apdo, 1095 41080 Sevilla Spain
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6
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Barelli C, Huffman MA. Leaf swallowing and parasite expulsion in Khao Yai white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar), the first report in an Asian ape species. Am J Primatol 2016; 79:1-7. [PMID: 28118500 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Leaf swallowing behavior, known as a form of self-medication for the control of nematode and tapeworm infection, occurs widely in all the African great apes (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, P. t. troglodytes, P. t. verus, P. t. vellerosus, Pan paniscus, Gorilla gorilla graueri), except mountain gorillas. It is also reported to occur in a similar context across a wide array of other animal taxa including, domestic dogs, wolves, brown bears, and civets. Despite long-term research on Asian great and small apes, this is the first report of leaf swallowing in an Asian species, the white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) in Khao Yai National Park, central Thailand. We present the first evidence of leaf swallowing (Gironniera nervosa Planch CANNABACEA) behavior (N = 5 cases) and parasite (Streptopharagus pigmentatus) expulsion (N = 4 cases), recorded during 4,300 hr of direct animal observations during two distinct research projects. We recovered 4-18 rough, hairy, and hispid surfaced leaves from each sample, undigested and folded, from the freshly evacuated feces of five different individuals (2 males, 3 females, 5 to 34+ years old) living in three different social groups, between the hours of 06:00 to 10:30. Based on close inspection of the leaves, as observed in chimpanzees, it was clear that they were taken into the mouth, one at a time, folded and detached from the stem with the teeth before swallowing them whole. All instances occurred during the rainy season, the time when nematode worms were also found in the feces, although they were not found together with leaves in the same feces. These striking similarities in the details of leaf swallowing between white-handed gibbons and African great apes, and other animal species, suggest a similar self-medicative function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Barelli
- Tropical Biodiversity Section, MUSE-Museo delle Scienze, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, Trento, Italy
- Reproductive Biology Unit, German Primate Centre (DPZ), Göttingen, Germany
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7
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Wetzel WC, Thaler JS. Does plant trait diversity reduce the ability of herbivores to defend against predators? The plant variability-gut acclimation hypothesis. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 14:25-31. [PMID: 27436643 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Variability in plant chemistry has long been believed to suppress populations of insect herbivores by constraining herbivore resource selection behavior in ways that make herbivores more vulnerable to predation. The focus on behavior, however, overlooks the pervasive physiological effects of plant variability on herbivores. Here we propose the plant variability-gut acclimation hypothesis, which posits that plant chemical variability constrains herbivore anti-predator defenses by frequently requiring herbivores to acclimate their guts to changing plant defenses and nutrients. Gut acclimation, including changes to morphology and detoxification enzymes, requires time and nutrients, and we argue these costs will constrain how and when herbivores can mount anti-predator defenses. A consequence of this hypothesis is stronger top-down control of herbivores in heterogeneous plant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Wetzel
- Departments of Entomology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
| | - Jennifer S Thaler
- Departments of Entomology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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8
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Singer MS. Behaviorally plastic host-plant use by larval Lepidoptera in tri-trophic food webs. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 14:56-60. [PMID: 27436647 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Plant-insect interactions research emphasizes adaptive plasticity of plants and carnivores, such as parasitoids, implying a relatively passive role of herbivores. Current work is addressing this deficit, with exciting studies of behavioral plasticity of larval Lepidoptera (caterpillars). Here I use select examples to illustrate the diversity of behaviorally plastic host-plant use by caterpillars, including anti-predator tactics, self-medication, and evasion of dynamic plant defenses, as proof of the agency of caterpillar behavior in plant-insect interactions. I emphasize the significance of adaptive behavioral plasticity of caterpillars in the context of tri-trophic interactions. Recent research on trait-mediated indirect interactions places adaptive behavioral plasticity of herbivores at the center of community and food web dynamics, with far-reaching consequences of issues such as community stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Singer
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA.
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9
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Biller OM, Adler LS, Irwin RE, McAllister C, Palmer-Young EC. Possible Synergistic Effects of Thymol and Nicotine Against Crithidia bombi Parasitism in Bumble Bees. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144668. [PMID: 26657643 PMCID: PMC4686078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Floral nectar contains secondary compounds with antimicrobial properties that can affect not only plant-pollinator interactions, but also interactions between pollinators and their parasites. Although recent work has shown that consumption of plant secondary compounds can reduce pollinator parasite loads, little is known about the effects of dosage or compound combinations. We used the generalist pollinator Bombus impatiens and its obligate gut parasite Crithidia bombi to study the effects of nectar chemistry on host-parasite interactions. In two experiments we tested (1) whether the secondary compounds thymol and nicotine act synergistically to reduce parasitism, and (2) whether dietary thymol concentration affects parasite resistance. In both experiments, uninfected Bombus impatiens were inoculated with Crithidia and then fed particular diet treatments for 7 days, after which infection levels were assessed. In the synergism experiment, thymol and nicotine alone and in combination did not significantly affect parasite load or host mortality. However, the thymol-nicotine combination treatment reduced log-transformed parasite counts by 30% relative to the control group (P = 0.08). For the experiment in which we manipulated thymol concentration, we found no significant effect of any thymol concentration on Crithidia load, but moderate (2 ppm) thymol concentrations incurred a near-significant increase in mortality (P = 0.054). Our results tentatively suggest the value of a mixed diet for host immunity, yet contrast with research on the antimicrobial activity of dietary thymol and nicotine in vertebrate and other invertebrate systems. We suggest that future research evaluate genetic variation in Crithidia virulence, multi-strain competition, and Crithidia interactions with the gut microbe community that may mediate antimicrobial activities of secondary compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Masi Biller
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lynn S. Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rebecca E. Irwin
- Department of Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Caitlin McAllister
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Evan C. Palmer-Young
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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van Veen FF. Plant-modified trophic interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2015; 8:29-33. [PMID: 32846667 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2015.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plants can modify the interactions between herbivorous insects and their natural enemies in various ways. Chemical defences from the plants against herbivores may in fact harm the latter's natural enemies, thereby weakening the trophic interaction. On the other hand, volatile chemicals produced by the plant in response to herbivory may attract natural enemies, thereby strengthening the interaction. Recent research shows that effects of plants on insect interactions are not curious phenomena confined to a few specialist species but rather that they are ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems and often involve complex interactions among many species. The major challenge now is to study how the commonly reported short-term effects of plants affect long term dynamics of insect interactions in the context of complex natural communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fj Frank van Veen
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- Peri A. Mason
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado Boulder UCB 334 Colorado 80309 USA
| | - Michael S. Singer
- Biology Department Wesleyan University Middletown Connecticut 06459 USA
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