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Vanderplanck M, Marin L, Michez D, Gekière A. Pollen as Bee Medicine: Is Prevention Better than Cure? BIOLOGY 2023; 12:497. [PMID: 37106698 PMCID: PMC10135463 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
To face environmental stressors such as infection, animals may display behavioural plasticity to improve their physiological status through ingestion of specific food. In bees, the significance of medicating pollen may be limited by their ability to exploit it. Until now, studies have focused on the medicinal effects of pollen and nectar after forced-feeding experiments, overlooking spontaneous intake. Here, we explored the medicinal effects of different pollen on Bombus terrestris workers infected by the gut parasite Crithidia bombi. First, we used a forced-feeding experimental design allowing for the distinction between prophylactic and therapeutic effects of pollen, considering host tolerance and resistance. Then, we assessed whether bumble bees favoured medicating resources when infected to demonstrate potential self-medicative behaviour. We found that infected bumble bees had a lower fitness but higher resistance when forced to consume sunflower or heather pollen, and that infection dynamics was more gradual in therapeutic treatments. When given the choice between resources, infected workers did not target medicating pollen, nor did they consume more medicating pollen than uninfected ones. These results emphasize that the access to medicating resources could impede parasite dynamics, but that the cost-benefit trade-off could be detrimental when fitness is highly reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucie Marin
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Antoine Gekière
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
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Cram DL. Oxidative stress and cognition in ecology. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. L. Cram
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
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Ozone Induces Distress Behaviors in Fig Wasps with a Reduced Chance of Recovery. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12110995. [PMID: 34821795 PMCID: PMC8619363 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Ecological interactions among organisms underpin the stability of ecological networks, which are responsible for species biodiversity in ecosystems. These interactions are currently threatened by environmental risks, mainly due to human activities, such as air pollution. Among air pollutants, tropospheric ozone (O3) is known to disrupt chemical communication between plants and their pollinators. Alarmingly, its concentration is likely to increase by two–four-fold in the next two decades. However, the direct effects of O3 on the behavior of pollinators themselves have not been investigated so far, even though insect behavior is key to their ecological interactions. In this study, we evaluated the potential effects of O3 at different field-realistic concentrations on the behavior of the fig wasp Blastophaga psenes, the exclusive pollinator of the Mediterranean fig species Ficus carica. We found that O3, even at low concentrations, induced abnormal motility in fig wasps, and that exposed individuals might only have a reduced chance of recovery. Overall, our findings indicate that O3 can affect pollinator behavior, which may have detrimental implications for pollination systems. Abstract Among anthropogenic environmental risks, air pollution has the potential to impact animal and plant physiology, as well as their interactions and the long-term survival of populations, which could threaten the functioning of ecosystems. What is especially alarming is that the concentration of tropospheric ozone (O3) has dramatically increased since pre-industrial times. However, the direct effects of O3 on the behavior of pollinators themselves have not been investigated so far even though insect behavior is key to their ecological interactions, which underpin the stability of ecological networks responsible for species biodiversity in ecosystems. In this study, we aim to determine the potential effects of O3 episodes at different field-realistic concentrations (0, 40, 80, 120, and 200 ppb for 60 min) on the behavior of the fig wasp Blastophaga psenes by monitoring exposed individuals hourly for 5 h after exposure. We found that ozone episodes induced major changes in insect behavior, which were already significant at 80 ppb with individuals displaying abnormal motility. The tracking over time clearly showed that exposed individuals might only have a reduced chance of recovery, with a decreasing proportion of active fig wasps despite the cessation of an O3 episode. These findings illustrate that O3 episodes can affect pollinator behavior, which may have detrimental implications for pollination systems. It is, therefore, of importance to assess the effects of O3 on insect behavior in order to predict how it could modify ecological interactions and species biodiversity in ecosystems.
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Neu A, Beaulieu M, Fischer K. Limits on optimal decision making: host plant selection is not altered by high temperatures in a butterfly. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Mouginot P, Uhl G, Toshkova N, Beaulieu M. Differential oxidative costs of locomotory and genital damage in an orb-weaving spider. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb219758. [PMID: 32978319 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.219758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In animals that regularly experience tissue loss, physiological responses may have evolved to overcome the related costs. Changes in oxidative status may reflect such self-maintenance mechanisms. Here, we investigated how markers of oxidative status vary in female orb-weaving spiders (Larinia jeskovi) by mimicking two distinct types of tissue loss they may naturally encounter: damage to their locomotory system and damage to their external genital structure (scapus), as inflicted by males during copulation (external female genital mutilation). Damage to the locomotory system resulted in a significant shift in oxidative status, reflecting investment in self-maintenance. In contrast, the loss of the scapus did not result in quantitative changes of oxidative markers. This lack of a physiological response suggests negligible physiological costs of genital mutilation for female spiders. However, not being able to remate with other males might be costly for females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierick Mouginot
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Gabriele Uhl
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Nia Toshkova
- National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria
| | - Michaël Beaulieu
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald 17489, Germany
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Continuity of chronic predation risk determines changes in prey physiology. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6972. [PMID: 32332831 PMCID: PMC7181678 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64000-9] [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: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Prey reconfigure their physiology to avoid costs of prolonged predator pressure. However, these changes might not occur under periodic predation risk, with repeating acute phases. To test the effect of predation risk continuity on changes in prey physiology, we exposed amphipods: Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii to periodic and constant predation cue. After one week, we measured: cellular defence systems: total antioxidant status (TAS), heat shock proteins (Hsp70); intracellular damage marker: lipid peroxidation (TBARS); condition index: glycogen concentration. Predator presence reduced TAS level in G. jazdzewskii independent of its continuity and in D. villosus after periodic exposure. Amphipods showed downregulation of Hsp70 when exposed to periodic (D. villosus) or constant (G. jazdzewskii) predation risk. Exposure to predators reduced TBARS level in D. villosus (irrespective of the continuity) and G. jazdzewskii (periodic exposure). Glycogen concentration in both species was not affected by predator presence. Thus, the continuity of the predator cue shaped prey physiology reconfiguration, optimizing costs of physiological adjustments under challenging conditions. Nevertheless, the lack of negative consequences of the prolonged exposure to the predator cue, whether constant or periodic, shows that amphipods can thrive under chronic predation risk, which is a constant part of the wild environment.
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Fragueira R, Verhulst S, Beaulieu M. Morph- and sex-specific effects of challenging conditions on maintenance parameters in the Gouldian finch. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:jeb196030. [PMID: 30846534 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.196030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Intraspecific discrete polymorphism is associated with the use of alternative life-history strategies, reflected by distinct reproductive or copying strategies in individuals of different morphs. Yet, morph-specific costs and benefits related to different life-history strategies remain unclear. Here, we examined in the polymorphic Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) whether markers of somatic maintenance (body mass, oxidative status and telomere length) differed between red- and black-headed birds under energetically demanding conditions (during heatwaves of different intensity, and during moult or breeding following heatwaves). During heatwaves, red-headed birds showed a homogeneous response, as males and females initially tended to gain mass and had reduced plasma hydroperoxide levels (a marker of oxidative damage) irrespective of heatwave intensity. In contrast, black-headed birds showed a stronger and more heterogeneous response, as black-headed males gained mass at the beginning of the thermoneutral heatwave and showed stable oxidative status, whereas black-headed females lost mass and tended to show higher hydroperoxide levels at the end of the thermocritical heatwave. Following heatwaves, we found morph-specific oxidative costs owing to moult or reproduction, with oxidative markers varying only in black-headed birds. Again, oxidative markers varied differently in black-headed males and females, as plasma antioxidant capacity decreased in moulting or breeding females, whereas males showed higher hydroperoxide levels with larger broods. For the first time, our study highlights that within polymorphic species, some individuals appear more vulnerable than others when coping with energetically demanding conditions. In the context of climate change, such differential effects may ultimately alter the currently observed balance between morphs and sexes within natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Fragueira
- Department of Animal Ecology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michaël Beaulieu
- Department of Animal Ecology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Science Department, German Oceanographic Museum, 18439 Stralsund, Germany
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Szuroczki D, Koprivnikar J, Baker R. Effects of dietary antioxidants and environmental stressors on immune function and condition in Lithobates (Rana) sylvaticus. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2019; 229:25-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Franke K, Karl I, Centeno TP, Feldmeyer B, Lassek C, Oostra V, Riedel K, Stanke M, Wheat CW, Fischer K. Effects of adult temperature on gene expression in a butterfly: identifying pathways associated with thermal acclimation. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:32. [PMID: 30674272 PMCID: PMC6345059 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1362-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenotypic plasticity is a pervasive property of all organisms and considered to be of key importance for dealing with environmental variation. Plastic responses to temperature, which is one of the most important ecological factors, have received much attention over recent decades. A recurrent pattern of temperature-induced adaptive plasticity includes increased heat tolerance after exposure to warmer temperatures and increased cold tolerance after exposure to cooler temperatures. However, the mechanisms underlying these plastic responses are hitherto not well understood. Therefore, we here investigate effects of adult acclimation on gene expression in the tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana, using an RNAseq approach. RESULTS We show that several antioxidant markers (e.g. peroxidase, cytochrome P450) were up-regulated at a higher temperature compared with a lower adult temperature, which might play an important role in the acclamatory responses subsequently providing increased heat tolerance. Furthermore, several metabolic pathways were up-regulated at the higher temperature, likely reflecting increased metabolic rates. In contrast, we found no evidence for a decisive role of the heat shock response. CONCLUSIONS Although the important role of antioxidant defence mechanisms in alleviating detrimental effects of oxidative stress is firmly established, we speculate that its potentially important role in mediating heat tolerance and survival under stress has been underestimated thus far and thus deserves more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Franke
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Isabell Karl
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tonatiuh Pena Centeno
- Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, D-17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Molecular Ecology Group, D-60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian Lassek
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Vicencio Oostra
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
| | - Katharina Riedel
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Mario Stanke
- Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, D-17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Fischer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany. .,Present address: Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstraße 1, D-56070, Koblenz, Germany.
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van Baaren J, Candolin U. Plasticity in a changing world: behavioural responses to human perturbations. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 27:21-25. [PMID: 30025630 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Most insect species are affected by Human Induced Rapid Environmental Changes (HIREC). Multiple responses to HIREC are observed in insects, such as modifications of their morphology, physiology, behavioural strategies or phenology. Most of the responses involve phenotypic plasticity rather than genetic evolution. Here, we review the involvement of behavioural plasticity in foraging, reproduction, habitat choice and dispersal; and how behavioural plasticity modifies social behaviour and inter-specific interactions. Although important, behavioural plasticity is rarely sufficient to cope with HIREC. An increasing number of studies find species to respond maladaptively or insufficiently to various anthropogenic disturbances, and less often is large degree of plasticity linked to success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan van Baaren
- UMR-CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, Avenue du Gal Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
| | - Ulrika Candolin
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Geiger R, Beaulieu M, Franke K, Fischer K. High male density favors maintenance over reproduction in a butterfly. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rina Geiger
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Loitzer Straße, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michaël Beaulieu
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Loitzer Straße, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kristin Franke
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Loitzer Straße, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Klaus Fischer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Loitzer Straße, Greifswald, Germany
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Beaulieu M, Bischofberger I, Lorenz I, Scheelen L, Fischer K. Reproducing butterflies do not increase intake of antioxidants when they could benefit from them. Biol Lett 2016; 12:20150941. [PMID: 26911341 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The significance of dietary antioxidants may be limited by the ability of animals to exploit them. However, past studies have focused on the effects of dietary antioxidants after 'antioxidant forced-feeding', and have overlooked spontaneous antioxidant intake. Here, we found that reproducing female Bicyclus anynana butterflies had higher antioxidant defences and enhanced fecundity when forced to consume antioxidants (polyphenols). Interestingly, these positive effects were not constant across the oviposition period. When given the choice between food resources with and without antioxidants, reproducing butterflies did not target antioxidants when they could have benefited the most from them. Moreover, they did not consume more antioxidants than non-reproducing butterflies. These results emphasize that, despite potential positive effects of dietary antioxidants, the ability of animals to exploit them is likely to restrict their ecological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Beaulieu
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Strasse 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ines Bischofberger
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Strasse 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Isabel Lorenz
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Strasse 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lucie Scheelen
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Strasse 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Klaus Fischer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Strasse 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
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