1
|
Ghisbain G, Thiery W, Massonnet F, Erazo D, Rasmont P, Michez D, Dellicour S. Projected decline in European bumblebee populations in the twenty-first century. Nature 2024; 628:337-341. [PMID: 37704726 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06471-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Habitat degradation and climate change are globally acting as pivotal drivers of wildlife collapse, with mounting evidence that this erosion of biodiversity will accelerate in the following decades1-3. Here, we quantify the past, present and future ecological suitability of Europe for bumblebees, a threatened group of pollinators ranked among the highest contributors to crop production value in the northern hemisphere4-8. We demonstrate coherent declines of bumblebee populations since 1900 over most of Europe and identify future large-scale range contractions and species extirpations under all future climate and land use change scenarios. Around 38-76% of studied European bumblebee species currently classified as 'Least Concern' are projected to undergo losses of at least 30% of ecologically suitable territory by 2061-2080 compared to 2000-2014. All scenarios highlight that parts of Scandinavia will become potential refugia for European bumblebees; it is however uncertain whether these areas will remain clear of additional anthropogenic stressors not accounted for in present models. Our results underline the critical role of global change mitigation policies as effective levers to protect bumblebees from manmade transformation of the biosphere.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Ghisbain
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium.
| | - Wim Thiery
- Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - François Massonnet
- Earth and Climate Research Center, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Diana Erazo
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Rasmont
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Simon Dellicour
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sepúlveda Y, Nicholls E, Schuett W, Goulson D. Heatwave-like events affect drone production and brood-care behaviour in bumblebees. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17135. [PMID: 38529302 PMCID: PMC10962346 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is currently considered one of the major threats to biodiversity and is associated with an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves. Heatwaves create acutely stressful conditions that may lead to disruption in the performance and survival of ecologically and economically important organisms, such as insect pollinators. In this study, we investigated the impact of simulated heatwaves on the performance of queenless microcolonies of Bombus terrestris audax under laboratory conditions. Our results indicate that heatwaves can have significant impacts on bumblebee performance. However, contrary to our expectations, exposure to heatwaves did not affect survival. Exposure to a mild 5-day heatwave (30-32 °C) resulted in increased offspring production compared to those exposed to an extreme heatwave (34-36 °C) and to the control group (24 °C). We also found that brood-care behaviours were impacted by the magnitude of the heatwave. Wing fanning occurred occasionally at temperatures of 30-32 °C, whereas at 34-36 °C the proportion of workers engaged in this thermoregulatory behaviour increased significantly. Our results provide insights into the effects of heatwaves on bumblebee colony performance and underscore the use of microcolonies as a valuable tool for studying the effects of extreme weather events. Future research, especially field-based studies replicating natural foraging conditions, is crucial to complement laboratory-based studies to comprehend how heatwaves compromise the performance of pollinators. Such studies may potentially help to identify those species more resilient to climate change, as well as those that are most vulnerable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanet Sepúlveda
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Nicholls
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Wiebke Schuett
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Dave Goulson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ratz T, Chechi TS, Dimopoulou AI, Sedlmair SD, Tuni C. Heatwaves inflict reproductive but not survival costs to male insects. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246698. [PMID: 38436413 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246698] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is having a dramatic effect on the environment, with rising global temperatures and more frequent extreme climatic events, such as heatwaves, that can hamper organisms' biological functions. Although it is clear that sudden and extreme temperatures can damage reproductive processes, there is limited understanding of the effects of heatwaves on male mating behaviour and reproductive success. We tested for the effects of heat stress induced by ecologically relevant heatwaves (33°C and 39°C for five consecutive days) on the mating behaviour, reproductive success, body mass and survival of male field crickets Gryllus bimaculatus, paired with untreated females. We predicted life-history and reproductive costs would increase with increasing heatwave intensity. Consistent with our expectations, males exposed to the highest heatwave temperature produced the fewest offspring, while having to increase courtship effort to successfully mate. Males also gained relatively more weight following heatwave exposure. Given that we found no difference in lifetime survival, our results suggest a potential trade-off in resource allocation between somatic maintenance and reproductive investment. Taken together, our findings indicate that sublethal effects of heatwaves could reduce the growth and persistence of animal populations by negatively impacting reproductive rates. These findings highlight the need for considering thermal ecologies, life history and behaviour to better understand the consequences of extreme climatic events on individuals and populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Ratz
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstraße 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tejinder Singh Chechi
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Aliki-Ioanna Dimopoulou
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Stephanie Daniela Sedlmair
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Cristina Tuni
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martinet B, Przybyla K, Decroo C, Wattiez R, Aron S. Proteomic differences in seminal fluid of social insects whose sperm differ in heat tolerance. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:231389. [PMID: 38026028 PMCID: PMC10645120 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231389] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In the coming years, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. In many organisms, heat stress provokes physiological perturbations and can lead to decreased male fertility. Bumblebees are endo-heterothermic but display interspecific differences in thermotolerance that could have conservation implications. For the species of concern Bombus magnus, exposure to high temperatures can severely reduce sperm quality and, consequently, reproductive success. Such is not the case for B. terrestris, a ubiquitous species. To decipher the mechanisms at play, we characterized the seminal fluid proteomes of the two species. We quantified 1121 proteins, of which 522 were differentially expressed between B. terrestris and B. magnus. Several proteins with protective functions, such as proteases, antioxidant proteins and various heat-shock proteins, were present at higher levels in B. terrestris than in B. magnus under both control and heat-stress conditions. The same was true for proteins involved in cellular homeostasis, immunity, lipid/sugar metabolism and thermotolerance. Furthermore, proteins involved in the capture and elimination of reactive oxygen species also occurred at much high levels in B. terrestris. Overall, these results clearly indicate differences in the seminal proteome of the more thermotolerant B. terrestris versus B. magnus. The differences may contribute to explaining interspecific differences in sperm survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Martinet
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Paul Héger - CP 160/12, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | | | - Corentin Decroo
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Université de Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Ruddy Wattiez
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Université de Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Serge Aron
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Paul Héger - CP 160/12, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
White SA, Dillon ME. Climate warming and bumble bee declines: the need to consider sub-lethal heat, carry-over effects, and colony compensation. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1251235. [PMID: 38028807 PMCID: PMC10644220 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1251235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Global declines in abundance and diversity of insects are now well-documented and increasingly concerning given the critical and diverse roles insects play in all ecosystems. Habitat loss, invasive species, and anthropogenic chemicals are all clearly detrimental to insect populations, but mounting evidence implicates climate change as a key driver of insect declines globally. Warming temperatures combined with increased variability may expose organisms to extreme heat that exceeds tolerance, potentially driving local extirpations. In this context, heat tolerance limits (e.g., critical thermal maximum, CTmax) have been measured for many invertebrates and are often closely linked to climate regions where animals are found. However, temperatures well below CTmax may also have pronounced effects on insects, but have been relatively less studied. Additionally, many insects with out-sized ecological and economic footprints are colonial (e.g., ants, social bees, termites) such that effects of heat on individuals may propagate through or be compensated by the colony. For colonial organisms, measuring direct effects on individuals may therefore reveal little about population-level impacts of changing climates. Here, we use bumble bees (genus Bombus) as a case study to highlight how a limited understanding of heat effects below CTmax and of colonial impacts and responses both likely hinder our ability to explain past and predict future climate change impacts. Insights from bumble bees suggest that, for diverse invertebrates, predicting climate change impacts will require a more nuanced understanding of the effects of heat exposure and additional studies of carry-over effects and compensatory responses by colonies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina A. White
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Willcox BK, Potts SG, Brown MJF, Alix A, Al Naggar Y, Chauzat MP, Costa C, Gekière A, Hartfield C, Hatjina F, Knapp JL, Martínez-López V, Maus C, Metodiev T, Nazzi F, Osterman J, Raimets R, Strobl V, Van Oystaeyen A, Wintermantel D, Yovcheva N, Senapathi D. Emerging threats and opportunities to managed bee species in European agricultural systems: a horizon scan. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18099. [PMID: 37872212 PMCID: PMC10593766 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45279-w] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Managed bee species provide essential pollination services that contribute to food security worldwide. However, managed bees face a diverse array of threats and anticipating these, and potential opportunities to reduce risks, is essential for the sustainable management of pollination services. We conducted a horizon scanning exercise with 20 experts from across Europe to identify emerging threats and opportunities for managed bees in European agricultural systems. An initial 63 issues were identified, and this was shortlisted to 21 issues through the horizon scanning process. These ranged from local landscape-level management to geopolitical issues on a continental and global scale across seven broad themes-Pesticides & pollutants, Technology, Management practices, Predators & parasites, Environmental stressors, Crop modification, and Political & trade influences. While we conducted this horizon scan within a European context, the opportunities and threats identified will likely be relevant to other regions. A renewed research and policy focus, especially on the highest-ranking issues, is required to maximise the value of these opportunities and mitigate threats to maintain sustainable and healthy managed bee pollinators within agricultural systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryony K Willcox
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK.
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Anne Alix
- Corteva Agriscience, Regulatory and Stewardship Europe, Middle East and Africa, Abingdon, UK
| | - Yahya Al Naggar
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
- Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, 61413, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey Bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Cecilia Costa
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antoine Gekière
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Chris Hartfield
- National Farmers' Union, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2TZ, UK
| | - Fani Hatjina
- Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Science, ELGO 'DIMITRA', 63200, Nea Moudania, Greece
| | - Jessica L Knapp
- Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vicente Martínez-López
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | | | | | - Francesco Nazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Julia Osterman
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Risto Raimets
- Department of Plant Protection, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Dimitry Wintermantel
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Simmons LW, Lovegrove M, Du X(B, Ren Y, Thomas ML. Humidity stress and its consequences for male pre- and post-copulatory fitness traits in an insect. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10244. [PMID: 37404700 PMCID: PMC10316369 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Global declines in insect abundance are of significant concern. While there is evidence that climate change is contributing to insect declines, we know little of the direct mechanisms responsible for these declines. Male fertility is compromised by increasing temperatures, and the thermal limit to fertility has been implicated as an important factor in the response of insects to climate change. However, climate change is affecting both temperature and hydric conditions, and the effects of water availability on male fertility have rarely been considered. Here we exposed male crickets Teleogryllus oceanicus to either low or high-humidity environments while holding temperature constant. We measured water loss and the expression of both pre- and postmating reproductive traits. Males exposed to a low-humidity environment lost more water than males exposed to a high-humidity environment. A male's cuticular hydrocarbon profile (CHC) did not affect the amount of water lost, and males did not adjust the composition of their CHC profiles in response to hydric conditions. Males exposed to a low-humidity environment were less likely to produce courtship song or produced songs of low quality. Their spermatophores failed to evacuate and their ejaculates contained sperm of reduced viability. The detrimental effects of low-humidity on male reproductive traits will compromise male fertility and population persistence. We argue that limits to insect fertility based on temperature alone are likely to underestimate the true effects of climate change on insect persistence and that the explicit incorporation of water regulation into our modeling will yield more accurate predictions of the effects of climate change on insect declines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leigh W. Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Maxine Lovegrove
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Xin (Bob) Du
- Harry Butler InstituteMurdoch UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Yonglin Ren
- Harry Butler InstituteMurdoch UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Melissa L. Thomas
- Harry Butler InstituteMurdoch UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCSIRO Land and WaterFloreatWestern AustraliaAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Campion C, Rajamohan A, Dillon ME. Sperm can't take the heat: Short-term temperature exposures compromise fertility of male bumble bees (Bombus impatiens). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 146:104491. [PMID: 36773841 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104491] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bumble bee (genus Bombus) populations are increasingly under threat from habitat fragmentation, pesticides, pathogens, and climate change. Climate change is likely a prime driver of bumble bee declines but the mechanisms by which changing climates alter local abundance, leading to shifts in geographic range are unclear. Heat tolerance is quite high in worker bumble bees (CTmax ∼ 48-55 °C), making it unlikely for them to experience these high temperatures, even with climate warming. However, the thermal tolerance of whole organisms often exceeds that of their gametes; many insects can be sterilized by exposure to temperatures well below their upper thermal tolerance. Male bumble bees are independent from the colony and may encounter more frequent temperature extremes, but whether these exposures compromise spermatozoa is still unclear. Using commercially-reared Bombus impatiens colonies, males were reared in the lab and spermatozoa were exposed (in vivo and isolated in vitro) to sublethal temperatures near lower and upper thermal tolerance (CTmin and CTmax, respectively). Heat exposure (45 °C for up to 85 min) reduced spermatozoa viability both for whole males (in vivo; control = 79.5 %, heat exposed = 58 %, heat stupor = 57.7 %) and isolated seminal vesicles (in vitro; control = 85.5 %, heat exposed = 62.9 %). Whole males exposed to 4 °C for 85 min (in vivo; control = 79.2 %, cold = 72.4 %), isolated seminal vesicles exposed to 4 °C for 85 min (in vitro; control = 85.5 %, cold = 85.1 %), and whole males exposed to for 4 °C for 48 h (in vivo; control = 88.7 %, cold = 84.3 %) did not differ significantly in spermatozoa viability. After<85 min at 45 °C, males had significantly reduced spermatozoa viability, suggesting that short-term heat waves below CTmax could strongly reduce the fertility of male bumble bees with potential population-level impacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Campion
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
| | - Arun Rajamohan
- Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center, USDA-ARS, 1616 Fargo, ND 58102, USA
| | - Michael E Dillon
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
de Manincor N, Fisogni A, Rafferty NE. Warming of experimental plant-pollinator communities advances phenologies, alters traits, reduces interactions and depresses reproduction. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:323-334. [PMID: 36592334 PMCID: PMC10107705 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Climate change may disrupt plant-pollinator mutualisms by generating phenological asynchronies and by altering traits that shape interaction costs and benefits. Our knowledge is limited to studies that manipulate only one partner or focus on either phenological or trait-based mismatches. We assembled communities of three annual plants and a solitary bee prior to flowering and emergence to test how springtime warming affects phenologies, traits, interactions and reproductive output. Warming advanced community-level flowering onset, peak and end but did not alter bee emergence. Warmed plant communities produced fewer and smaller flowers with less, more-concentrated nectar, reducing attractiveness, and warmed bees were more generalized in their foraging, reducing their effectiveness. Plant-bee interactions were less frequent, shorter and peaked earlier under warming. As a result, warmed plants produced fewer, lighter seeds, indicating pollinator-mediated fitness costs. Climate change will perturb plant-pollinator mutualisms, causing wide-ranging effects on partner species and diminishing the ecosystem service they provide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natasha de Manincor
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Alessandro Fisogni
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Nicole E Rafferty
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Leroy C, Brunet JL, Henry M, Alaux C. Using physiology to better support wild bee conservation. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac076. [PMID: 36632323 PMCID: PMC9825782 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence that wild bees are experiencing a decline in terms of species diversity, abundance or distribution, which leads to major concerns about the sustainability of both pollination services and intrinsic biodiversity. There is therefore an urgent need to better understand the drivers of their decline, as well as design conservation strategies. In this context, the current approach consists of linking observed occurrence and distribution data of species to environmental features. While useful, a highly complementary approach would be the use of new biological metrics that can link individual bee responses to environmental alteration with population-level responses, which could communicate the actual bee sensitivity to environmental changes and act as early warning signals of bee population decline or sustainability. We discuss here through several examples how the measurement of bee physiological traits or performance can play this role not only in better assessing the impact of anthropogenic pressures on bees, but also in guiding conservation practices with the help of the documentation of species' physiological needs. Last but not least, because physiological changes generally occur well in advance of demographic changes, we argue that physiological traits can help in predicting and anticipating future population trends, which would represent a more proactive approach to conservation. In conclusion, we believe that future efforts to combine physiological, ecological and population-level knowledge will provide meaningful contributions to wild bee conservation-based research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Luc Brunet
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
| | - Mickael Henry
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
| | - Cedric Alaux
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hart AF, Verbeeck J, Ariza D, Cejas D, Ghisbain G, Honchar H, Radchenko VG, Straka J, Ljubomirov T, Lecocq T, Dániel-Ferreira J, Flaminio S, Bortolotti L, Karise R, Meeus I, Smagghe G, Vereecken N, Vandamme P, Michez D, Maebe K. Signals of adaptation to agricultural stress in the genomes of two European bumblebees. Front Genet 2022; 13:993416. [PMID: 36276969 PMCID: PMC9579324 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.993416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced environmental impacts on wildlife are widespread, causing major biodiversity losses. One major threat is agricultural intensification, typically characterised by large areas of monoculture, mechanical tillage, and the use of agrochemicals. Intensification leads to the fragmentation and loss of natural habitats, native vegetation, and nesting and breeding sites. Understanding the adaptability of insects to these changing environmental conditions is critical to predicting their survival. Bumblebees, key pollinators of wild and cultivated plants, are used as model species to assess insect adaptation to anthropogenic stressors. We investigated the effects of agricultural pressures on two common European bumblebees, Bombus pascuorum and B. lapidarius. Restriction-site Associated DNA Sequencing was used to identify loci under selective pressure across agricultural-natural gradients over 97 locations in Europe. 191 unique loci in B. pascuorum and 260 in B. lapidarius were identified as under selective pressure, and associated with agricultural stressors. Further investigation suggested several candidate proteins including several neurodevelopment, muscle, and detoxification proteins, but these have yet to be validated. These results provide insights into agriculture as a stressor for bumblebees, and signal for conservation action in light of ongoing anthropogenic changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex F. Hart
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Lab of Agrozoology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jaro Verbeeck
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Lab of Agrozoology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daniel Ariza
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Lab of Agrozoology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Diego Cejas
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Guillaume Ghisbain
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
| | - Hanna Honchar
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Vladimir G. Radchenko
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Jakub Straka
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Toshko Ljubomirov
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research—Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Thomas Lecocq
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, URAFPA, Nancy, France
| | | | - Simone Flaminio
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Reet Karise
- Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ivan Meeus
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Lab of Agrozoology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Lab of Agrozoology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Vereecken
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Kevin Maebe
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Lab of Agrozoology, Ghent, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Kevin Maebe,
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Walters J, Zavalnitskaya J, Isaacs R, Szendrei Z. Heat of the moment: extreme heat poses a risk to bee-plant interactions and crop yields. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 52:100927. [PMID: 35500861 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Extreme heat events threaten the development, functioning, and success of bee pollinators and crops that rely on pollinators for high yields. While direct effects of extreme heat and climate warming have gained more attention, the indirect effects on bees and crops remain largely unexplored. Extreme heat can directly alter the nutritional value of floral rewards, which indirectly contributes to lower bee survival, development, and reproduction with implications for pollination. Phenological mismatches between bee activity and crop flowering are also expected. Heat-stressed crop plants with reduced floral rewards may reduce bee foraging and nesting, limiting pollination services. Understanding how extreme heat affects bee-crop interactions will be essential for resilient production of pollinator-dependent crops in this era of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Walters
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | | | - Rufus Isaacs
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Zsofia Szendrei
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Reproduction of a field cricket under high-intensity artificial light at night and a simulated heat wave. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03220-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
14
|
Sentil A, Wood TJ, Lhomme P, Hamroud L, El Abdouni I, Ihsane O, Bencharki Y, Rasmont P, Christmann S, Michez D. Impact of the “Farming With Alternative Pollinators” Approach on Crop Pollinator Pollen Diet. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.824474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollinators are facing declines at a global level. One of the main factors driving this decline is insufficient access to floral resources due to habitat loss and degradation that can affect both diet generalist species as well as those with more restricted floral preferences. Here we evaluated the effect of a novel mitigation strategy in agricultural ecosystems, Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) on the pollen diet of crop pollinators. The approach dedicates 25% of the cropped area to Marketable Habitat Enhancement Plants (MHEP) that attract pollinators, natural enemies of the crops, and provide farmers with income. We assessed the effect of the approach on pollen diet of faba bean (Vicia faba) and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) flower visitors in four different regions in Morocco during 2018 and 2019 by comparing control fields (monoculture) and FAP fields in 13 trials and 101 sites. Results from 25 wild bee species show that almost two-thirds of the species carrying or collecting pollen when visiting pumpkin flowers and half of the species carrying or collecting pollen when visiting faba bean flowers gathered this pollen from two or more host plants (i.e., MHEP, main crop, and/or wild plants) and displayed a wide dietary breadth. Pollen grains from the main crops were poorly represented on the female scopae, indicating that crops were mainly visited for nectar. Hence, crop flower visitors may require alternative pollen sources to meet their nutritional needs. The number of pollen genera collected by flower visitors and the dietary breadth of crop flower visitors did not show a significant increase in response to FAP management. Among the selected MHEP, sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was the pollen resource for pumpkin flower visitors. In faba bean, flower visitors collected pollen from coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and canola (Brassica napus). Our study sheds light on the importance of characterizing the pollen diet and the foraging behavior of crop pollinators to identify appropriate plant species that complement their food, maintain and conserve their populations.
Collapse
|
15
|
McAfee A, Stillman JH, Marshall KE, Metz BN. Editorial: Insect Fertility in a Changing Environment. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.847997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
16
|
Perl CD, Johansen ZB, Moradinour Z, Guiraud M, Restrepo CE, Wen Jie V, Miettinen A, Baird E. Heatwave-Like Events During Development Are Sufficient to Impair Bumblebee Worker Responses to Sensory Stimuli. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.776830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heatwaves are increasingly common globally and are known to have detrimental impacts on animal morphology and behaviour. These impacts can be severe, especially if heatwaves occur during development, even on animals that can regulate the temperature of their developing young. The onset and duration of heatwaves are stochastic and therefore may affect all or only part of development. In the heterothermic bumblebee Bombus terrestris, elevated temperatures over the entirety of development cause morphological changes in adults, despite their capability to regulate brood temperature. However, the effects of heatwaves that occur during a short period of development are unclear. We test the impact of elevated developmental temperature during the latter fraction of development on the behaviour and morphology of adult worker B. terrestris. We show that exposure to elevated temperature over a portion of late development is sufficient to impair the initial behavioural responses of workers to various sensory stimuli. Despite this, exposure to elevated temperatures during a period of development did not have any significant impact on body or organ size. The negative effect of elevated developmental temperatures was independent of the exposure time, which lasted from 11–20 days at the end of the workers’ developmental period. Thus, heat stress in bumblebees can manifest without morphological indicators and impair critical behavioural responses to relevant sensory stimuli, even if only present for a short period of time at the end of development. This has important implications for our understanding of deleterious climactic events and how we measure indicators of stress in pollinators.
Collapse
|
17
|
Ghisbain G. Are Bumblebees Relevant Models for Understanding Wild Bee Decline? FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.752213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The unsustainable use of ecosystems by human societies has put global biodiversity in peril. Bees are, in this context, a popular example of a highly diversified group of pollinators whose collapse is a major concern given the invaluable ecosystem services they provide. Amongst them, bumblebees (Bombus) have increasingly drawn the attention of scientists due to their dramatic population declines globally. This regression has converted them into popular conservation entities, making them the second most studied group of bees worldwide. However, in addition to have become relevant models in the fields of ecology, evolution and biogeography, bumblebees have also been used as models for studying wild bee decline and conservation worldwide. Integrating evidence from the comparative ecology and resilience of bumblebees and wild bees, I discuss the relevance of using Bombus as radars for wild bee decline worldwide. Responses of bumblebees to environmental changes are generally not comparable with those of wild bees because of their relatively long activity period, their inherent sensitivity to high temperatures, their relatively generalist diet breadth and many aspects arising from their eusocial behavior. Moreover, important differences in the available historical data between bumblebees and other bees make comparisons of conservation status even more arduous. Overall, these results reinforce the need for conservation actions that consider a higher level of understanding of ecological diversity in wild bees, highlight the need for an updated and more extensive sampling of these organisms, and emphasize that more caution is required when extrapolating trends from model species.
Collapse
|
18
|
Maebe K, Vereecken NJ, Piot N, Reverté S, Cejas D, Michez D, Vandamme P, Smagghe G. The Holobiont as a Key to the Adaptation and Conservation of Wild Bees in the Anthropocene. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.781470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
19
|
Przybyla K, Michez D, Zambra E, Anselmo A, Hennebert E, Rasmont P, Martinet B. Effects of Heat Stress on Mating Behavior and Colony Development in Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.748405] [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
Climate change is related to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heatwaves. In insect pollinators, heat exposure is associated with direct physiological perturbations, and in several species, could lead to a decrease of fitness related to a decrease in fertility. Here we developed a new experimental protocol in controlled conditions to assess if the exposure to high temperatures could modify the attractiveness and fertility of Bombus terrestris males. Our results show that virgin queens of B. terrestris do not have preferences between the pheromonal secretions of heat-exposed and control males. Moreover, mating with a heat-exposed male has no impact on the copulation behavior and the development of the nest (brood composition). We advise to extend trials to cover a range of wild and heat-sensitive species on multiple generations to better understand the impact of heat waves on the bumblebee communities.
Collapse
|
20
|
Distant but related: genetic structure in the circum-boreal bumblebee Bombus jonellus (Kirby, 1802). Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02937-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
21
|
Maebe K, Hart AF, Marshall L, Vandamme P, Vereecken NJ, Michez D, Smagghe G. Bumblebee resilience to climate change, through plastic and adaptive responses. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4223-4237. [PMID: 34118096 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bumblebees are ubiquitous, cold-adapted eusocial bees found worldwide from subarctic to tropical regions of the world. They are key pollinators in most temperate and boreal ecosystems, and both wild and managed populations are significant contributors to agricultural pollination services. Despite their broad ecological niche at the genus level, bumblebee species are threatened by climate change, particularly by rising average temperatures, intensifying seasonality and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. While some temperature extremes may be offset at the individual or colony level through temperature regulation, most bumblebees are expected to exhibit specific plastic responses, selection in various key traits, and/or range contractions under even the mildest climate change. In this review, we provide an in-depth and up-to-date review on the various ways by which bumblebees overcome the threats associated with current and future global change. We use examples relevant to the fields of bumblebee physiology, morphology, behaviour, phenology, and dispersal to illustrate and discuss the contours of this new theoretical framework. Furthermore, we speculate on the extent to which adaptive responses to climate change may be influenced by bumblebees' capacity to disperse and track suitable climate conditions. Closing the knowledge gap and improving our understanding of bumblebees' adaptability or avoidance behaviour to different climatic circumstances will be necessary to improve current species climate response models. These models are essential to make correct predictions of species vulnerability in the face of future climate change and human-induced environmental changes to unfold appropriate future conservation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maebe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alex F Hart
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Leon Marshall
- Agroecology Lab, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ghisbain G, Gérard M, Wood TJ, Hines HM, Michez D. Expanding insect pollinators in the Anthropocene. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2755-2770. [PMID: 34288353 PMCID: PMC9292488 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Global changes are severely affecting pollinator insect communities worldwide, resulting in repeated patterns of species extirpations and extinctions. Whilst negative population trends within this functional group have understandably received much attention in recent decades, another facet of global changes has been overshadowed: species undergoing expansion. Here, we review the factors and traits that have allowed a fraction of the pollinating entomofauna to take advantage of global environmental change. Sufficient mobility, high resistance to acute heat stress, and inherent adaptation to warmer climates appear to be key traits that allow pollinators to persist and even expand in the face of climate change. An overall flexibility in dietary and nesting requirements is common in expanding species, although niche specialization can also drive expansion under specific contexts. The numerous consequences of wild and domesticated pollinator expansions, including competition for resources, pathogen spread, and hybridization with native wildlife, are also discussed. Overall, we show that the traits and factors involved in the success stories of expanding pollinators are mostly species specific and context dependent, rendering generalizations of 'winning traits' complicated. This work illustrates the increasing need to consider expansion and its numerous consequences as significant facets of global changes and encourages efforts to monitor the impacts of expanding insect pollinators, particularly exotic species, on natural ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Ghisbain
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Maxence Gérard
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium.,Department of Zoology, Division of Functional Morphology, INSECT Lab, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 18b, Stockholm, 11418, Sweden
| | - Thomas J Wood
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Heather M Hines
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A.,Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Vanderplanck M, Michez D, Albrecht M, Attridge E, Babin A, Bottero I, Breeze T, Brown M, Chauzat MP, Cini E, Costa C, De la Rua P, de Miranda J, Di Prisco G, Dominik C, Dzul D, Fiordaliso W, Gennaux S, Ghisbain G, Hodge S, Klein AM, Knapp J, Knauer A, Laurent M, Lefebvre V, Mänd M, Martinet B, Martinez-Lopez V, Medrzycki P, Pereira Peixoto MH, Potts S, Przybyla K, Raimets R, Rundlöf M, Schweiger O, Senapathi D, Serrano J, Stout J, Straw E, Tamburini G, Toktas Y, Gérard M. Monitoring bee health in European agro-ecosystems using wing morphology and fat bodies. ONE ECOSYSTEM 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.6.e63653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Current global change substantially threatens pollinators, which directly impacts the pollination services underpinning the stability, structure and functioning of ecosystems. Amongst these threats, many synergistic drivers, such as habitat destruction and fragmentation, increasing use of agrochemicals, decreasing resource diversity, as well as climate change, are known to affect wild and managed bees. Therefore, reliable indicators for pollinator sensitivity to such threats are needed. Biological traits, such as phenotype (e.g. shape, size and asymmetry) and storage reserves (e.g. fat body size), are important pollinator traits linked to reproductive success, immunity, resilience and foraging efficiency and, therefore, could serve as valuable markers of bee health and pollination service potential.
This data paper contains an extensive dataset of wing morphology and fat body content for the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) sampled at 128 sites across eight European countries in landscape gradients dominated by two major bee-pollinated crops (apple and oilseed rape), before and after focal crop bloom and potential pesticide exposure. The dataset also includes environmental metrics of each sampling site, namely landscape structure and pesticide use. The data offer the opportunity to test whether variation in the phenotype and fat bodies of bees is structured by environmental factors and drivers of global change. Overall, the dataset provides valuable information to identify which environmental threats predominantly contribute to the modification of these traits.
Collapse
|