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Williams PH, Françoso E, Martinet B, Orr MC, Ren Z, Júnior JS, Thanoosing C, Vandame R. When did bumblebees reach South America? Unexpectedly old montane species may be explained by Mexican stopover (Hymenoptera: Apidae). SYST BIODIVERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2022.2092229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Elaine Françoso
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Baptiste Martinet
- Avenue F.D, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Roosevelt 50, Brussels, B-1050, Belgium
| | - Michael C. Orr
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Zongxin Ren
- Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - José Santos Júnior
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Rémy Vandame
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, 29290, México
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2
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Beche M, Arnemann JA, Silva J, Pozebon H, Valmorbida I, Brondani L, Camatti G, Aita L, Smagghe G, Stacke RS, Maebe K, Guedes JVC. High Genetic Diversity and Gene Flow Detected in Populations of Bombus morio from South Brazil. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 51:809-820. [PMID: 36315395 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-022-00995-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bumblebees are essential insects for the preservation of biodiversity in many ecosystems, as they can pollinate a wide variety of wild and cultivated plants. Knowledge of the genetic diversity of bumblebees can be used to understand and predict the health status of bee populations, enabling the development of strategies for crop management and conservation of this important group of pollinators. Here, we characterized the genetic diversity of B. morio populations from the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, by amplification of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. The resulting data were then compared with genetic parameters of Bombus morio (Swederus 1787) obtained in populations from this species' full geographic range in South America. Our results revealed the presence of nine mitochondrial haplotypes in Rio Grande do Sul, three of which were novel haplotypes, and of significant genetic divergence among bumblebee populations from Brazil and South America. The mitochondrial haplotype BM01 was the most common and is probably the ancestral haplotype from which the others originated. There is also evidence that strong gene flow has taken place among Brazilian B. morio populations, explaining the sharing of haplotypes between distant populations. The populations of B. morio from Rio Grande do Sul present significant genetic diversity as the species is native to Southern/Southeastern Brazil and adapted to the ecological conditions in this wide range. Having well-connected populations with a large genetic potential will help this species to remain well adapted to the different environmental conditions within its native range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoela Beche
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Jonas Andre Arnemann
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
| | - Jocélia Silva
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Henrique Pozebon
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Lauren Brondani
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Camatti
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Lorenzo Aita
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Regina Sonete Stacke
- Departament of Crop Protection, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Kevin Maebe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Di Pietro V, Ferreira HM, Van Oystaeyen A, Wäckers F, Wenseleers T, Oliveira RC. Distinct Colony Types Caused by Diploid Male Production in the Buff-Tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.844251] [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
The buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris presents two distinct colony phenotypes in which some colonies already start producing males very early in the season, while others switch to producing sexuals much later in the season, and specialize mainly in the production of virgin queens. Despite having been extensively investigated in the past, the mechanisms underlying these two distinct phenotypes remain poorly understood. Here we use a combination of behavioral and genetic data to demonstrate that early switchers are in fact diploid male producing colonies, while late switchers produced normal, haploid males. Hence, at a proximate level, early switching to male production was caused by queens mating with males that by chance carried the same sex allele. These patterns were not the result of strong inbreeding within the study population, as the average inbreeding coefficient was very low and in fact slightly negative (−0.11). Moreover, an effect of inbreeding was further excluded because hybrids produced by crossing two distinct outbred populations also produced diploid males in early switching colonies. Finally, we found that diploid males only emerged after a first cohort of workers was produced, while we would have expected diploid males to be produced simultaneously with workers in a 50:50 ratio. We demonstrate that adult diploid males had a distinct cuticular hydrocarbon profile and propose that queens likely cull diploid males during early colony development to reduce the cost of diploid male production.
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4
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Bumble bees exhibit body size clines across an urban gradient despite low genetic differentiation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4166. [PMID: 35264687 PMCID: PMC8907314 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08093-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental heterogeneity resulting from human-modified landscapes can increase intraspecific trait variation. However, less known is whether such phenotypic variation is driven by plastic or adaptive responses to local environments. Here, we study five bumble bee (Apidae: Bombus) species across an urban gradient in the greater Saint Louis, Missouri region in the North American Midwest and ask: (1) Can urban environments induce intraspecific spatial structuring of body size, an ecologically consequential functional trait? And, if so, (2) is this body size structure the result of plasticity or adaptation? We additionally estimate genetic diversity, inbreeding, and colony density of these species—three factors that affect extinction risk. Using ≥ 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci per species and measurements of body size, we find that two of these species (Bombus impatiens, Bombus pensylvanicus) exhibit body size clines across the urban gradient, despite a lack of population genetic structure. We also reaffirm reports of low genetic diversity in B. pensylvanicus and find evidence that Bombus griseocollis, a species thought to be thriving in North America, is inbred in the greater Saint Louis region. Collectively, our results have implications for conservation in urban environments and suggest that plasticity can cause phenotypic clines across human-modified landscapes.
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5
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Glück M, Geue JC, Thomassen HA. Environmental differences explain subtle yet detectable genetic structure in a widespread pollinator. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:8. [PMID: 35105300 PMCID: PMC8808969 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-01963-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The environment is a strong driver of genetic structure in many natural populations, yet often neglected in population genetic studies. This may be a particular problem in vagile species, where subtle structure cannot be explained by limitations to dispersal. Consequently, these species might falsely be considered quasi-panmictic and hence potentially mismanaged. A species this might apply to, is the buff-tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), an economically important and widespread pollinator, which is considered to be quasi-panmictic at mainland continental scales. Here we aimed to (i) quantify genetic structure in 21+ populations of the buff-tailed bumble bee, sampled throughout two Eastern European countries, and (ii) analyse the degree to which structure is explained by environmental differences, habitat permeability and geographic distance. Using 12 microsatellite loci, we characterised populations of this species with Fst analyses, complemented by discriminant analysis of principal components and Bayesian clustering approaches. We then applied generalized dissimilarity modelling to simultaneously assess the informativeness of geographic distance, habitat permeability and environmental differences among populations in explaining divergence. RESULTS Genetic structure of the buff-tailed bumble bee quantified by means of Fst was subtle and not detected by Bayesian clustering. Discriminant analysis of principal components suggested insignificant but still noticeable structure that slightly exceeded estimates obtained through Fst analyses. As expected, geographic distance and habitat permeability were not informative in explaining the spatial pattern of genetic divergence. Yet, environmental variables related to temperature, vegetation and topography were highly informative, explaining between 33 and 39% of the genetic variation observed. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to previous studies reporting quasi-panmixia in continental populations of this species, we demonstrated the presence of subtle population structure related to environmental heterogeneity. Environmental data proved to be highly useful in unravelling the drivers of genetic structure in this vagile and opportunistic species. We highlight the potential of including these data to obtain a better understanding of population structure and the processes driving it in species considered to be quasi-panmictic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Glück
- Comparative Zoology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Tübingen University, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Julia C Geue
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Henri A Thomassen
- Comparative Zoology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Tübingen University, Tübingen, Germany
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6
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Butler RG, Lage C, Dobrin SE, Staples JK, Venturini E, Frank J, Drummond FA. Maine's Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)-Part 2: Comparisons of a Common (Bombus ternarius) and a Rare (Bombus terricola) Species. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:1358-1369. [PMID: 34532731 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvab100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As part of a quantitative survey of Maine's bumble bee fauna (Butler et al. 2021), we compared and contrasted genetic diversity, parasite and pathogen burdens, and pesticide exposure of the relatively common Bombus ternarius Say, 1937 and the spatially rare Bombus terricola Kirby, 1837. We recorded 11 Bombus species at 40 survey sites across three Maine ecoregions, and B. ternarius was the most common species, while B. terricola was spatially rare. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling indicated that B. terricola was associated with higher elevation sites in Maine, while B. ternarius was more broadly distributed in the state. Pollinator networks constructed for each bee indicated B. ternarius foraged on more plant species than B. terricola, but that there was considerable overlap (73%) in plant species visited. Genetic diversity was greater in the spatially restricted B. terricola, whereas the widely distributed B. ternarius was characterized by greater genetic differentiation among regions. Bombus terricola had higher molecular marker levels of the microsporidian fungi Nosema spp. and the trypanosome Crithidia spp., and both species had high levels of Trypanosoma spp. exposure. No Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera, Linnaeus, 1758) viruses were detected in either species. Pesticides were not detected in pollen samples collected from workers of either species, and B. ternarius worker tissue samples exhibited only trace levels of diflubenzuron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald G Butler
- Department of Biology, University of Maine, Farmington, ME, USA
| | - Christopher Lage
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Maine Augusta, Augusta, ME, USA
| | - Scott E Dobrin
- Collegium of Natural Sciences, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Joseph K Staples
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME, USA
| | - Eric Venturini
- Maine Wild Blueberry Commission, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Jereme Frank
- Maine Forest Service, Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry, Old Town, ME, USA
| | - Francis A Drummond
- Professor Emeritus, School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
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7
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Christmas MJ, Jones JC, Olsson A, Wallerman O, Bunikis I, Kierczak M, Whitley KM, Sullivan I, Geib JC, Miller-Struttmann NE, Webster MT. A genomic and morphometric analysis of alpine bumblebees: Ongoing reductions in tongue length but no clear genetic component. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:1111-1127. [PMID: 34837435 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Over the last six decades, populations of the bumblebees Bombus sylvicola and Bombus balteatus in Colorado have experienced decreases in tongue length, a trait important for plant-pollinator mutualisms. It has been hypothesized that this observation reflects selection resulting from shifts in floral composition under climate change. Here we used morphometrics and population genomics to determine whether morphological change is ongoing, investigate the genetic basis of morphological variation, and analyse population structure in these populations. We generated a genome assembly of B. balteatus. We then analysed whole-genome sequencing data and morphometric measurements of 580 samples of both species from seven high-altitude localities. Out of 281 samples originally identified as B. sylvicola, 67 formed a separate genetic cluster comprising a newly-discovered cryptic species ("incognitus"). However, an absence of genetic structure within species suggests that gene flow is common between mountains. We found a significant decrease in tongue length between bees collected between 2012-2014 and in 2017, indicating that morphological shifts are ongoing. We did not discover any genetic associations with tongue length, but a SNP related to production of a proteolytic digestive enzyme was implicated in body size variation. We identified evidence of covariance between kinship and both tongue length and body size, which is suggestive of a genetic component of these traits, although it is possible that shared environmental effects between colonies are responsible. Our results provide evidence for ongoing modification of a morphological trait important for pollination and indicate that this trait probably has a complex genetic and environmental basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Christmas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Julia C Jones
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anna Olsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ola Wallerman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ignas Bunikis
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcin Kierczak
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kaitlyn M Whitley
- Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA.,U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Isabel Sullivan
- Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA.,Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer C Geib
- Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Matthew T Webster
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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8
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Spatial and temporal patterns of genetic diversity in Bombus terrestris populations of the Iberian Peninsula and their conservation implications. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22471. [PMID: 34795335 PMCID: PMC8602315 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01778-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The bumblebee Bombus terrestris is used worldwide for crop pollination. Despite its positive impact on crop yield, it has become a widespread threat to biodiversity due to its interactions with local bumblebee populations. Commercial subspecies introduced to the Iberian Peninsula since the 1990s without any regulation have colonized the environment, with evidence of naturalization and introgression with the endemic subspecies Bombus terrestris lusitanicus. We have used mitochondrial and nuclear genetic data to describe the current genetic diversity of the Iberian population and to estimate the expansion of commercial bumblebees. Samples from the natural distribution range of the commercial subspecies, the natural intergradation area between the two subspecies and from a period prior to the use of commercial colonies (i.e., before the 1990s) have been used for comparison. Our results show that the mitochondrial haplotype of the commercial breeds has spread throughout the territory, which, together with subtle changes observed in the nuclear genetic diversity of the populations, indicates that hybridization and consequent introgression are occurring in most of the peninsula. It is, therefore, necessary to improve the existing legislation concerning the management and exportation of commercial bumblebees to conserve locally adapted populations.
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9
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McGrady CM, Strange JP, López‐Uribe MM, Fleischer SJ. Wild bumble bee colony abundance, scaled by field size, predicts pollination services. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. McGrady
- Department of Entomology The Pennsylvania State University 501 Agricultural Sciences and Industry Building University Park Pennsylvania 16801 USA
| | - J. P. Strange
- USDA‐ARS Pollinating Insect Research Unit 1410 N 800 E N. Logan Utah 84341 USA
| | - M. M. López‐Uribe
- Department of Entomology The Pennsylvania State University 501 Agricultural Sciences and Industry Building University Park Pennsylvania 16801 USA
| | - S. J. Fleischer
- Department of Entomology The Pennsylvania State University 501 Agricultural Sciences and Industry Building University Park Pennsylvania 16801 USA
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10
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Belsky JE, Camp AA, Lehmann DM. The Importance of Males to Bumble Bee ( Bombus Species) Nest Development and Colony Viability. INSECTS 2020; 11:E506. [PMID: 32764336 PMCID: PMC7469185 DOI: 10.3390/insects11080506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bumble bee population declines over the last decade have stimulated strong interest in determining causative factors and necessary conservation measures. Research attention has largely been directed toward bumble bee worker and queen health and their contributions to population stability, while male bees (i.e., drones) have typically been overlooked regarding their role in influencing colony fitness and longevity. In this review we assess existing literature on the diverse role of males within bumble bee nests and their importance to queen health and fitness, as well as to overall nest success. The implications of reproductive measures, including sperm transfer, mating behavior, mating plugs, and male immunity, among other topics, are examined. Overall, bumble bee males are found to drive colony function in a unique manner. Current knowledge gaps pertaining to the role of males are discussed. We highlight the importance of drones to queen success and fitness in many ways, and suggest future research exploring impacts of this often-neglected caste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph E Belsky
- Public Health & Environmental Systems Division, Integrated Health Assessment Branch Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), US-Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27711, USA
| | - Allison A Camp
- ORISE Researcher, Research Triangle Park Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27711, USA
| | - David M Lehmann
- Public Health & Environmental Systems Division, Integrated Health Assessment Branch Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), US-Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27711, USA
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11
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Abstract
Bumble bees (Bombus) are unusually important pollinators, with approximately 260 wild species native to all biogeographic regions except sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. As they are vitally important in natural ecosystems and to agricultural food production globally, the increase in reports of declining distribution and abundance over the past decade has led to an explosion of interest in bumble bee population decline. We summarize data on the threat status of wild bumble bee species across biogeographic regions, underscoring regions lacking assessment data. Focusing on data-rich studies, we also synthesize recent research on potential causes of population declines. There is evidence that habitat loss, changing climate, pathogen transmission, invasion of nonnative species, and pesticides, operating individually and in combination, negatively impact bumble bee health, and that effects may depend on species and locality. We distinguish between correlational and causal results, underscoring the importance of expanding experimental research beyond the study of two commercially available species to identify causal factors affecting the diversity of wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney A Cameron
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA;
| | - Ben M Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois 61790, USA;
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12
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Maebe K, Karise R, Meeus I, Mänd M, Smagghe G. Level of Genetic Diversity in European Bumblebees is Not Determined by Local Species Abundance. Front Genet 2019; 10:1262. [PMID: 31921301 PMCID: PMC6914865 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bumblebee species with declining population trends tend to show lower genetic diversity levels than stable species. The observed difference might be explained by abundance differences, with declining bumblebee species having lower genetic diversity levels simply due to their lower local species abundances. However, whether this holds true is not known. Here, we investigated whether bumblebee local abundances determines population genetic diversity levels. Therefore, local species abundances were measured for bumblebee species at four locations in Belgium and two locations in Estonia during bumblebee foraging years 2013–2017. These locations and countries were chosen to ensure the greatest possible variance in both local abundances and population trends for these species. Hence, genetic diversity levels were obtained for seven species by genotyping collected specimens with 16 microsatellites. Our results showed that the observed patterns in genetic diversity did not depend on local species abundance. So, although declining bumblebee species can become locally abundant, they will still show lower genetic diversity levels than stable species. This result implies that measuring bumblebees’ local abundance cannot be used to directly determine the health status of a population. Furthermore, this result has also major impact on future conservation strategies as increasing the genetic diversity levels of declining species will be very difficult, and habitat quality should be high to maintain their populations, otherwise these species are doomed to disappear first.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maebe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Reet Karise
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ivan Meeus
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marika Mänd
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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13
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Pattern of population structuring between Belgian and Estonian bumblebees. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9651. [PMID: 31273269 PMCID: PMC6609714 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46188-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Several population genetic studies investigated the extent of gene flow and population connectivity in bumblebees. In general, no restriction in gene flow is considered for mainland populations of common bumblebee species. Whether this assumption holds true for all species is not known. An assessment of bumblebee genetic structure in the context of their geographic distribution is needed to prioritize conservation and management needs. Here, we conducted a genetic study on seven bumblebee species occurring in Belgium and Estonia. Using 16 microsatellite markers, we investigated genetic diversity and population structuring in each species. This is the first study investigating population structuring of both declining and stable bumblebee species on both small and large geographic scales. Our results showed no or only low population structuring between the populations of the restricted and declining bumblebee species on both scales, while significant structuring was found for populations of the common species on the larger scale. The latter result, which may be due to human or environmental changes in the landscape, implies the need for the conservation of also widespread bumblebee species. Conservation strategies to improve gene flow and connectivity of populations could avoid the isolation and future losses of populations of these important species.
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14
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Kent CF, Dey A, Patel H, Tsvetkov N, Tiwari T, MacPhail VJ, Gobeil Y, Harpur BA, Gurtowski J, Schatz MC, Colla SR, Zayed A. Conservation Genomics of the Declining North American Bumblebee Bombus terricola Reveals Inbreeding and Selection on Immune Genes. Front Genet 2018; 9:316. [PMID: 30147708 PMCID: PMC6095975 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The yellow-banded bumblebee Bombus terricola was common in North America but has recently declined and is now on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. The causes of B. terricola's decline are not well understood. Our objectives were to create a partial genome and then use this to estimate population data of conservation interest, and to determine whether genes showing signs of recent selection suggest a specific cause of decline. First, we generated a draft partial genome (contig set) for B. terricola, sequenced using Pacific Biosciences RS II at an average depth of 35×. Second, we sequenced the individual genomes of 22 bumblebee gynes from Ontario and Quebec using Illumina HiSeq 2500, each at an average depth of 20×, which were used to improve the PacBio genome calls and for population genetic analyses. The latter revealed that several samples had long runs of homozygosity, and individuals had high inbreeding coefficient F, consistent with low effective population size. Our data suggest that B. terricola's effective population size has decreased orders of magnitude from pre-Holocene levels. We carried out tests of selection to identify genes that may have played a role in ameliorating environmental stressors underlying B. terricola's decline. Several immune-related genes have signatures of recent positive selection, which is consistent with the pathogen-spillover hypothesis for B. terricola's decline. The new B. terricola contig set can help solve the mystery of bumblebee decline by enabling functional genomics research to directly assess the health of pollinators and identify the stressors causing declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement F Kent
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alivia Dey
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Victoria J MacPhail
- Wildlife Preservation Canada, Guelp, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Brock A Harpur
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Gurtowski
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States
| | - Michael C Schatz
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States.,Departments of Computer Science and Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sheila R Colla
- Wildlife Preservation Canada, Guelp, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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15
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Naeem M, Yuan X, Huang J, An J. Habitat suitability for the invasion of Bombus terrestris in East Asian countries: A case study of spatial overlap with local Chinese bumblebees. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11035. [PMID: 30038323 PMCID: PMC6056460 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29414-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species such as Bombus terrestris represent a severe threat that can result in the decline of local biodiversity. We examined the habitat suitability for B. terrestris invasion in East Asian countries and the risk of habitat overlap with 24 bumblebee species from different groups in China. All East Asian countries were predicted to be susceptible to invasion by B. terrestris, with the highest habitat suitability occurring in China followed by Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Mongolia. Within China, which is a global biodiversity hotspot for bumblebees, three different regions, north-west, central to south-east and north-east, were predicted as being highly suitable for invasion. In China, the group of species closely related to B. terrestris showed higher sensitivity (89%) to habitat overlap with B. terrestris than did the group of non-closely related species (73%). The risk of overlap for the three major regional bumblebees within China decreased in the order southern region, northern region and Tibetan Plateau region. Due to the sensitivity of habitat suitability and overlap, the use of the introduced European bumblebee B. terrestris for pollination services should be discouraged in regions with overlapping habitats in China, and management strategies should be implemented to conserve the vulnerable bumblebees in all East Asian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Naeem
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Xiaolong Yuan
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jiaxing Huang
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Jiandong An
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
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16
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Theodorou P, Radzevičiūtė R, Kahnt B, Soro A, Grosse I, Paxton RJ. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism scan suggests adaptation to urbanization in an important pollinator, the red-tailed bumblebee ( Bombus lapidarius L.). Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20172806. [PMID: 29669900 PMCID: PMC5936727 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is considered a global threat to biodiversity; the growth of cities results in an increase in impervious surfaces, soil and air pollution, fragmentation of natural vegetation and invasion of non-native species, along with numerous environmental changes, including the heat island phenomenon. The combination of these effects constitutes a challenge for both the survival and persistence of many native species, while also imposing altered selective regimes. Here, using 110 314 single nucleotide polymorphisms generated by restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing, we investigated the genome-wide effects of urbanization on putative neutral and adaptive genomic diversity in a major insect pollinator, Bombus lapidarius, collected from nine German cities and nine paired rural sites. Overall, genetic differentiation among sites was low and there was no obvious genome-wide genetic structuring, suggesting the absence of strong effects of urbanization on gene flow. We nevertheless identified several loci under directional selection, a subset of which was associated with urban land use, including the percentage of impervious surface surrounding each sampling site. Overall, our results provide evidence of local adaptation to urbanization in the face of gene flow in a highly mobile insect pollinator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Theodorou
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rita Radzevičiūtė
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Molecular Evolution and Animal Systematics, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstrasse 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Belinda Kahnt
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antonella Soro
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ivo Grosse
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 1, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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17
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Lecocq T, Gérard M, Maebe K, Brasero N, Dehon L, Smagghe G, Valterová I, De Meulemeester T, Rasmont P, Michez D. Chemical reproductive traits of diploid Bombus terrestris males: Consequences on bumblebee conservation. INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 24:623-630. [PMID: 26953256 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The current bumblebee decline leads to inbreeding in populations that fosters a loss of allelic diversity and diploid male production. As diploid males are viable and their offspring are sterile, bumblebee populations can quickly fall in a vortex of extinction. In this article, we investigate for the first time a potential premating mechanism through a major chemical reproductive trait (male cephalic labial gland secretions) that could prevent monandrous virgin queens from mating with diploid males. We focus our study on the cephalic labial gland secretions of diploid and haploid males of Bombus terrestris (L.). Contrary to initial expectations, our results do not show any significant differentiation of cephalic labial gland secretions between diploid and haploid specimens. Queens seem therefore to be unable to avoid mating with diploid males based on their compositions of cephalic labial gland secretions. This suggests that the vortex of extinction of diploid males could not be stopped through premating avoidance based on the cephalic labial gland secretions but other mechanisms could avoid mating between diploid males and queens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Lecocq
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, France
- Research Unit Animal and Functionalities of Animal Products (URAFPA), University of Lorraine - INRA, 2 Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, BP 172, F-54505, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Maxence Gérard
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, France
| | - Kevin Maebe
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Brasero
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, France
| | - Lauren Dehon
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, France
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Irena Valterová
- Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Flamingovo nam 2, CZ 166 10, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Pierre Rasmont
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, France
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, France
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18
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Mediterranean lineage endemism, cold-adapted palaeodemographic dynamics and recent changes in population size in two solitary bees of the genus Anthophora. CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0952-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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19
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Tanimoto AM, Hart PJ, Pack AA, Switzer R, Banko PC, Ball DL, Sebastián-González E, Komarczyk L, Warrington MH. Changes in vocal repertoire of the Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis, from past wild to current captive populations. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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High levels of male diploidy but low levels of genetic structure characterize Bombus vosnesenskii populations across the Western US. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-016-0900-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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Soro A, Quezada-Euan JJG, Theodorou P, Moritz RFA, Paxton RJ. The population genetics of two orchid bees suggests high dispersal, low diploid male production and only an effect of island isolation in lowering genetic diversity. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-016-0912-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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22
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Dalton DL, Vermaak E, Smit-Robinson HA, Kotze A. Lack of diversity at innate immunity Toll-like receptor genes in the Critically Endangered White-winged Flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi). Sci Rep 2016; 6:36757. [PMID: 27827442 PMCID: PMC5101489 DOI: 10.1038/srep36757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The White-winged Flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi) population is listed as globally Critically Endangered. White-winged Flufftails are only known to occur, with any regularity, in the high-altitude wetlands of South Africa and Ethiopia. Threats to the species include the limited number of suitable breeding sites in Ethiopia and severe habitat degradation and loss both in Ethiopia and South Africa. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are increasingly being studied in a variety of taxa as a broader approach to determine functional genetic diversity. In this study, we confirm low genetic diversity in the innate immune regions of the White-winged Flufftail similar to that observed in other bird species that have undergone population bottlenecks. Low TLR diversity in White-winged Flufftail indicates that this species is more likely to be threatened by changes to the environment that would potentially expose the species to new diseases. Thus, conservation efforts should be directed towards maintaining pristine habitat for White-winged Flufftail in its current distribution range. To date, no studies on immunogenetic variation in White-winged Flufftail have been conducted and to our knowledge, this is the first study of TLR genetic diversity in a critically endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desire L. Dalton
- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
- Genetics Department, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Elaine Vermaak
- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Hanneline A. Smit-Robinson
- BirdLife South Africa, Private Bag X5000 Parklands 2121, Gauteng, South Africa
- Applied Behavioural Ecological & Ecosystem Research Unit (ABEERU), UNISA, Private Bag X6, Florida, 1717, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotze
- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
- Genetics Department, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
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23
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Population genetics and geometric morphometrics of the Bombus ephippiatus species complex with implications for its use as a commercial pollinator. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-016-0903-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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24
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Prŷs-Jones OE, Kristjánsson K, Ólafsson E. Hitchhiking with the Vikings? The anthropogenic bumblebee fauna of Iceland – past and present. J NAT HIST 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2016.1234655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erling Ólafsson
- The Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Reykjavik, Iceland
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25
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Collet M, Vayssade C, Auguste A, Mouton L, Desouhant E, Malausa T, Fauvergue X. Diploid male production correlates with genetic diversity in the parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens: a genetic approach with new microsatellite markers. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:6721-6734. [PMID: 27777743 PMCID: PMC5058541 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination is ruled by haplodiploidy in Hymenoptera, with haploid males arising from unfertilized eggs and diploid females from fertilized eggs. However, diploid males with null fitness are produced under complementary sex determination (CSD), when individuals are homozygous for this locus. Diploid males are expected to be more frequent in genetically eroded populations (such as islands and captive populations), as genetic diversity at the csd locus should be low. However, only a few studies have focused on the relation between population size, genetic diversity, and the proportion of diploid males in the field. Here, we developed new microsatellite markers in order to assess and compare genetic diversity and diploid male proportion (DMP) in populations from three distinct habitat types - mainland, island, or captive -, in the parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens. Eroded genetic diversity and higher DMP were found in island and captive populations, and habitat type had large effect on genetic diversity. Therefore, DMP reflects the decreasing genetic diversity in small and isolated populations. Thus, Hymenopteran populations can be at high extinction risk due to habitat destruction or fragmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Collet
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558CNRSUniversité Claude BernardUniversité de LyonF‐69622VilleurbanneFrance
| | - Chloé Vayssade
- UMR 1355‐7254 Institut Sophia AgrobiotechCNRSUniversité Nice Sophia AntipolisINRA06900Sophia AntipolisFrance
| | - Alexandra Auguste
- UMR 1355‐7254 Institut Sophia AgrobiotechCNRSUniversité Nice Sophia AntipolisINRA06900Sophia AntipolisFrance
| | - Laurence Mouton
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558CNRSUniversité Claude BernardUniversité de LyonF‐69622VilleurbanneFrance
| | - Emmanuel Desouhant
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558CNRSUniversité Claude BernardUniversité de LyonF‐69622VilleurbanneFrance
| | - Thibaut Malausa
- UMR 1355‐7254 Institut Sophia AgrobiotechCNRSUniversité Nice Sophia AntipolisINRA06900Sophia AntipolisFrance
| | - Xavier Fauvergue
- UMR 1355‐7254 Institut Sophia AgrobiotechCNRSUniversité Nice Sophia AntipolisINRA06900Sophia AntipolisFrance
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26
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Bartlett M, Hale R, Hale M. Habitat quality limits gene flow between populations of Bombus ruderatus in the South Island, New Zealand. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-016-0816-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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27
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Vitikainen EIK, Haag-Liautard C, Sundström L. Natal Dispersal, Mating Patterns, and Inbreeding in the Ant Formica exsecta. Am Nat 2015; 186:716-27. [DOI: 10.1086/683799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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28
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Dellicour S, Michez D, Mardulyn P. Comparative phylogeography of five bumblebees: impact of range fragmentation, range size and diet specialization. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Dellicour
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology; Université Libre de Bruxelles; av. FD Roosevelt 50 1050 Bruxelles Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology; Research Institute of Biosciences; University of Mons; Place du Parc 23 7000 Mons Belgium
| | - Patrick Mardulyn
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology; Université Libre de Bruxelles; av. FD Roosevelt 50 1050 Bruxelles Belgium
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29
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Francuski L, Milankov V. Assessing spatial population structure and heterogeneity in the dronefly. J Zool (1987) 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Francuski
- Faculty of Sciences Department of Biology and Ecology University of Novi Sad Novi Sad Serbia
| | - V. Milankov
- Faculty of Sciences Department of Biology and Ecology University of Novi Sad Novi Sad Serbia
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30
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Maebe K, Meeus I, Ganne M, De Meulemeester T, Biesmeijer K, Smagghe G. Microsatellite Analysis of Museum Specimens Reveals Historical Differences in Genetic Diversity between Declining and More Stable Bombus Species. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127870. [PMID: 26061732 PMCID: PMC4464549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Worldwide most pollinators, e.g. bumblebees, are undergoing global declines. Loss of genetic diversity can play an essential role in these observed declines. In this paper, we investigated the level of genetic diversity of seven declining Bombus species and four more stable species with the use of microsatellite loci. Hereto we genotyped a unique collection of museum specimens. Specimens were collected between 1918 and 1926, in 6 provinces of the Netherlands which allowed us to make interspecific comparisons of genetic diversity. For the stable species B. pascuorum, we also selected populations from two additional time periods: 1949-1955 and 1975-1990. The genetic diversity and population structure in B. pascuorum remained constant over the three time periods. However, populations of declining bumblebee species showed a significantly lower genetic diversity than co-occurring stable species before their major declines. This historical difference indicates that the repeatedly observed reduced genetic diversity in recent populations of declining bumblebee species is not caused solely by the decline itself. The historically low genetic diversity in the declined species may be due to the fact that these species were already rare, making them more vulnerable to the major drivers of bumblebee decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maebe
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ivan Meeus
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maarten Ganne
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Koos Biesmeijer
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, Belgium
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31
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Woodard SH, Lozier JD, Goulson D, Williams PH, Strange JP, Jha S. Molecular tools and bumble bees: revealing hidden details of ecology and evolution in a model system. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:2916-36. [PMID: 25865395 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Bumble bees are a longstanding model system for studies on behaviour, ecology and evolution, due to their well-studied social lifestyle, invaluable role as wild and managed pollinators, and ubiquity and diversity across temperate ecosystems. Yet despite their importance, many aspects of bumble bee biology have remained enigmatic until the rise of the genetic and, more recently, genomic eras. Here, we review and synthesize new insights into the ecology, evolution and behaviour of bumble bees that have been gained using modern genetic and genomic techniques. Special emphasis is placed on four areas of bumble bee biology: the evolution of eusociality in this group, population-level processes, large-scale evolutionary relationships and patterns, and immunity and resistance to pesticides. We close with a prospective on the future of bumble bee genomics research, as this rapidly advancing field has the potential to further revolutionize our understanding of bumble bees, particularly in regard to adaptation and resilience. Worldwide, many bumble bee populations are in decline. As such, throughout the review, connections are drawn between new molecular insights into bumble bees and our understanding of the causal factors involved in their decline. Ongoing and potential applications to bumble bee management and conservation are also included to demonstrate how genetics- and genomics-enabled research aids in the preservation of this threatened group.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hollis Woodard
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.,Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Lozier
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35401, USA
| | - David Goulson
- Evolution, Behaviour & Environment, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Paul H Williams
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - James P Strange
- USDA-ARS, Pollinating Insect Research Unit, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Shalene Jha
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
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32
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López-Uribe MM, Morreale SJ, Santiago CK, Danforth BN. Nest suitability, fine-scale population structure and male-mediated dispersal of a solitary ground nesting bee in an urban landscape. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125719. [PMID: 25950429 PMCID: PMC4423849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees are the primary pollinators of flowering plants in almost all ecosystems. Worldwide declines in bee populations have raised awareness about the importance of their ecological role in maintaining ecosystem functioning. The naturally strong philopatric behavior that some bee species show can be detrimental to population viability through increased probability of inbreeding. Furthermore, bee populations found in human-altered landscapes, such as urban areas, can experience lower levels of gene flow and effective population sizes, increasing potential for inbreeding depression in wild bee populations. In this study, we investigated the fine-scale population structure of the solitary bee Colletes inaequalis in an urbanized landscape. First, we developed a predictive spatial model to detect suitable nesting habitat for this ground nesting bee and to inform our field search for nests. We genotyped 18 microsatellites in 548 female individuals collected from nest aggregations throughout the study area. Genetic relatedness estimates revealed that genetic similarity among individuals was slightly greater within nest aggregations than among randomly chosen individuals. However, genetic structure among nest aggregations was low (Nei's GST = 0.011). Reconstruction of parental genotypes revealed greater genetic relatedness among females than among males within nest aggregations, suggesting male-mediated dispersal as a potentially important mechanism of population connectivity and inbreeding avoidance. Size of nesting patch was positively correlated with effective population size, but not with other estimators of genetic diversity. We detected a positive trend between geographic distance and genetic differentiation between nest aggregations. Our landscape genetic models suggest that increased urbanization is likely associated with higher levels of inbreeding. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of density and distribution of suitable nesting patches for enhancing bee population abundance and connectivity in human dominated habitats and highlights the critical contribution of landscape genetic studies for enhanced conservation and management of native pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen J. Morreale
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, United States of America
| | - Christine K. Santiago
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, United States of America
| | - Bryan N. Danforth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, United States of America
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33
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Wood TJ, Holland JM, Hughes WOH, Goulson D. Targeted agri-environment schemes significantly improve the population size of common farmland bumblebee species. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:1668-80. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Wood
- School of Life Sciences; The University of Sussex; Falmer East Sussex BN1 9QG UK
| | - John M. Holland
- The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust; Burgate Manor; Fordingbridge Hampshire SP6 1EF UK
| | - William O. H. Hughes
- School of Life Sciences; The University of Sussex; Falmer East Sussex BN1 9QG UK
| | - Dave Goulson
- School of Life Sciences; The University of Sussex; Falmer East Sussex BN1 9QG UK
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34
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Hartmann SA, Schaefer HM, Segelbacher G. Genetic depletion at adaptive but not neutral loci in an endangered bird species. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:5712-25. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie A. Hartmann
- Wildlife Ecology and Management; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources; University of Freiburg; Tennenbacher Straße 4 79106 Freiburg Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology; Faculty of Biology; University of Freiburg; Hauptstr. 1 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - H. Martin Schaefer
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology; Faculty of Biology; University of Freiburg; Hauptstr. 1 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - Gernot Segelbacher
- Wildlife Ecology and Management; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources; University of Freiburg; Tennenbacher Straße 4 79106 Freiburg Germany
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Vanbergen AJ. Landscape alteration and habitat modification: impacts on plant-pollinator systems. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2014; 5:44-49. [PMID: 32846741 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Insect pollinators provide an important ecosystem service to many crop species and underpin the reproductive assurance of many wild plant species. Multiple, anthropogenic pressures threaten insect pollinators. Land-use change and intensification alters the habitats and landscapes that provide food and nesting resources for pollinators. These impacts vary according to species traits, producing winners and losers, while the intrinsic robustness of plant-pollinator networks may provide stability in pollination function. However, this functional stability might be eroded by multiple, interacting stressors. Anthropogenic changes in pollinator-mediated connectivity will alter plant mating systems (e.g. inbreeding level), with implications for plant fitness and phenotypes governing trophic interactions. The degree to which plant populations can persist despite, or adapt to, pollination deficits remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Vanbergen
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Edinburgh EH26 0QB, UK.
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36
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Graystock P, Goulson D, Hughes WO. The relationship between managed bees and the prevalence of parasites in bumblebees. PeerJ 2014; 2:e522. [PMID: 25165632 PMCID: PMC4137657 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees and, more recently, bumblebees have been domesticated and are now managed commercially primarily for crop pollination, mixing with wild pollinators during foraging on shared flower resources. There is mounting evidence that managed honey bees or commercially produced bumblebees may affect the health of wild pollinators such as bumblebees by increasing competition for resources and the prevalence of parasites in wild bees. Here we screened 764 bumblebees from around five greenhouses that either used commercially produced bumblebees or did not, as well as bumblebees from 10 colonies placed at two sites either close to or far from a honey bee apiary, for the parasites Apicystis bombi, Crithidia bombi, Nosema bombi, N. ceranae, N. apis and deformed wing virus. We found that A. bombi and C. bombi were more prevalent around greenhouses using commercially produced bumblebees, while C. bombi was 18% more prevalent in bumblebees at the site near to the honey bee apiary than those at the site far from the apiary. Whilst these results are from only a limited number of sites, they support previous reports of parasite spillover from commercially produced bumblebees to wild bumblebees, and suggest that the impact of stress from competing with managed bees or the vectoring of parasites by them on parasite prevalence in wild bees needs further investigation. It appears increasingly likely that the use of managed bees comes at a cost of increased parasites in wild bumblebees, which is not only a concern for bumblebee conservation, but which may impact other pollinators as well.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dave Goulson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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37
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Insights into the biodiversity of the Succulent Karoo hotspot of South Africa: the population genetics of a rare and endemic halictid bee, Patellapis doleritica. CONSERV GENET 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-014-0633-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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38
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Dreier S, Redhead JW, Warren IA, Bourke AFG, Heard MS, Jordan WC, Sumner S, Wang J, Carvell C. Fine-scale spatial genetic structure of common and declining bumble bees across an agricultural landscape. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:3384-95. [PMID: 24980963 PMCID: PMC4142012 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Land-use changes have threatened populations of many insect pollinators, including bumble bees. Patterns of dispersal and gene flow are key determinants of species' ability to respond to land-use change, but have been little investigated at a fine scale (<10 km) in bumble bees. Using microsatellite markers, we determined the fine-scale spatial genetic structure of populations of four common Bombus species (B. terrestris, B. lapidarius, B. pascuorum and B. hortorum) and one declining species (B. ruderatus) in an agricultural landscape in Southern England, UK. The study landscape contained sown flower patches representing agri-environment options for pollinators. We found that, as expected, the B. ruderatus population was characterized by relatively low heterozygosity, number of alleles and colony density. Across all species, inbreeding was absent or present but weak (FIS = 0.01-0.02). Using queen genotypes reconstructed from worker sibships and colony locations estimated from the positions of workers within these sibships, we found that significant isolation by distance was absent in B. lapidarius, B. hortorum and B. ruderatus. In B. terrestris and B. pascuorum, it was present but weak; for example, in these two species, expected relatedness of queens founding colonies 1 m apart was 0.02. These results show that bumble bee populations exhibit low levels of spatial genetic structure at fine spatial scales, most likely because of ongoing gene flow via widespread queen dispersal. In addition, the results demonstrate the potential for agri-environment scheme conservation measures to facilitate fine-scale gene flow by creating a more even distribution of suitable habitats across landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Dreier
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UG, UK
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39
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Boff S, Soro A, Paxton RJ, Alves-dos-Santos I. Island isolation reduces genetic diversity and connectivity but does not significantly elevate diploid male production in a neotropical orchid bee. CONSERV GENET 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-014-0605-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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40
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Lack of variation at phosphoglucose isomerase (pgi) in bumblebees: implications for conservation genetics studies. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65600. [PMID: 23750269 PMCID: PMC3672202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing genetic variation underlying ecologically important traits is increasingly of interest and importance in population and conservation genetics. For some groups generally useful markers exist for examining the relative role of selection and drift in shaping genetic diversity e.g. the major histocompatibility complex in vertebrates and self-incompatibility loci in plants. For invertebrates there is no such generally useful locus. However, phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) has been proposed as a useful functional marker in the conservation genetics of invertebrates. Where thermal microclimate varies, balanced polymorphisms may be maintained due to trade-offs between thermally stable and kinetically advantageous allelic forms. We here report very low levels of Pgi variation in bumblebees rendering this locus to be of little use as an adaptive marker in a conservation genetics context in this group. Potential explanations for this lack of variation are considered.
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41
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Franzén M, Nilsson SG. High population variability and source–sink dynamics in a solitary bee species. Ecology 2013; 94:1400-8. [DOI: 10.1890/11-2260.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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42
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Genetic differentiation of the Euglossini (Hymenoptera, Apidae) populations on a mainland coastal plain and an island in southeastern Brazil. Genetica 2013; 141:65-74. [PMID: 23443762 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-013-9706-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Euglossini bees are among the main pollinators of plant species in tropical and subtropical forests in Central and South America. These bees are known as long-distance pollinators due to their exceptional flight performance. Here we assessed through microsatellite loci the gene variation and genetic differentiation between populations of four abundant Euglossini species populations sampled in two areas, Picinguaba (mainland) and Anchieta Island, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. There was no significant genetic differentiation between the island and mainland samples of Euglossa cordata (Fst = 0.008, P = 0.60), Eulaema cingulata (Fst = 0.029, P = 0.29) and Eulaema nigrita (Fst = 0.062, P = 0.38), but a significant gene differentiation between mainland and island samples of Euglossa stellfeldi (Fst = 0.028, P = 0.016) was detected. As expected, our results showed that the water body that separates the island from the mainland does not constitute a geographic barrier for these Euglossini bees. The absence of populational structuring of three out the four species studied corroborates previous reports on those bees, characterized by large populations, with high gene diversity and gene flow and very low levels of diploid males. But the Eg. stellfeldi results clearly point that dispersal ability is not similar to all euglossine bees, what requires the development of different conservationist strategies to the Euglossini species.
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43
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Ellis JS, Turner LM, Knight ME. Patterns of selection and polymorphism of innate immunity genes in bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Genetica 2012; 140:205-17. [PMID: 22899493 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-012-9672-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Accepted: 08/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Darvill B, Lepais O, Woodall LC, Goulson D. Triploid bumblebees indicate a direct cost of inbreeding in fragmented populations. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:3988-95. [PMID: 22734895 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05679.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hymenopteran species with single-locus complimentary sex-determination (sl-CSD) face an additional cost of inbreeding because of a loss of diversity at the sex-determining locus. Laboratory studies of a range of Hymenoptera have found that a small percentage of diploid males produce viable diploid sperm, and that if these males mate, then the resultant females produce triploid offspring that are sterile. Here, we use microsatellite markers to determine the frequency of triploid individuals of Bombus muscorum and B. jonellus in a model island system. Triploids were found in populations of both species. Observed triploid frequencies of up to 8% were detected, and estimated total frequencies peaked at 20% with respect to normal diploid workers. For both species, triploid frequency was negatively correlated with surrogates of population size, providing direct evidence for inbreeding in small populations. Populations limited to <∼15 km(2) of suitable habitat were particularly likely to harbour triploids. Estimated total triploid frequencies were higher in B. muscorum than in B. jonellus, perhaps due to the greater dispersal range of the latter species. Implications for the conservation of rare social hymenopterans are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Darvill
- University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland.
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45
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46
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Lozier JD, Strange JP, Stewart IJ, Cameron SA. Patterns of range-wide genetic variation in six North American bumble bee (Apidae: Bombus) species. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:4870-88. [PMID: 22035452 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05314.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The increasing evidence for population declines in bumble bee (Bombus) species worldwide has accelerated research efforts to explain losses in these important pollinators. In North America, a number of once widespread Bombus species have suffered serious reductions in range and abundance, although other species remain healthy. To examine whether declining and stable species exhibit different levels of genetic diversity or population fragmentation, we used microsatellite markers to genotype populations sampled across the geographic distributions of two declining (Bombus occidentalis and Bombus pensylvanicus) and four stable (Bombus bifarius; Bombus vosnesenskii; Bombus impatiens and Bombus bimaculatus) Bombus species. Populations of declining species generally have reduced levels of genetic diversity throughout their range compared to codistributed stable species. Genetic diversity can be affected by overall range size and degree of isolation of local populations, potentially confounding comparisons among species in some cases. We find no evidence for consistent differences in gene flow among stable and declining species, with all species exhibiting weak genetic differentiation over large distances (e.g. >1000 km). Populations on islands and at high elevations experience relatively strong genetic drift, suggesting that some conditions lead to genetic isolation in otherwise weakly differentiated species. B. occidentalis and B. bifarius exhibit stronger genetic differentiation than the other species, indicating greater phylogeographic structure consistent with their broader geographic distributions across topographically complex regions of western North America. Screening genetic diversity in North American Bombus should prove useful for identifying species that warrant monitoring, and developing management strategies that promote high levels of gene flow will be a key component in efforts to maintain healthy populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Lozier
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
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47
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Spatial and temporal dynamics of the male effective population size in bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). POPUL ECOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-011-0285-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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48
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Population genetic structure of orchid bees (Euglossini) in anthropogenically altered landscapes. CONSERV GENET 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-011-0221-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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49
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Whitehorn PR, Tinsley MC, Brown MJF, Darvill B, Goulson D. Genetic diversity, parasite prevalence and immunity in wild bumblebees. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 278:1195-202. [PMID: 20926436 PMCID: PMC3049068 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2010] [Accepted: 09/17/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding and a consequent loss of genetic diversity threaten small, isolated populations. One mechanism by which genetically impoverished populations may become extinct is through decreased immunocompetence and higher susceptibility to parasites. Here, we investigate the relationship between immunity and inbreeding in bumblebees, using Hebridean island populations of Bombus muscorum. We sampled nine populations and recorded parasite prevalence and measured two aspects of immunity: the encapsulation response and levels of phenoloxidase (PO). We found that prevalence of the gut parasite Crithidia bombi was higher in populations with lower genetic diversity. Neither measure of immune activity was correlated with genetic diversity. However, levels of PO declined with age and were also negatively correlated with parasite abundance. Our results suggest that as insect populations lose heterozygosity, the impact of parasitism will increase, pushing threatened populations closer to extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope R Whitehorn
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK.
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50
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Population structure, dispersal and colonization history of the garden bumblebee Bombus hortorum in the Western Isles of Scotland. CONSERV GENET 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-011-0190-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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