1
|
Bosco L, Yañez O, Schauer A, Maurer C, Cushman SA, Arlettaz R, Jacot A, Seuberlich T, Neumann P, Schläppi D. Landscape structure affects temporal dynamics in the bumble bee virome: Landscape heterogeneity supports colony resilience. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174280. [PMID: 38942311 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174280] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Virus spillovers from managed honey bees, Apis mellifera, are thought to contribute to the decline of wild pollinators, including bumble bees. However, data on the impact of such viruses on wild pollinators remain scarce, and the influence of landscape structure on virus dynamics is poorly understood. In this study, we deployed bumble bee colonies in an agricultural landscape and studied changes in the bumble bee virome during field placement under varying habitat composition and configuration using a multiscale analytical framework. We estimated prevalence of viruses and viral loads (i.e. number of viral genomic equivalent copies) in bumble bees before and after placing them in the field using next generation sequencing and quantitative PCR. The results show that viral loads and number of different viruses present increased during placement in the field and that the virus composition of the colonies shifted from an initial dominance of honey bee associated viruses to a higher number (in both viral loads and number of viruses present) of bumble bee associated viruses. Especially DWV-B, typical for honey bees, drastically decreased after the time in the field. Viral loads prior to placing colonies in the field showed no effect on colony development, suggesting low impacts of these viruses in field settings. Notably, we further demonstrate that increased habitat diversity results in a lower number of different viruses present in Bombus colonies, while colonies in areas with well-connected farmland patches decreased in their total viral load after field placement. Our results emphasize the importance of landscape heterogeneity and connectivity for wild pollinator health and that these influences predominate at fine spatial scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bosco
- LUOMUS - Finnish Museum of Natural History, PL 17 - P.O. Box 17, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland; Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Alexandria Schauer
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Corina Maurer
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland; Ecosystems Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Samuel A Cushman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Alain Jacot
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Swiss Ornithological Institute, Regional Office Valais, 1950 Sion, Switzerland.
| | - Torsten Seuberlich
- Division of Neurological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Schläppi
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Science Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TQ Bristol, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bogo G, Caringi V, Albertazzi S, Capano V, Colombo R, Dettori A, Guerra I, Lora G, Bortolotti L, Medrzycki P. Residues of agrochemicals in beebread as an indicator of landscape management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 945:174075. [PMID: 38897461 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174075] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The agricultural intensification represents a major threat to biodiversity, with negative effects on the ecosystem. In particular, habitat loss and degradation, along with pesticide use have been recognised as primary factors contributing to the actual global decline of pollinators. Here we investigated the quality of agroecosystems in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) within the national monitoring project BeeNet. We analysed pesticide residues in 100 samples of beebread collected in 25 BeeNet stations in March and June 2021 and 2022. We evaluated diversity and concentration of these chemicals, their risk (TWC) to honey bees, and their correlation with land use. Overall, in 84 % of the samples we found 63 out of 373 different pesticide residues, >90 % of them belonging to fungicides and insecticides. The TWC exceeded the risk threshold in seven samples (TWCmix), mostly due to only one or two compounds. We also found 15 compounds not approved in the EU as plant protection products (PPPs), raising concerns about illegal use or contamination through beeswax recycling. Samples collected in 2021 and in June presented a significantly higher number of active ingredients and TWC than those collected in 2022 and in March. The TWC calculated on single compounds (TWCcom) exceeded the risk threshold in case of four insecticides, namely carbaryl, fipronil, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam (although each detected in only one sample). Finally, both TWC and number of active ingredients were moderately or highly positively correlated with the percentage of area covered by orchards. Considering that we found on average more than five different molecules per sample, and that we ignored potential synergistic effects, the results of this work highlight the alarming situation regarding pesticide treatments and toxicity risk for bees linked to the current agricultural practices, and the need for implementing sustainable and pollinator-friendly strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gherardo Bogo
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Caringi
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Sergio Albertazzi
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Vittorio Capano
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Colombo
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Amanda Dettori
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Irene Guerra
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Lora
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lee YD, Yokoi T, Nakazawa T. A pollinator crisis can decrease plant abundance despite pollinators being herbivores at the larval stage. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18523. [PMID: 39122794 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69537-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pollinating insects are decreasing worldwide due to various environmental stresses (so-called pollinator crisis), raising concerns that plant productivity could be undermined in natural and agricultural ecosystems. To date, however, few studies have reported a concurrent decline in both pollinators and plants, and little is known about when a "plant crisis" occurs. Here, we propose that anthropogenic environmental stresses on pollinating insects (e.g. climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide usage) can negatively affect herbivorous insects (e.g., pollinator larvae and crop pests) as well, and effects of pollinator declines may be masked by positive effects of herbivore declines. To test the idea, we theoretically investigated plant population dynamics mediated by two insect groups: one representing a pollinator that is mutualistic at the adult stage but antagonistic at the larval stage, and the other representing a non-structured pest herbivore. Our model revealed that environmental stresses (increasing insect mortality) can have counterintuitive effects on plants. Nonetheless, plant abundance generally decreases with decreasing pollinator abundance, especially when plant populations grow slowly without pollinators, when pollinators are effective mutualists, or when pollinators are susceptible to environmental stresses. These findings offer a theoretical basis for assessing the pollinator crisis for biodiversity conservation and agricultural management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-De Lee
- Department of Physics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Tomoyuki Yokoi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takefumi Nakazawa
- Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, No.1, University Road, 701, Tainan City, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu Y, Lu F, Yang H, Pan Q, Wu X. Effect of artificial sugar supplement on the lifespan and learning memory ability of honey bee (Apis cerana) worker bee offspring. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024:toae176. [PMID: 39120062 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Honeybees maintain their growth and reproduction mainly by collecting nutrients from nectar-source plants. Apis cerana, a unique species of honeybee in China, is capable of sporadically collecting nectar. In traditional beekeeping, sugar syrup or a honey-water solution must be artificially fed to bees to supplement their diet during rainy weather or nectar-deficient periods. In this study, 2 groups of honeybee colonies were each fed sugar syrup or a honey-water solution, and a third group consisting of colonies that were allowed to naturally forage without any dietary supplement was used as the control. The effects of the 2 sugar sources on A. cerana worker bee offspring were compared. The results showed that the sugar source affected the lifespan and learning memory of the worker bee offspring. The lifespan, learning memory ability, and expression of related genes in the sugar syrup group were significantly lower than those in the honey-water solution and natural nectar foraging groups (P < 0.05). A honey-water solution supplement was more beneficial to the healthy development of worker bee offspring than a sugar syrup supplement when the colonies lacked dietary resources. These findings provide a theoretical basis that can guide beekeepers in choosing the appropriate dietary supplements for honeybees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yueyang Hu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, PR China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, PR China
- Jiangxi Anyuan Honeybee Science and Technology Backyard, Anyuan 342100, PR China
| | - Fangming Lu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, PR China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, PR China
- Jiangxi Anyuan Honeybee Science and Technology Backyard, Anyuan 342100, PR China
| | - Heyan Yang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, PR China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, PR China
| | - Qizhong Pan
- Jiangxi Ganzhou Agricultural College, Ganzhou 341199, PR China
| | - Xiaobo Wu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, PR China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, PR China
- Jiangxi Anyuan Honeybee Science and Technology Backyard, Anyuan 342100, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Verrier E, Bretagnolle V, Aupinel P, Decourtye A, Henry M, Rebaudo F, Requier F. Semi-natural habitats mitigate the impact of food shortage on honey bees in farmlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 950:175309. [PMID: 39111415 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Landscape simplification and the loss of semi-natural habitats are identified as important drivers of insect pollinator decline in farmlands, by disrupting the availability of floral resources and facilitating the occurrence of food shortages. Food shortages can lead to accelerated behavioral maturation in honey bees, with potential consequences for colony survival. However, little is known about the magnitude of behavioral maturation mediated by to food shortage under real field conditions, and whether it could be mitigated by the presence of semi-natural habitats. Here, we monitored the lifespan (LSP), age at first exit (AFE), foraging tenure, and foraging intensity of 1035 honey bees along a landscape gradient of semi-natural habitats in farmlands. We found a clear acceleration of behavioral maturation of bees during the food shortage season, with precocity in AFE between 6 and 10 days earlier and reduced LSP by 5 to 9 days, with no effect on foraging tenure or foraging intensity. We also found that higher proportions of semi-natural habitats mitigated behavioral maturation of bees by up to 6 days. Beyond the direct effects on adult bees, we found no delayed effect of larval feeding status on adult life-history traits or foraging behavior. Nevertheless, our results strongly advocate the implementation of policies aimed at increasing the coverage of semi-natural environments (e.g., grasslands, forests, hedgerows) in intensive agricultural landscapes to support honey bee survival and pollinator conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elise Verrier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS & La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France; LTSER Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre, Villiers-en-Bois 79360, France; UMT PrADE, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France
| | - Pierrick Aupinel
- UMT PrADE, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France; UE 1255 APIS 'Abeilles paysages interactions et systèmes de culture', INRAE, 17700 Surgères, France
| | - Axel Decourtye
- UMT PrADE, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France; ITSAP-Institut de l'abeille, 84914 Avignon, France
| | - Mickaël Henry
- UMT PrADE, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France; INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84914 Avignon, France
| | - François Rebaudo
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Fabrice Requier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dewaele J, Barraud A, Hellström S, Paxton RJ, Michez D. A new exposure protocol adapted for wild bees reveals species-specific impacts of the sulfoximine insecticide sulfoxaflor. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 33:546-559. [PMID: 38649545 PMCID: PMC11252182 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02750-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Wild bees are crucial pollinators of flowering plants and concerns are rising about their decline associated with pesticide use. Interspecific variation in wild bee response to pesticide exposure is expected to be related to variation in their morphology, physiology, and ecology, though there are still important knowledge gaps in its understanding. Pesticide risk assessments have largely focussed on the Western honey bee sensitivity considering it protective enough for wild bees. Recently, guidelines for Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis testing have been developed but are not yet implemented at a global scale in pesticide risk assessments. Here, we developed and tested a new simplified method of pesticide exposure on wild bee species collected from the field in Belgium. Enough specimens of nine species survived in a laboratory setting and were exposed to oral and topical acute doses of a sulfoximine insecticide. Our results confirm significant variability among wild bee species. We show that Osmia cornuta is more sensitive to sulfoxaflor than B. terrestris, whereas Bombus hypnorum is less sensitive. We propose hypotheses on the mechanisms explaining interspecific variations in sensitivity to pesticides. Future pesticide risk assessments of wild bees will require further refinement of protocols for their controlled housing and exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justine Dewaele
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons (UMons), Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 - Evo-Eco-Paleo, F-59000, Lille, France.
| | - Alexandre Barraud
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons (UMons), Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium
- Pollinis, 10 rue Saint-Marc, 75002, Paris, France
| | - Sara Hellström
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Robert J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Denis Michez
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons (UMons), Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chwoyka C, Linhard D, Durstberger T, Zaller JG. Ornamental plants as vectors of pesticide exposure and potential threat to biodiversity and human health. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:49079-49099. [PMID: 39044056 PMCID: PMC11310276 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34363-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
The production of conventional ornamental plants is pesticide-intensive. We investigated whether pesticide active ingredients (AIs) are still present in ornamentals at the time of purchase and assessed their potential ecotoxicity to non-target organisms. We purchased 1000 pot plants and 237 cut flowers of different species from garden centers in Austria and Germany between 2011 and 2021 and analyzed them for up to 646 AIs. Ecotoxicological risks of AIs were assessed by calculating toxic loads for honeybees (Apis mellifera), earthworms (Eisenia fetida), birds (Passer domesticus), and mammals (Rattus norvegicus) based on the LD50 values of the detected AIs. Human health risks of AIs were assessed on the basis of the hazard statements of the Globally Harmonized System. Over the years, a total of 202 AIs were detected in pot plants and 128 AIs in cut flowers. Pesticide residues were found in 94% of pot plants and 97% of cut flowers, with cut flowers containing about twice as many AIs (11.0 ± 6.2 AIs) as pot plants (5.8 ± 4.0 AIs). Fungicides and insecticides were found most frequently. The ecotoxicity assessment showed that 47% of the AIs in pot plants and 63% of the AIs in cut flowers were moderately toxic to the considered non-target organisms. AIs found were mainly toxic to honeybees; their toxicity to earthworms, birds, and mammals was about 105 times lower. Remarkably, 39% of the plants labeled as "bee-friendly" contained AIs that were toxic to bees. More than 40% of pot plants and 72% of cut flowers contained AIs classified as harmful to human health. These results suggest that ornamental plants are vectors for potential pesticide exposure of consumers and non-target organisms in home gardens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecily Chwoyka
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Zoology, BOKU University, 1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dominik Linhard
- Umweltforschungsinstitut & Umweltorganisation Global 2000 (Friends of the Earth Austria), Neustiftgasse 36, 1070, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Durstberger
- Umweltforschungsinstitut & Umweltorganisation Global 2000 (Friends of the Earth Austria), Neustiftgasse 36, 1070, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johann G Zaller
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Zoology, BOKU University, 1180, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hsieh EM, Dolezal AG. Nutrition, pesticide exposure, and virus infection interact to produce context-dependent effects in honey bees (Apis mellifera). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 949:175125. [PMID: 39084359 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Declines in pollinator health are frequently hypothesized to be the combined result of multiple interacting biotic and abiotic stressors; namely, nutritional limitations, pesticide exposure, and infection with pathogens and parasites. Despite this hypothesis, most studies examining stressor interactions have been constrained to two concurrent factors, limiting our understanding of multi-stressor dynamics. Using honey bees as a model, we addressed this gap by studying how variable diet, field-realistic levels of multiple pesticides, and virus infection interact to affect survival, infection intensity, and immune and detoxification gene expression. Although we found evidence that agrochemical exposure (a field-derived mixture of chlorpyrifos and two fungicides) can exacerbate infection and increase virus-induced mortality, this result was nutritionally-dependent, only occurring when bees were provided artificial pollen. Provisioning with naturally-collected polyfloral pollen inverted the effect, reducing virus-induced mortality and suggesting a hormetic response. To test if the response was pesticide specific, we repeated our experiment with a pyrethroid (lambda-cyhalothrin) and a neonicotinoid (thiamethoxam), finding variable results. Finally, to understand the underpinnings of these effects, we measured viral load and expression of important immune and detoxification genes. Together, our results show that multi-stressor interactions are complex and highly context-dependent, but have great potential to affect bee health and physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward M Hsieh
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801-3795, USA.
| | - Adam G Dolezal
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801-3795, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Thomas LJ, Kirse A, Raus H, Langen K, Nümann B, Tschan GF, Gemeinholzer B, Wägele JW, Bourlat SJ. Synchronised monitoring of plant and insect diversity: a case study using automated Malaise traps and DNA-based methods. Biodivers Data J 2024; 12:e127669. [PMID: 39114129 PMCID: PMC11303846 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.12.e127669] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The occurrence and distribution of insects and their possible associations with plant species are largely unknown in Germany and baseline data to monitor future trends are urgently needed. Using newly-designed automated Malaise trap multi-samplers, the occurrence of insect species and their potential associations with plants was monitored synchronously at two contrasting field sites in Germany: an urban botanical garden and a forest research station. Taxa were identified by metabarcoding of the insects and the plant traces present in the preservative ethanol of the Malaise trap samples. For comparison, a botanical survey was conducted in the vicinity of the traps. Across both sites, we identified a total of 1290 exact sequence variants (ESVs) assigned to Insecta, of which 205 are known to be pollinators. In the botanical garden, we detected the occurrence of 128 plant taxa, of which 41 also had one of their known insect pollinator species detected. Insect species richness was highest in May, mainly attributed to an increase in Diptera. These results present a case study of the applicability of automated sampling and DNA-based methods to monitor the timings of flowering and corresponding activity of plant-visiting insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leighton J Thomas
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum KoenigBonnGermany
| | - Ameli Kirse
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum KoenigBonnGermany
| | - Hanna Raus
- University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyUniversity of KasselKasselGermany
| | - Kathrin Langen
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum KoenigBonnGermany
| | - Björn Nümann
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum KoenigBonnGermany
| | - Georg F. Tschan
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum KoenigBonnGermany
| | | | - J. Wolfgang Wägele
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum KoenigBonnGermany
| | - Sarah J Bourlat
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum KoenigBonnGermany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Albacete S, Sancho G, Azpiazu C, Sgolastra F, Rodrigo A, Bosch J. Exposure to sublethal levels of insecticide-fungicide mixtures affect reproductive success and population growth rates in the solitary bee Osmia cornuta. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108919. [PMID: 39094406 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
In agricultural environments, bees are routinely exposed to combinations of pesticides. For the most part, exposure to these pesticide mixtures does not result in acute lethal effects, but we know very little about potential sublethal effects and their consequences on reproductive success and population dynamics. In this study, we orally exposed newly emerged females of the solitary bee Osmia cornuta to environmentally-relevant levels of acetamiprid (a cyano-substituted neonicotinoid insecticide) singly and in combination with tebuconazole (a sterol-biosynthesis inhibitor (SBI) fungicide). The amount of feeding solution consumed during the exposure phase was lowest in bees exposed to the pesticide mixture. Following exposure, females were individually marked and released into oilseed rape field cages to monitor their nesting performance and assess their reproductive success. The nesting performance and reproductive success of bees exposed to the fungicide or the insecticide alone were similar to those of control bees and resulted in a 1.3-1.7 net population increases. By contrast, bees exposed to the pesticide mixture showed lower establishment, shortened nesting period, and reduced fecundity. Together, these effects led to a 0.5-0.6 population decrease. Female establishment and shortened nesting period were the main population bottlenecks. We found no effects of the pesticide mixture on nest provisioning rate, offspring body weight or sex ratio. Our study shows how sublethal pesticide exposure may affect several components of bee reproductive success and, ultimately, population growth. Our results calls for a rethinking of pollinator risk assessment schemes, which should target not only single compounds but also combinations of compounds likely to co-occur in agricultural environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Albacete
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Gonzalo Sancho
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Celeste Azpiazu
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC - Universitat Pompeu Fabra), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabio Sgolastra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Anselm Rodrigo
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Jordi Bosch
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Iorizzo M, Albanese G, Letizia F, Testa B, Di Criscio D, Petrarca S, Di Martino C, Ganassi S, Avino P, Pannella G, Aturki Z, Tedino C, De Cristofaro A. Diversity of plant pollen sources, microbial communities, and phenolic compounds present in bee pollen and bee bread. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-34517-x. [PMID: 39073714 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34517-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The pollination of several crops, as well as wild plants, depends on honeybees. To get the nutrients required for growth and survival, honeybee colonies are dependent on pollen supply. Bee pollen (BP) is partially packed in honeycomb cells and processed into beebread (BB) by microbial metabolism. The composition of pollen is highly variable and is mainly dependent on ecological habitat, geographical origin, honey plants, climatic conditions, and seasonal variations. Although there are important differences between the BP and the BB, little comparative chemical and microbiological data on this topic exists in the literature, particularly for samples with the same origin. In this study, BP and BB pollen samples were collected from two apiaries located in the Campania and Molise regions of Southern Italy. Phenolic profiles were detected via HPLC, while antioxidant activity was determined by ABTS·+ and DPPH· assay. The next-generation sequencing (NGS) based on RNA analysis of 16S (rRNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) regions were used to investigate the microbial community (bacteria and fungi) and botanical origin of the BP and BB. Chemical analysis showed a higher content of flavonols in BP (rutin, myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol), while in BB there was a higher content of phenolic acids. The NGS analysis revealed that the microbial communities and pollen sources are dependent on the geographical location of apiaries. In addition, diversity was highlighted between the microbial communities present in the BP and BB samples collected from each apiary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Iorizzo
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Gianluca Albanese
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy.
| | - Francesco Letizia
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Bruno Testa
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Dalila Di Criscio
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Sonia Petrarca
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
- CONAPROA, Consorzio Nazionale Produttori Apistici, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Catello Di Martino
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Sonia Ganassi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Pasquale Avino
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Pannella
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00159, Rome, Italy
| | - Zeineb Aturki
- Istituto Per I Sistemi Biologici, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Area Della Ricerca Di Roma I, Via Salaria Km 29.300, 00015, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Tedino
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Antonio De Cristofaro
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang Z, Guo Y, Zhuang M, Liu F, Xia Z, Zhang Z, Yang F, Zeng H, Wu Y, Huang J, Xu K, Li J. Gut microbiome diversity and biogeography for Chinese bumblebee Bombus pyrosoma. mSystems 2024; 9:e0045924. [PMID: 38934544 PMCID: PMC11264632 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00459-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota of the bumblebee is critical as it modulates the health and fitness of the host. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of the diversity of bumblebee gut bacteria over a long period of evolution have yet to be elucidated. In particular, the gut bacterial diversity and community assembly processes of Bombus pyrosoma across the Chinese border remain unclear. In this study, we systematically carried out unprecedented sampling of 513 workers of the species Bombus pyrosoma across the Chinese landscape and used full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to examine their gut microbiota diversity and biogeography. The gut microbiota composition and community structure of Bombus pyrosoma from different geographical locations were diverse. On the whole, the gut bacteria Gilliamella and Snodgrassella are dominant in bumblebees, but opportunistic pathogens Serratia and Pseudomonas are dominant in some sampling sites such as Hb15, Gs1, Gs45, Qhs15, and Ssx35. All or part of environmental factors such as latitude, annual mean temperature, elevation, human footprint, population density, and annual precipitation can affect the alpha diversity and community structure of gut bacteria. Further analysis showed that the assembly and shift of bumblebee gut bacterial communities under geographical variation were mainly driven by the stochastic drift of the neutral process rather than by variable selection of niche differentiation. In conclusion, our unprecedented sampling uncovers bumblebee gut microbiome diversity and shifts over evolutionary time. IMPORTANCE The microbiotas associated with organisms facilitates host health and fitness, and the homeostasis status of gut microbiota also reflects the habitat security faced by the host. In addition, managing gut microbiota is important to improve bumblebee health by understanding the ecological process of the gut microbiome. Thus, we first carried out an runprecedented sampling of 513 workers of the species Bombus pyrosoma across the Chinese landscape and used full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to uncover their gut microbiota diversity and biogeography. Our study provides new insights into the understanding of gut microbiome diversity and shifts for Chinese Bumblebee over evolutionary time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fugang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongyan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huayan Zeng
- Luoping Yunling Bee Industry and Trade Co., Ltd, Yunnan, China
| | - Yueguo Wu
- Luoping Yunling Bee Industry and Trade Co., Ltd, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiaxing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Apiculture science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, China
| | - Jilian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Luo S, Zhang X, Zhou X. Temporospatial dynamics and host specificity of honeybee gut bacteria. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114408. [PMID: 38935504 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Honeybees are important pollinators worldwide, with their gut microbiota playing a crucial role in maintaining their health. The gut bacteria of honeybees consist of primarily five core lineages that are spread through social interactions. Previous studies have provided a basic understanding of the composition and function of the honeybee gut microbiota, with recent advancements focusing on analyzing diversity at the strain level and changes in bacterial functional genes. Research on honeybee gut microbiota across different regions globally has provided insights into microbial ecology. Additionally, recent findings have shed light on the mechanisms of host specificity of honeybee gut bacteria. This review explores the temporospatial dynamics in honeybee gut microbiota, discussing the reasons and mechanisms behind these fluctuations. This synopsis provides insights into host-microbe interactions and is invaluable for honeybee health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Luo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Delgado-Carrillo O, Martén-Rodríguez S, Ramírez-Mejía D, Novais S, Quevedo A, Ghilardi A, Sayago R, Lopezaraiza-Mikel M, Pérez-Trujillo E, Quesada M. Pollination services to crops of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and green tomato (Physalis ixocarpa) in the coastal region of Jalisco, Mexico. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301402. [PMID: 39042665 PMCID: PMC11265665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Bees play a pivotal role as pollinators in crops essential for human consumption. However, the global decline in bee populations poses a significant threat to pollination services and food security worldwide. The loss and degradation of habitats due to land use change are primary factors contributing to bee declines, particularly in tropical forests facing high deforestation rates. Here, we evaluate the pollination services provided to crops of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and green tomato (Physalis ixocarpa) in three municipalities in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, a place with Tropical Dry Forest, during years 2008, and 2014 to 2017. Both crops are cultivated in the dry season, approximately during the months of November to March. We describe the composition of the pollinator community and their visitation frequency (measured through the number of visits per flower per hour), and we assess the impact of pollinators on plant reproductive success and the level of pollinator dependence for each crop species (measured through the number of flowers that developed into fruits). We also evaluate how the landscape configuration (through the percentage of forest cover and distance to the forest) influences richness and abundance of pollinators (measured as number of species and individuals of pollinators per line of 50 m), and we use the model Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) to map and value the pollination service in both crops. InVEST Crop pollination model is a simulation focuses on wild pollinators providing the pollinator ecosystem service. Our findings indicate that Apis mellifera was the primary pollinator of both crops, one of the few abundant pollinators in the study region during the dry season. In experiments where pollinators were excluded from flowers, watermelon yielded no fruits, while green tomato experienced a 65% reduction in production. In the case of green tomato, fruit set showed a positive correlation with pollinator abundance. A positive association between forest cover and total pollinator abundance was observed in green tomato in 2008, but not in watermelon. Additionally, a positive relationship was observed between the abundance of bees predicted by the InVEST model and the abundance of bees observed in green tomato flowers in 2008. In the study region, green tomato and watermelon rely on pollinators for fruit production, with honeybees (from feral and managed colonies) acting as the primary provider of pollination services for these crops. Consequently, the conservation of natural areas is crucial to provide food and nesting resources for pollinators. By doing so, we can ensure the diversity and abundance of pollinators, which in turn will help secure food security. The findings of this study underscore the critical need for the conservation of natural areas to support pollinator populations. Policymakers should prioritize the protection and restoration of habitats, particularly tropical forests, which are essential for maintaining the diversity and abundance of pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliverio Delgado-Carrillo
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Silvana Martén-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Diana Ramírez-Mejía
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
- Environmental Geography Group, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Samuel Novais
- Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Alexander Quevedo
- Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México
| | - Adrian Ghilardi
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
- Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México
| | - Roberto Sayago
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
- Facultad de Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Tecpán de Galeana, Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Martha Lopezaraiza-Mikel
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
- Facultad de Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Tecpán de Galeana, Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Erika Pérez-Trujillo
- Facultad de Biología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Mauricio Quesada
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gonzalez FN, Raticelli F, Ferrufino C, Fagúndez G, Rodriguez G, Miño S, Dus Santos MJ. Detection and characterization of Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) in apiaries with stationary and migratory management in the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16747. [PMID: 39033233 PMCID: PMC11271310 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67264-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In Argentina, migratory activity in search of floral diversity has become a common approach to maximizing honey production. The Entre Ríos province possesses a floral diversity that allows beekeepers to perform migratory or stationary management. Beyond the impact caused by transhumance, migratory colonies in this province start and end the season in monoculture areas. To study the effect of these practices on viral infection, we assayed for the presence, abundance and genetic characterization of the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) in honey bees from apiaries with both types of management. In migratory apiaries, DWV was detectable in 86.2% of the colonies at the beginning of the season (September 2018), and 66% at the end of the season (March 2019). On the other hand, DWV was detected in 44.11% and 53.12% of stationary samples, at the beginning and the end of the season, respectively. Sequence analysis from migratory and stationary colonies revealed that all samples belonged to DWV-A type. The highest viral loads were detected in migratory samples collected in September. Higher DWV presence and abundance were associated with migratory management and the sampling time. Based on our findings we propose that the benefit of migration to wild flowering areas can be dissipated when the bee colonies end the season with monoculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F N Gonzalez
- Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas (IVIT), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. De las Cabañas y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Raticelli
- Laboratorio de Especialidades Productivas de Maciá (LEPMA), Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Secretaría de Producción, Municipio de Gobernador Maciá, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - C Ferrufino
- Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas (IVIT), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. De las Cabañas y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Fagúndez
- Laboratorio de Actuopalinología, CICYTTP (CONICET - UADER), Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - G Rodriguez
- EEA Hilario Ascasubi, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Ruta Nacional 3, Km 794, Hilario Ascasubi, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S Miño
- EEA Cerro Azul, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Ruta Nacional 14, Km 836, Cerro Azul, Misiones, Argentina
| | - M J Dus Santos
- Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas (IVIT), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. De las Cabañas y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Frizzera D, Zanni V, Seffin E, de Miranda JR, Marroni F, Annoscia D, Nazzi F. Assessing lethal and sublethal effects of pesticides on honey bees in a multifactorial context. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174892. [PMID: 39034005 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The registration of novel pesticides that are subsequently banned because of their unexpected negative effects on non-target species can have a huge environmental impact. Therefore, the pre-emptive evaluation of the potential effects of new compounds is essential. To this aim both lethal and sublethal effects should be assessed in a realistic scenario including the other stressors that can interact with pesticides. However, laboratory studies addressing such interactive effects are rare, while standardized laboratory-based protocols focus on lethal effects and not on sub-lethal effects. We propose to assess both lethal and sublethal effects in a multifactorial context including the other stressors affecting the non-target species. We tested this approach by studying the impact on honey bees of the insecticide sulfoxaflor in combination with a common parasite, a sub-optimal temperature and food deprivation. We studied the survival and the transcriptome of honey bees, to assess both the lethal and the potential sublethal effects of the insecticide, respectively. With this method we show that a field realistic concentration of sulfoxaflor in food does not affect the survival of honey bees; however, the significant impact on some key genes indicates that sublethal effects are possible in a realistically complex scenario. Moreover, our results demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of a novel approach to hazard assessment considering the interactive effects of pesticides. We anticipate our approach to be a starting point for a paradigm shift in toxicology: from an unifactorial, mortality-centered assessment to a multifactorial, comprehensive approach. This is something of the utmost importance to preserve pollination, thus contributing to the sustainability of our food production system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Frizzera
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Virginia Zanni
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Elisa Seffin
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Marroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Desiderato Annoscia
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Francesco Nazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
de Oliveira AH, Rubinger MMM, da Silva Rabello A, Albuini-Oliveira NM, Vidigal AEC, de Oliveira MRL, Tavares EDC, Serrão JE. Action of dithiocarbimates salts on the honey bee and its pathogen Nosema ceranae. AMB Express 2024; 14:82. [PMID: 39023846 PMCID: PMC11258116 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01734-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Apis mellifera, crucial pollinators for both native and cultivated plants, also yield various products such as honey, wax, royal jelly, and propolis, extensively utilized in the food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries. Nosema ceranae, a prevalent microsporidian worldwide, stands as a significant pathogen for A. mellifera, showing resistance to conventional antibiotics. Consequently, the exploration of novel compounds for N. ceranae control becomes imperative. Dithiocarbimate derivatives emerge as promising antifungal candidates under evaluation for combating various pathogens, particularly those affecting plants. This study assessed the toxicity profile of six dithiocarbimate derivatives on A. mellifera worker survival and N. ceranae pathogen. Among these, four compounds exhibited minimal bee mortality and proceeded to further evaluation against N. ceranae. In vitro assays demonstrated their inhibitory effects on spore germination. Remarkably, the most potent compound suppressed N. ceranae spores by 62% at a concentration of 20 µmol L-1in vivo. Thus, these dithiocarbimate derivatives represent promising new antifungal agents for combatting nosemosis in honey bee populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Eder do Couto Tavares
- Instituto de Física e Química, Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Itajubá, 37500-906, Brazil
| | - José Eduardo Serrão
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, 36570-977, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Vommaro ML, Giglio A. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of a pendimethalin-based herbicide in Apis mellifera. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 280:116565. [PMID: 38870738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116565] [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: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Public concern about the effects of pesticides on non-target organisms has increased in the recent years. Nevertheless, there is a limited number of studies that address the actual toxic effects of herbicides on insects. This study investigated the side effects of herbicides on non-target organisms inhabiting agroecosystems and performing essential ecological and economic functions such as crop pollination. We analysed morphological alterations in the gut, Malpighian tubules and circulating haemocytes of Apis mellifera workers as markers of exposure effects. A commercial formulation of a pendimethalin-based herbicide (PND) was administered orally under laboratory conditions at a realistic concentration admitted in the field (330gL-1 of active ingredient., 4 L ha-1 for cereal and vegetable crops). The worker bees were exposed to a single application of PND for a period of one week, to simulate the exposure that can occur when foraging bees accidentally drink drops of contaminated water upon treatments. Histopathological analyses of the midgut, ileum and Malpighian tubules showed alterations over time (from 24 to 72 h after the beginning of exposure) such as loss of epithelial organisation, cellular vacuolisation and altered pyknotic nuclei as well as disruption of the peritrophic membrane over time. Semiquantitative analyses of the midgut showed a significant increase in the organ injury index 24 and 72 h after the initial exposure in PND-exposed bees compared to control bees. In addition, a change in positivity to Gram staining was observed in the midgut histological sections. A recovery of cytotoxic effects was observed one week after the initial exposure, which was favoured by the periodic renewal of the intestinal epithelium and the herbicide dissipation time. Cytochemical staining with Giemsa of haemocytes from PND-treated workers over 24 and 72 h showed significant nuclear alterations such as lobed or polymorphic nuclei and micronuclei compared to bees in the control group. These results show that the dose of PND used to protect crops from weeds can lead to significant cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in non-target organisms such as honey bees. In croplands, the sublethal effects on cell morphology can impair vital physiological processes such as nutrition, osmoregulation, and resistance to pathogens, contributing to the decline in biodiversity and abundance of species that play a prominent ecological role, such as pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luigia Vommaro
- University of Calabria, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, Rende, Italy
| | - Anita Giglio
- University of Calabria, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, Rende, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ostroverkhova NV, Rosseykina SA, Yaltonskaya IA, Filinov MS. Estimates of the vitality and performances of Apis mellifera mellifera and hybrid honey bee colonies in Siberia: a 13-year study. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17354. [PMID: 39011374 PMCID: PMC11249005 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17354] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Honeybees display a great range of biological, behavioral, and economic traits, depending on their genetic origin and environmental factors. The high diversity of honeybees is the result of natural selection of specific phenotypes adapted to the local environment. Of particular interest is adaptation of local and non-local bee colonies to environmental conditions. To study the importance of genotype-environment interactions on the viability and productivity of local and non-local bee colonies, we analyzed the long-term dynamics of the main traits in dark forest bees (Apis mellifera mellifera) and hybrid colonies. From 2010 to 2022, a total of 64 colonies living in an apiary in Siberia, Russia, were monitored and tested to assess their biological, behavioral, and economic traits in a temperate continental climate. We detected significant correlations between the studied biological and behavioral indicators of the bee colony such as colony strength, overwintering ability, infection of colonies with diseases, hygienic behavior, and others. No relationships between the biological and economic (honey productivity) traits of bee colonies are shown. The overall result of our study is that local dark forest bee, A.m.mellifera, showed higher values for all analyzed traits than hybrid colonies. Compared to hybrids, dark forest bee colonies showed more gentleness, productivity, and survivorship. The results from our study indicate a specific local adaptation of the A.m.mellifera subspecies in a temperate continental climate. Siberia represents a unique region for the conservation of the dark forest bee. The creation of conservation areas is one way to protect local bee populations, well adapted to local environmental conditions, from uncontrolled importation of bee breeds from different regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadezhda V Ostroverkhova
- Invertebrate Zoology Department, Biology Institute, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Tomsk Region, Russia
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Tomsk Region, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Rosseykina
- Invertebrate Zoology Department, Biology Institute, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Tomsk Region, Russia
| | - Ilona A Yaltonskaya
- Invertebrate Zoology Department, Biology Institute, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Tomsk Region, Russia
| | - Michail S Filinov
- Invertebrate Zoology Department, Biology Institute, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Tomsk Region, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Chen X, Wang F, Guo H, Liu X, Wu S, Lv L, Tang T. Uncovering hidden dangers: The combined toxicity of abamectin and lambda-cyhalothrin on honey bees. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173126. [PMID: 38734105 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173126] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Studying the toxic effects of pesticides on bees has consistently been a prominent area of interest for researchers. Nonetheless, existing research has predominantly concentrated on individual toxicity assessments, leaving a gap in our understanding of mixed toxicity. This study delves into the individual and combined toxic effects of abamectin (ABA) and lambda-cyhalothrin (LCY) on honey bees (Apis mellifera) in laboratory settings. We discovered that ABA (96 h-LC50 value of 0.079 mg/L) exhibited greater acute toxicity to honey bees compared to LCY (96 h-LC50 value of 9.177 mg/L). Moreover, the mixture of ABA and LCY presented an acute antagonistic effect on honey bees. Additionally, our results indicated that exposure to LCY, at medium concentration, led to a reduction in the abundance of gut core bacterium Snodgrassella. However, an increase in the abundance of Bifidobacterium was noted when exposed to a medium concentration of LCY and its mixture with ABA. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant regulation of certain genes in the medium concentration of all three treatments compared to the control group, primarily enriching in metabolism and immune-related pathways. Following chronic exposure to field-relevant concentrations of ABA, LCY, and their mixture, there were significant alterations in the activities of immunity-related enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and detoxification enzymes glutathione S-transferase (GST) and carboxylesterase (CarE). Additionally, the expression of four genes (abaecin, cyp9e2, cyp302a1, and GstD1) associated with immune and detoxification metabolism was significantly altered. These findings suggest a potential health risk posed by the insecticides ABA and LCY to honey bees. Despite exhibiting acute antagonistic effect, mixed exposure still induced damage to bees at all levels. This study advances our knowledge of the potential adverse effects of individual or combined exposure to these two pesticides on non-target pollinators and offers crucial guidance for the use of insecticides in agricultural production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhen Chen
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory for Pesticide Residue Detection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Feidi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory for Pesticide Residue Detection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Haikun Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory for Pesticide Residue Detection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xinju Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory for Pesticide Residue Detection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Shenggan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory for Pesticide Residue Detection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Lu Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory for Pesticide Residue Detection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China.
| | - Tao Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory for Pesticide Residue Detection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
De Souza D, Urbanowicz C, Ng WH, Baert N, Fersch AA, Smith ML, McArt SH. Acute toxicity of the fungicide captan to honey bees and mixed evidence for synergism with the insecticide thiamethoxam. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15709. [PMID: 38977768 PMCID: PMC11231156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66248-x] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are commonly co-exposed to pesticides during crop pollination, including the fungicide captan and neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam. We assessed the impact of exposure to these two pesticides individually and in combination, at a range of field-realistic doses. In laboratory assays, mortality of larvae treated with captan was 80-90% greater than controls, dose-independent, and similar to mortality from the lowest dose of thiamethoxam. There was evidence of synergism (i.e., a non-additive response) from captan-thiamethoxam co-exposure at the highest dose of thiamethoxam, but not at lower doses. In the field, we exposed whole colonies to the lowest doses used in the laboratory. Exposure to captan and thiamethoxam individually and in combination resulted in minimal impacts on population growth or colony mortality, and there was no evidence of synergism or antagonism. These results suggest captan and thiamethoxam are each acutely toxic to immature honey bees, but whole colonies can potentially compensate for detrimental effects, at least at the low doses used in our field trial, or that methodological differences of the field experiment impacted results (e.g., dilution of treatments with natural pollen). If compensation occurred, further work is needed to assess how it occurred, potentially via increased queen egg laying, and whether short-term compensation leads to long-term costs. Further work is also needed for other crop pollinators that lack the social detoxification capabilities of honey bee colonies and may be less resilient to pesticides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daiana De Souza
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | | | - Wee Hao Ng
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Nicolas Baert
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Ashley A Fersch
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Michael L Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gomes DS, Miranda FR, Fernandes KM, Farder-Gomes CF, Bastos DSS, Bernardes RC, Serrão JE. Acute exposure to fungicide fluazinam induces cell death in the midgut, oxidative stress and alters behavior of the stingless bee Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Apidae). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 282:116677. [PMID: 38971098 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) are pollinators of both cultivated and wild crop plants in the Neotropical region. However, they are susceptible to pesticide exposure during foraging activities. The fungicide fluazinam is commonly applied in bean and sunflower cultivation during the flowering period, posing a potential risk to the stingless bee Partamona helleri, which serves as a pollinator for these crops. In this study, we investigated the impact of acute oral exposure (24 h) fluazinam on the survival, morphology and cell death signaling pathways in the midgut, oxidative stress and behavior of P. helleri worker bees. Worker bees were exposed for 24 h to fluazinam (field concentrations 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mg a.i. mL-1), diluted in 50 % honey aqueous solution. After oral exposure, fluazinam did not harm the survival of worker bees. However, sublethal effects were revealed using the highest concentration of fluazinam (2.5 mg a.i. mL-1), particularly a reduction in food consumption, damage in the midgut epithelium, characterized by degeneration of the brush border, an increase in the number and size of cytoplasm vacuoles, condensation of nuclear chromatin, and an increase in the release of cell fragments into the gut lumen. Bees exposed to fluazinam exhibited an increase in cells undergoing autophagy and apoptosis, indicating cell death in the midgut epithelium. Furthermore, the fungicide induced oxidative stress as evidenced by an increase in total antioxidant and catalase enzyme activities, along with a decrease in glutathione S-transferase activity. And finally, fluazinam altered the walking behavior of bees, which could potentially impede their foraging activities. In conclusion, our findings indicate that fluazinam at field concentrations is not lethal for workers P. helleri. Nevertheless, it has side effects on midgut integrity, oxidative stress and worker bee behavior, pointing to potential risks for this pollinator.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davy Soares Gomes
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Franciane Rosa Miranda
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Kenner Morais Fernandes
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes
- Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Matemática e Educação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Campus Araras, Araras, São Paulo 13.600-970, Brazil
| | - Daniel Silva Sena Bastos
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | | | - José Eduardo Serrão
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Iredale ME, Cobb G, Vu ED, Ghosh S, Ellis JD, Bonning BC. Development of a multiplex real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for the detection of four bee viruses. J Virol Methods 2024; 328:114953. [PMID: 38759872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Viruses in the families Dicistroviridae and Iflaviridae are among the main threats to western honey bees (Apis mellifera) and native bee species. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard for pathogen detection in bees. However, high throughput screening for bee virus infections in singleplex PCR reactions is cumbersome and limited by the high quantities of sample RNA required. Thus, the development of a sensitive and specific multiplex PCR detection method for screening for multiple viruses simultaneously is necessary. Here, we report the development of a one-step multiplex reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay to detect four viruses commonly encountered in pollinator species. The optimized multiplex RT-qPCR protocol described in this study allows simultaneous detection of two dicistroviruses (Israeli acute paralysis virus and Black queen cell virus) and two iflaviruses (Sacbrood virus and Deformed wing virus) with high efficiency and specificity comparable to singleplex detection assays. This assay provides a broad range of detection and quantification, and the results of virus quantification in this study are similar to those performed in other studies using singleplex detection assays. This method will be particularly useful for data generation from small-bodied insect species that yield low amounts of RNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marley E Iredale
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Galen Cobb
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 876 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Emily D Vu
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Saptarshi Ghosh
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - James D Ellis
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Bryony C Bonning
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Yokota SC, Broeckling C, H S Seshadri A. Pollen foraging preferences in honey bees and the nutrient profiles of the pollen. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15028. [PMID: 38951538 PMCID: PMC11217361 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65569-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are important insect pollinators that provide critical pollination services to fruit and nut crops in the US. They face challenges likely due to pressures associated with agricultural intensification related habitat loss. To better understand this, pollen preferences of foraging bees and the nutritional profile of pollen brought into hives by foraging bees in crop fields and nut orchards can provide valuable information. We trained bees to forage on bee-collected pollen from hives placed for pollination services in almond orchards, sunflower fields, or mixed species from inter-row plantings. Using bees trained to a certain kind of hive pollen, we applied a binary scoring system, to test preferences of these preconditioned foragers. We also performed metabolomic analyses of the hive pollen used for training and testing to elucidate their nutritional content. Irrespective of preconditioning, bees collected all the available choice pollen types, predominantly choosing hive-collected mixed species pollen (MSP), followed by almond orchard pollen. The hive-collected MSP was chemically diverse, richest in cholesterol, vitamins, and phytochemicals quercetin, kaempferol, coumarin, and quinine, but was not consistently high for essential amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Although diversity in chemical profiles may not directly relate to plant species diversity, our results suggest that foragers collect a variety of pollen types when available reiterating the importance of diverse floral resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seiji C Yokota
- Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS/PWA/WRRC, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Corey Broeckling
- Analytical Resources Core/Data Science Research Institute/Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Arathi H S Seshadri
- Pollinator Health in Southern Crops Ecosystems Research Unit, USDA-ARS/SEA, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Lopes AR, Low M, Martín-Hernández R, de Miranda JR, Pinto MA. Varroa destructor shapes the unique viral landscapes of the honey bee populations of the Azores archipelago. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012337. [PMID: 38959190 PMCID: PMC11221739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The worldwide dispersal of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor from its Asian origins has fundamentally transformed the relationship of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) with several of its viruses, via changes in transmission and/or host immunosuppression. The extent to which honey bee-virus relationships change after Varroa invasion is poorly understood for most viruses, in part because there are few places in the world with several geographically close but completely isolated honey bee populations that either have, or have not, been exposed long-term to Varroa, allowing for separate ecological, epidemiological, and adaptive relationships to develop between honey bees and their viruses, in relation to the mite's presence or absence. The Azores is one such place, as it contains islands with and without the mite. Here, we combined qPCR with meta-amplicon deep sequencing to uncover the relationship between Varroa presence, and the prevalence, load, diversity, and phylogeographic structure of eight honey bee viruses screened across the archipelago. Four viruses were not detected on any island (ABPV-Acute bee paralysis virus, KBV-Kashmir bee virus, IAPV-Israeli acute bee paralysis virus, BeeMLV-Bee macula-like virus); one (SBV-Sacbrood virus) was detected only on mite-infested islands; one (CBPV-Chronic bee paralysis virus) occurred on some islands, and two (BQCV-Black queen cell virus, LSV-Lake Sinai virus,) were present on every single island. This multi-virus screening builds upon a parallel survey of Deformed wing virus (DWV) strains that uncovered a remarkably heterogeneous viral landscape featuring Varroa-infested islands dominated by DWV-A and -B, Varroa-free islands naïve to DWV, and a refuge of the rare DWV-C dominating the easternmost Varroa-free islands. While all four detected viruses investigated here were affected by Varroa for one or two parameters (usually prevalence and/or the Richness component of ASV diversity), the strongest effect was observed for the multi-strain LSV. Varroa unambiguously led to elevated prevalence, load, and diversity (Richness and Shannon Index) of LSV, with these results largely shaped by LSV-2, a major LSV strain. Unprecedented insights into the mite-virus relationship were further gained from implementing a phylogeographic approach. In addition to enabling the identification of a novel LSV strain that dominated the unique viral landscape of the easternmost islands, this approach, in combination with the recovered diversity patterns, strongly suggests that Varroa is driving the evolutionary change of LSV in the Azores. This study greatly advances the current understanding of the effect of Varroa on the epidemiology and adaptive evolution of these less-studied viruses, whose relationship with Varroa has thus far been poorly defined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana R. Lopes
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, Porto, Portugal
| | - Matthew Low
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF, Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Marchamalo, Spain
| | | | - M. Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Johnston ASA. Predicting emergent animal biodiversity patterns across multiple scales. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17397. [PMID: 38984852 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Restoring biodiversity-based resilience and ecosystem multi-functionality needs to be informed by more accurate predictions of animal biodiversity responses to environmental change. Ecological models make a substantial contribution to this understanding, especially when they encode the biological mechanisms and processes that give rise to emergent patterns (population, community, ecosystem properties and dynamics). Here, a distinction between 'mechanistic' and 'process-based' ecological models is established to review existing approaches. Mechanistic and process-based ecological models have made key advances to understanding the structure, function and dynamics of animal biodiversity, but are typically designed to account for specific levels of biological organisation and spatiotemporal scales. Cross-scale ecological models, which predict emergent co-occurring biodiversity patterns at interacting scales of space, time and biological organisation, is a critical next step in predictive ecology. A way forward is to first capitalise on existing models to systematically evaluate the ability of scale-explicit mechanisms and processes to predict emergent patterns at alternative scales. Such model intercomparisons will reveal mechanism to process transitions across fine to broad scales, overcome approach-specific barriers to model realism or tractability and identify gaps which necessitate the development of new fundamental principles. Key challenges surrounding model complexity and uncertainty would need to be addressed, and while opportunities from big data can streamline the integration of multiple scale-explicit biodiversity patterns, ambitious cross-scale field studies are also needed. Crucially, overcoming cross-scale ecological modelling challenges would unite disparate fields of ecology with the common goal of improving the evidence-base to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems under novel environmental change.
Collapse
|
27
|
Pickens V, Maille J, Pitt WJ, Twombly Ellis J, Salgado S, Tims KM, Edwards CC, Peavy M, Williamson ZV, Musgrove TRT, Doherty E, Khadka A, Martin Ewert A, Sparks TC, Shrestha B, Scribner H, Balthazor N, Johnson RL, Markwardt C, Singh R, Constancio N, Hauri KC, Ternest JJ, Gula SW, Dillard D. Addressing emerging issues in entomology: 2023 student debates. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2024; 24:11. [PMID: 39095324 PMCID: PMC11296816 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieae080] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) Student Debates is an annual student competition at the ESA Annual Meeting organized by Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) members of the ESA Student Affairs Committee. In conjunction with the 2023 ESA Annual Meeting theme, 'Insects and influence: Advancing entomology's impact on people and policy', the theme of this year's student debate was 'Addressing emerging issues in entomology'. With the aid of ESA membership, the SDS selected the following debate topics: (1) Should disclosure of artificial intelligence large language models in scientific writing always be required? and (2) Is it more important to prioritize honey bee or native pollinator health for long-term food security within North America? Four student teams from across the nation, composed of 3-5 student members and a professional advisor, were assigned a topic and stance. Over the course of 5 months, all team members researched and prepared for their assigned topic before debating live with an opposing team at the 2023 ESA Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. SDS members additionally prepared and presented introductions for each debate topic to provide unbiased backgrounds to the judges and audience for context in assessing teams' arguments. The result was an engaging discussion between our teams, judges, and audience members on emerging issues facing entomology and its impact on people and policy, such as scientific communication and food security, that brought attention to the complexities involved when debating topics concerning insects and influence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Pickens
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Jacqueline Maille
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - William Jacob Pitt
- Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA, USA
| | | | - Sara Salgado
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Kelly M Tims
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Malcolm Peavy
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Tyler R T Musgrove
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Ethan Doherty
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Arjun Khadka
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Tanner C Sparks
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Bandana Shrestha
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Hazel Scribner
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Navi Balthazor
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Rachel L Johnson
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Chip Markwardt
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Rupinder Singh
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Natalie Constancio
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Kayleigh C Hauri
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - John J Ternest
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Scott W Gula
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - DeShae Dillard
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Di Noi A, Caliani I, D'Agostino A, Cai G, Romi M, Campani T, Ferrante F, Baracchi D, Casini S. Assessing the effects of a commercial fungicide and an herbicide, alone and in combination, on Apis mellifera: Insights from biomarkers and cognitive analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142307. [PMID: 38734252 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142307] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Agrochemicals play a vital role in protecting crops and enhancing agricultural production by reducing threats from pests, pathogens and weeds. The toxicological status of honey bees can be influenced by a number of factors, including pesticides. While extensive research has focused on the lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on individual bees and colonies, it is important to recognise that fungicides and herbicides can also affect bees' health. Unfortunately, in the field, honey bees are exposed to mixtures of compounds rather than single substances. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a commercial fungicide and a commercial herbicide, both individually and in combination, on honey bees. Mortality assays, biomarkers and learning and memory tests were performed, and the results were integrated to assess the toxicological status of honey bees. Neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities), detoxification and metabolic processes (glutathione S-transferase and alkaline phosphatase activities), immune system function (lysozyme activity and haemocytes count) and genotoxicity biomarkers (Nuclear Abnormalities assay) were assessed. The fungicide Sakura® was found to activate detoxification enzymes and affect alkaline phosphatase activity. The herbicide Elegant 2FD and the combination of both pesticides showed neurotoxic effects and induced detoxification processes. Exposure to the herbicide/fungicide mixture impaired learning and memory in honey bees. This study represents a significant advance in understanding the toxicological effects of commonly used commercial pesticides in agriculture and contributes to the development of effective strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on non-target insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agata Di Noi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy.
| | - Antonella D'Agostino
- Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Siena, Piazza S. Francesco 7, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giampiero Cai
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Marco Romi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Federico Ferrante
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Tuscia University, Largo dell'Università s.n.c., 01100 6, Viterbo, Italy
| | - David Baracchi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bieber BV, Lockett SG, Glasser SK, St Clair FA, Portillo NO, Adler LS, Povelones ML. Genetic modification of the bee parasite Crithidia bombi for improved visualization and protein localization. Exp Parasitol 2024; 262:108789. [PMID: 38762201 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Crithidia bombi is a trypanosomatid parasite that infects several species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.), by adhering to their intestinal tract. Crithidia bombi infection impairs learning and reduces survival of workers and the fitness of overwintering queens. Although there is extensive research on the ecology of this host-pathogen system, we understand far less about the mechanisms that mediate internal infection dynamics. Crithidia bombi infects hosts by attaching to the hindgut via the flagellum, and one previous study found that a nectar secondary compound removed the flagellum, preventing attachment. However, approaches that allow more detailed observation of parasite attachment and growth would allow us to better understand factors mediating this host-pathogen relationship. We established techniques for genetic manipulation and visualization of cultured C. bombi. Using constructs established for Crithidia fasciculata, we successfully generated C. bombi cells expressing ectopic fluorescent transgenes using two different selectable markers. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic modification of this species. We also introduced constructs that label the mitochondrion and nucleus of the parasite, showing that subcellular targeting signals can function across parasite species to highlight specific organelles. Finally, we visualized fluorescently tagged parasites in vitro in both their swimming and attached forms, and in vivo in bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) hosts. Expanding our cell and molecular toolkit for C. bombi will help us better understand how factors such as host diet, immune system, and physiology mediate outcomes of infection by these common parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah G Lockett
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Sonja K Glasser
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Faith A St Clair
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Neida O Portillo
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Megan L Povelones
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Averill AL, Eitzer BD, Drummond FA. Pesticide Contamination in Native North American Crops, Part I-Development of a Baseline and Comparison of Honey Bee Exposure to Residues in Lowbush Blueberry and Cranberry. INSECTS 2024; 15:489. [PMID: 39057222 PMCID: PMC11277497 DOI: 10.3390/insects15070489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
A pesticide exposure baseline for honey bees was compiled for two New England cropping systems, the native North American plant species consisting of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton). More unique pesticide compounds were applied in blueberry than cranberry, but the numbers of pesticides discovered in trapped honey bee pollen were similar between the two crop systems. Not all pesticides found in pollen were the result of the applications reported by growers of either crop. When comparing residues, number of pesticides detected, total concentration, and risk quotient varied between the two crops. Also, blueberry was dominated by fungicides and miticides (varroacides) and cranberry was dominated by insecticides and herbicides. When comparing reported grower applications that were matched with detection in residues, the proportion of pesticide numbers, concentrations, and risk quotients varied by crop system and pesticide class. In most cases, pesticide residue concentrations were of low risk (low risk quotient) to honey bees in these crops. Estimation of decay rates of some of the most common pesticide residues under field conditions could aid growers in selection of less persistent compounds, together with safe application dates, prior to bringing in honey bees for pollination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne L. Averill
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA;
| | - Brian D. Eitzer
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511, USA;
| | - Francis A. Drummond
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
- Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Rouabah A, Rabolin-Meinrad C, Gay C, Therond O. Models of bee responses to land use and land cover changes in agricultural landscapes - a review and research agenda. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024. [PMID: 38940343 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Predictive modelling tools can be used to support the design of agricultural landscapes to promote pollinator biodiversity and pollination services. Despite the proliferation of such modelling tools in recent decades, there remains a gap in synthesising their main characteristics and representation capacities. Here, we reviewed 42 studies that developed non-correlative models to explore the impact of land use and land cover changes on bee populations, and synthesised information about the modelled systems, modelling approaches, and key model characteristics like spatiotemporal extent and resolution. Various modelling approaches are employed to predict the biodiversity of bees and the pollination services they provide, with a prevalence of models focusing on wild populations compared to managed ones. Of these models, landscape indicators and distance decay models are relatively simple, with few parameters. They allow mapping bee visitation probabilities using basic land cover data and considering bee foraging ranges. Conversely, mechanistic or agent-based models delineate, with varying degrees of complexity, a multitude of processes that characterise, among others, the foraging behaviour and population dynamics of bees. The reviewed models collectively encompass 38 ecological, agronomic, and economic processes, producing various outputs including bee abundance, habitat visitation rate, and crop yield. To advance the development of predictive modelling tools aimed at fostering pollinator biodiversity and pollination services in agricultural landscapes, we highlight future avenues for increasing biophysical realism in models predicting the impact of land use and land cover changes on bees. Additionally, we address the challenges associated with balancing model complexity and practical usability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhak Rouabah
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, LAE, 28 rue de Herrlisheim, Colmar, 68000, France
| | | | - Camille Gay
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, LAE, 2 Avenue de la forêt de Haye, BP 20163, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, 54500, France
| | - Olivier Therond
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, LAE, 28 rue de Herrlisheim, Colmar, 68000, France
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
López-Vázquez K, Lara C, Corcuera P, Castillo-Guevara C, Cuautle M. The human touch: a meta-analysis of anthropogenic effects on plant-pollinator interaction networks. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17647. [PMID: 38948210 PMCID: PMC11214738 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17647] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Anthropogenic activities significantly impact natural ecosystems, leading to alterations in plant and pollinator diversity and abundance. These changes often result in shifts within interacting communities, potentially reshaping the structure of plant-pollinator interaction networks. Given the escalating human footprint on habitats, evaluating the response of these networks to anthropization is critical for devising effective conservation and management strategies. Methods We conducted a comprehensive review of the plant-pollinator network literature to assess the impact of anthropization on network structure. We assessed network metrics such as nestedness measure based on overlap and decreasing fills (NODF), network specialization (H2'), connectance (C), and modularity (Q) to understand structural changes. Employing a meta-analytical approach, we examined how anthropization activities, such as deforestation, urbanization, habitat fragmentation, agriculture, intentional fires and livestock farming, affect both plant and pollinator richness. Results We generated a dataset for various metrics of network structure and 36 effect sizes for the meta-analysis, from 38 articles published between 2010 and 2023. Studies assessing the impact of agriculture and fragmentation were well-represented, comprising 68.4% of all studies, with networks involving interacting insects being the most studied taxa. Agriculture and fragmentation reduce nestedness and increase specialization in plant-pollinator networks, while modularity and connectance are mostly not affected. Although our meta-analysis suggests that anthropization decreases richness for both plants and pollinators, there was substantial heterogeneity in this regard among the evaluated studies. The meta-regression analyses helped us determine that the habitat fragment size where the studies were conducted was the primary variable contributing to such heterogeneity. Conclusions The analysis of human impacts on plant-pollinator networks showed varied effects worldwide. Responses differed among network metrics, signaling nuanced impacts on structure. Activities like agriculture and fragmentation significantly changed ecosystems, reducing species richness in both pollinators and plants, highlighting network vulnerability. Regional differences stressed the need for tailored conservation. Despite insights, more research is crucial for a complete understanding of these ecological relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karla López-Vázquez
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Carlos Lara
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, San Felipe Ixtacuixtla, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Pablo Corcuera
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Citlalli Castillo-Guevara
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, San Felipe Ixtacuixtla, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Mariana Cuautle
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, San Felipe Ixtacuixtla, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Rodríguez Ballesteros A, Desjonquères C, Hevia V, García Llorente M, Ulloa JS, Llusia D. Towards acoustic monitoring of bees: wingbeat sounds are related to species and individual traits. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230111. [PMID: 38705186 PMCID: PMC11070252 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Global pollinator decline urgently requires effective methods to assess their trends, distribution and behaviour. Passive acoustics is a non-invasive and cost-efficient monitoring tool increasingly employed for monitoring animal communities. However, insect sounds remain highly unexplored, hindering the application of this technique for pollinators. To overcome this shortfall and support future developments, we recorded and characterized wingbeat sounds of a variety of Iberian domestic and wild bees and tested their relationship with taxonomic, morphological, behavioural and environmental traits at inter- and intra-specific levels. Using directional microphones and machine learning, we shed light on the acoustic signature of bee wingbeat sounds and their potential to be used for species identification and monitoring. Our results revealed that frequency of wingbeat sounds is negatively related with body size and environmental temperature (between-species analysis), while it is positively related with experimentally induced stress conditions (within-individual analysis). We also found a characteristic acoustic signature in the European honeybee that supported automated classification of this bee from a pool of wild bees, paving the way for passive acoustic monitoring of pollinators. Overall, these findings confirm that insect sounds during flight activity can provide insights on individual and species traits, and hence suggest novel and promising applications for this endangered animal group. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Rodríguez Ballesteros
- Terrestrial Ecology Group, Departament of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Social-ecological Systems Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Camille Desjonquères
- Terrestrial Ecology Group, Departament of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Violeta Hevia
- Social-ecological Systems Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina García Llorente
- Social-ecological Systems Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan S. Ulloa
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Avenida Paseo Bolívar 16-20, Bogotá, 111711, Colombia
| | - Diego Llusia
- Terrestrial Ecology Group, Departament of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Laboratório de Herpetologia e Comportamento Animal, Department of Ecology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil 74690-900
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Guo D, Wang Y, Li Z, Zhang DX, Wang C, Wang H, Liu Z, Liu F, Guo X, Wang N, Xu B, Gao Z. Effects of abamectin nanocapsules on bees through host physiology, immune function, and gut microbiome. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172738. [PMID: 38670362 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172738] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Pesticide usage is a common practice to increase crop yields. Nevertheless, the existence of pesticide residues in the surrounding environment presents a significant hazard to pollinators, specifically the potential undisclosed dangers related to emerging nanopesticides. This study examines the impact of abamectin nanocapsules (AbaNCs), created through electrostatic self-assembly, as an insecticide on honey bees. It was determined that AbaNCs upregulated detoxification genes, including CYP450, as well as antioxidant and immune genes in honey bees. Furthermore, AbaNCs affected the activity of crucial enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). Although no apparent damage was observed in bee gut tissue, AbaNCs significantly decreased digestive enzyme activity. Microbiome sequencing revealed that AbaNCs disrupted gut microbiome, resulting in a reduction of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Additionally, these changes in the gut microbiome were associated with decreased activity of digestive enzymes, including lipase. This study enhances our understanding of the impact of nanopesticides on pollinating insects. Through the revelation of the consequences arising from the utilization of abamectin nanocapsules, we have identified potential stress factors faced by these pollinators, enabling the implementation of improved protective measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dezheng Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Da-Xia Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongfang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenguo Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingqi Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Ningxin Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
| | - Baohua Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zheng Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Askri D, Pottier M, Arafah K, Voisin SN, Hodge S, Stout JC, Dominik C, Schweiger O, Tamburini G, Pereira-Peixoto MH, Klein AM, López VM, De la Rúa P, Cini E, Potts SG, Schwarz JM, Knauer AC, Albrecht M, Raimets R, Karise R, di Prisco G, Ivarsson K, Svensson GP, Ronsevych O, Knapp JL, Rundlöf M, Onorati P, de Miranda JR, Bocquet M, Bulet P. A blood test to monitor bee health across a European network of agricultural sites of different land-use by MALDI BeeTyping mass spectrometry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172239. [PMID: 38583620 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172239] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
There are substantial concerns about impaired honey bee health and colony losses due to several poorly understood factors. We used MALDI profiling (MALDI BeeTyping®) analysis to investigate how some environmental and management factors under field conditions across Europe affected the honey bee haemolymph peptidome (all peptides in the circulatory fluid), as a profile of molecular markers representing the immune status of Apis mellifera. Honey bees were exposed to a range of environmental stressors in 128 agricultural sites across eight European countries in four biogeographic zones, with each country contributing eight sites each for two different cropping systems: oilseed rape (OSR) and apple (APP). The full haemolymph peptide profiles, including the presence and levels of three key immunity markers, namely the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) Apidaecin, Abaecin and Defensin-1, allowed the honey bee responses to environmental variables to be discriminated by country, crop type and site. When considering just the AMPs, it was not possible to distinguish between countries by the prevalence of each AMP in the samples. However, it was possible to discriminate between countries on the amounts of the AMPs, with the Swedish samples in particular expressing high amounts of all AMPs. A machine learning model was developed to discriminate the haemolymphs of bees from APP and OSR sites. The model was 90.6 % accurate in identifying the crop type from the samples used to build the model. Overall, MALDI BeeTyping® of bee haemolymph represents a promising and cost-effective "blood test" for simultaneously monitoring dozens of peptide markers affected by environmental stressors at the landscape scale, thus providing policymakers with new diagnostic and regulatory tools for monitoring bee health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dalel Askri
- Platform BioPark Archamps, Archamps, France.
| | | | | | | | - Simon Hodge
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jane C Stout
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Christophe Dominik
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Dep. Community Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, 06120 Halle, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Dep. Community Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, 06120 Halle, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Vicente Martínez López
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Elena Cini
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading University, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading University, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Janine M Schwarz
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anina C Knauer
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Albrecht
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Risto Raimets
- Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu 51006, Estonia
| | - Reet Karise
- Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu 51006, Estonia
| | - Gennaro di Prisco
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 40128 Bologna, Italy; Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, The Italian National Research Council, Napoli, Italy
| | - Kjell Ivarsson
- Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF), 105 33 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Piero Onorati
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Philippe Bulet
- CR, University Grenoble Alpes, IAB INSERM 1209, CNRS UMR5309, Grenoble, France
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Mach BM, Glynn SE, Daniels JC, Dale AG. Target and non-target effects of insecticide use during ornamental milkweed production. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024:nvae056. [PMID: 38856688 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvae056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
There are widespread public efforts to conserve wildlife in urbanized landscapes via the installation of nursery-grown plants that support Lepidoptera taxa. Insecticides are commonly used during nursery production to suppress key plant pests, and many products have extended periods of toxicity and affect a wide range of herbivore taxa. While there are plentiful toxicological data on bee species, predominantly the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), little is known about how insecticides affect nonpest lepidopterans. Lepidoptera has different modes of exposure (e.g., leaf-feeding) and differences in susceptibility to insecticide target sites compared to bees. Consequently, many products compatible with bee conservation pose an uncertain risk to nonpest lepidopterans and thus may represent an under-recognized conflict with conservation efforts. Using the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus, L.), tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica, L.), and oleander aphid (Aphis nerii, Fonscolombe, 1841) system, we conducted leaf and whole-plant feeding assays to evaluate effects of acute and chronic monarch exposure to industry standard and alternative reduced-risk insecticides used during nursery production. We also evaluated the efficacy of these insecticides against their target pest, the oleander aphid. Our results indicate that insecticides used to control pests on ornamental milkweed can cause monarch larval mortality up to 4 wk after treatment application. Furthermore, the duration of aphid suppression is often shorter than the duration of adverse effects on monarchs. This study demonstrates a conflict between insect pest management and Lepidoptera conservation during ornamental plant production and has implications for the conservation value of ornamentals after retail sale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernadette M Mach
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sacha E Glynn
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jaret C Daniels
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Adam G Dale
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Smitley D, Oneil C, Hotchkiss E, Runkle E, Studyvin J. Evaluation of the most popular annual flowers sold in the United States and Europe indicates low visitation rates by pollinators and large variation among cultivars. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 117:1057-1070. [PMID: 38738656 PMCID: PMC11163454 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
To better understand how frequently pollinators visit the most popular annuals and the variation among cultivars, we evaluated 3-6 cultivars, each of petunia, impatiens, begonia, geranium, pansy, and New Guinea impatiens. These 6 annuals account for 46.6% of all garden center annual flower sales in the United States. Flower visits by honey bees, bumble bees, syrphids, other Diptera and other Hymenoptera, combined, varied 3 to 10-fold among cultivars within each of the 6 popular annuals. Begonia and impatiens were visited more frequently by pollinators than pansy, petunia, NG impatiens, and geranium. The 4 most visited cultivars, begonia 'Cocktail Brandy', begonia 'Ambassador Rose Blush', impatiens 'Accent Coral', and impatiens 'Super Elfin XP White' attracted as many pollinators as a benchmark annual, marigold 'Alumia Vanilla Cream', considered as moderately attractive to pollinators. Some conclusions from this research may be helpful for homeowners, landscapers, growers, and breeders. First, the most popular annual flowers are not a good choice for the purpose of attracting and supporting pollinators. However, the large variation among cultivars provides an opportunity to select cultivars that are more attractive to pollinators, particularly for begonia and impatiens. If the most pollinator-visited cultivars of begonia and impatiens are labeled and promoted as such, it would be beneficial to pollinators in urban and suburban landscapes in the USA and Europe, where they comprise 10%-20% of all annual flowers purchased from garden centers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Smitley
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48825-1115, USA
| | - Colin Oneil
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48825-1115, USA
| | - Erica Hotchkiss
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48825-1115, USA
| | - Erik Runkle
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48825-1115, USA
| | - Jared Studyvin
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Wyoming, 3036, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071-3036, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Kang Y, Wu T, Han B, Yang S, Wang X, Wang Q, Gao J, Dai P. Interaction of acetamiprid, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae in honey bees. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134380. [PMID: 38657514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134380] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Health of honey bees is threatened by a variety of stressors, including pesticides and parasites. Here, we investigated effects of acetamiprid, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae, which act either alone or in combination. Our results suggested that interaction between the three factors was additive, with survival risk increasing as the number of stressors increased. Although exposure to 150 μg/L acetamiprid alone did not negatively impact honey bee survival, it caused severe damage to midgut tissue. Among the three stressors, V. destructor posed the greatest threat to honey bee survival, and N. ceranae exacerbated intestinal damage and increased thickness of the midgut wall. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that different combinations of stressors elicited specific gene expression responses in honey bees, and genes involved in energy metabolism, immunity, and detoxification were altered in response to multiple stressor combinations. Additionally, genes associated with Toll and Imd signalling, tyrosine metabolism, and phototransduction pathway were significantly suppressed in response to different combinations of multiple stressors. This study enhances our understanding of the adaptation mechanisms to multiple stressors and aids in development of suitable protective measures for honey bees. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: We believe our study is environmentally relevant for the following reasons: This study investigates combined effects of pesticide, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae. These stressors are known to pose a threat to long-term survival of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and stability of the ecosystems. The research provides valuable insights into the adaptive mechanisms of honey bees in response to multiple stressors and developing effective conservation strategies. Further research can identify traits that promote honey bee survival in the face of future challenges from multiple stressors to maintain the overall stability of environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Tong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Beijing Apicultural Station, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Pingli Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Kline O, Joshi NK. Microbial Symbiont-Based Detoxification of Different Phytotoxins and Synthetic Toxic Chemicals in Insect Pests and Pollinators. J Xenobiot 2024; 14:753-771. [PMID: 38921652 PMCID: PMC11204611 DOI: 10.3390/jox14020043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects are the most diverse form of life, and as such, they interact closely with humans, impacting our health, economy, and agriculture. Beneficial insect species contribute to pollination, biological control of pests, decomposition, and nutrient cycling. Pest species can cause damage to agricultural crops and vector diseases to humans and livestock. Insects are often exposed to toxic xenobiotics in the environment, both naturally occurring toxins like plant secondary metabolites and synthetic chemicals like herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Because of this, insects have evolved several mechanisms of resistance to toxic xenobiotics, including sequestration, behavioral avoidance, and enzymatic degradation, and in many cases had developed symbiotic relationships with microbes that can aid in this detoxification. As research progresses, the important roles of these microbes in insect health and function have become more apparent. Bacterial symbionts that degrade plant phytotoxins allow host insects to feed on otherwise chemically defended plants. They can also confer pesticide resistance to their hosts, especially in frequently treated agricultural fields. It is important to study these interactions between insects and the toxic chemicals they are exposed to in order to further the understanding of pest insect resistance and to mitigate the negative effect of pesticides on nontarget insect species like Hymenopteran pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Neelendra K. Joshi
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Kogan HV, Macleod SG, Rondeau NC, Raup-Collado J, Cordero VA, Rovnyak D, Marshalleck CA, Mallapan M, Flores ME, Snow JW. Transcriptional control of a metabolic switch regulating cellular methylation reactions is part of a common response to stress in divergent bee species. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246894. [PMID: 38736357 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246894] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Recent global declines in bee health have elevated the need for a more complete understanding of the cellular stress mechanisms employed by diverse bee species. We recently uncovered the biomarker lethal (2) essential for life [l(2)efl] genes as part of a shared transcriptional program in response to a number of cell stressors in the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). Here, we describe another shared stress-responsive gene, glycine N-methyltransferase (Gnmt), which is known as a key metabolic switch controlling cellular methylation reactions. We observed Gnmt induction by both abiotic and biotic stressors. We also found increased levels of the GNMT reaction product sarcosine in the midgut after stress, linking metabolic changes with the observed changes in gene regulation. Prior to this study, Gnmt upregulation had not been associated with cellular stress responses in other organisms. To determine whether this novel stress-responsive gene would behave similarly in other bee species, we first characterized the cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in lab-reared adults of the solitary alfalfa leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata) and compared this with age-matched honey bees. The novel stress gene Gnmt was induced in addition to a number of canonical gene targets induced in both bee species upon unfolded protein response (UPR) activation, suggesting that stress-induced regulation of cellular methylation reactions is a common feature of bees. Therefore, this study suggests that the honey bee can serve as an important model for bee biology more broadly, although studies on diverse bee species will be required to fully understand global declines in bee populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen V Kogan
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - David Rovnyak
- Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
| | | | - Meghna Mallapan
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | | - Jonathan W Snow
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Ma C, Gu G, Chen S, Shi X, Li Z, Li-Byarlay H, Bai L. Impact of chronic exposure to field level glyphosate on the food consumption, survival, gene expression, gut microbiota, and metabolomic profiles of honeybees. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118509. [PMID: 38408628 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118509] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Glyphosate (GLY) is among the most widely used pesticides in the world. However, there are a lot of unknowns about chronic exposure to GLY's effects on Honeybee (HB) behavior and physiology. To address this, we carried out five experiments to study the impact of chronic exposure to 5 mg/kg GLY on sugar consumption, survival, gene expression, gut microbiota, and metabolites of HB workers. Our results find a significant decrease in sugar consumption and survival probability of HB after chronic exposure to GLY. Further, genes associated with immune response, energy metabolism, and longevity were conspicuously altered. In addition, a total of seven metabolites were found to be differentially expressed in the metabolomic profiles, mainly related the sucrose metabolism. There was no significant difference in the gut microbiota. Results suggest that chronic exposure to field-level GLY altered the health of HB and the intricate toxic mechanisms. Our data provided insights into the chronic effects of GLY on HB behavior in food intake and health, which represents the field conditions where HB are exposed to pesticides over extended periods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changsheng Ma
- Longping Branch Graduate School, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Gaoying Gu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650223, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Sihao Chen
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK; Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an-Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaoyu Shi
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zuren Li
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China.
| | - Hongmei Li-Byarlay
- Agricultural Research and Development Program, Central State University, Wilberforce, OH 45384, USA.
| | - Lianyang Bai
- Longping Branch Graduate School, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Strang CG, Rondeau S, Baert N, McArt SH, Raine NE, Muth F. Field agrochemical exposure impacts locomotor activity in wild bumblebees. Ecology 2024; 105:e4310. [PMID: 38828716 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural intensification has been identified as one of the key causes of global insect biodiversity losses. These losses have been further linked to the widespread use of agrochemicals associated with modern agricultural practices. Many of these chemicals are known to have negative sublethal effects on commercial pollinators, such as managed honeybees and bumblebees, but less is known about the impacts on wild bees. Laboratory-based studies with commercial pollinators have consistently shown that pesticide exposure can impact bee behavior, with cascading effects on foraging performance, reproductive success, and pollination services. However, these studies typically assess only one chemical, neglecting the complexity of real-world exposure to multiple agrochemicals and other stressors. In the summer of 2020, we collected wild-foraging workers of the common eastern bumblebee, Bombus impatiens, from five squash (Cucurbita) agricultural sites (organic and conventional farms), selected to represent a range of agrochemical, including neonicotinoid insecticide, use. For each bee, we measured two behaviors relevant to foraging success and previously shown to be impacted by pesticide exposure: sucrose responsiveness and locomotor activity. Following behavioral testing, we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) chemical analysis to detect and quantify the presence of 92 agrochemicals in each bumblebee. Bees collected from our sites did not vary in pesticide exposure as expected. While we found a limited occurrence of neonicotinoids, two fungicides (azoxystrobin and difenoconazole) were detected at all sites, and the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was present in all 123 bees. We found that bumblebees that contained higher levels of PBO were less active, and this effect was stronger for larger bumblebee workers. While PBO is unlikely to be the direct cause of the reduction in bee activity, it could be an indicator of exposure to pyrethroids and/or other insecticides that we were unable to directly quantify, but which PBO is frequently tank-mixed with during pesticide applications on crops. We did not find a relationship between agrochemical exposure and bumblebee sucrose responsiveness. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a sublethal behavioral impact of agrochemical exposure on wild-foraging bees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline G Strang
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Sabrina Rondeau
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicolas Baert
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Nigel E Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Felicity Muth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Moldoveanu OC, Maggioni M, Dani FR. Environmental ameliorations and politics in support of pollinators. Experiences from Europe: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 362:121219. [PMID: 38838532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121219] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
At least 87% of angiosperm species require animal vectors for their reproduction, while more than two-thirds of major global food crops depend on zoogamous pollination. Pollinator insects are a wide variety of organisms that require diverse biotic and abiotic resources. Many factors have contributed to a serious decrease in the abundance of populations and diversity of pollinator species over the years. This decline is alarming, and the European Union has taken several actions aimed at counteracting it by issuing new conservation policies and standardizing the actions of member countries. In 2019, the European Green Deal was presented, aiming to restore 100% of Europe's degraded land by 2050 through financial and legislative instruments. Moreover, the Common Agricultural Policies have entailed greening measures for the conservation of habitats and beneficial species for more than 10 years. The new CAP (CAP 23-27) reinforces conservation objectives through strategic plans based on eco-schemes defined at the national level by the member countries, and some states have specifically defined eco-schemes for pollinator conservation. Here, we review the framework of EU policies, directives, and regulations, which include measures aimed at protecting pollinators in agricultural, urban, and peri-urban environments. Moreover, we reviewed the literature reporting experimental works on the environmental amelioration for pollinators, particularly those where CAP measures were implemented and evaluated, as well as studies conducted in urban areas. Among CAP measures, several experimental works have considered the sowing and management of entomophilous plants and reported results important for environmental ameliorations. Some urban, peri-urban and wasteland areas have been reported to host a considerable number of pollinators, especially wild bees, and despite the lack of specific directives, their potential to contribute to pollinator conservation could be enhanced through targeted actions, as highlighted by some studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Martino Maggioni
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Dani
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre, Palermo, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Balvino‐Olvera FJ, Olivares‐Pinto U, González‐Rodríguez A, Aguilar‐Aguilar MJ, Ruiz‐Guzmán G, Lobo‐Segura J, Cortés‐Flores J, Cristobal‐Perez EJ, Martén‐Rodríguez S, Patiño‐Conde V, Quesada M. Effects of floral resources on honey bee populations in Mexico: Using dietary metabarcoding to examine landscape quality in agroecosystems. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11456. [PMID: 38895569 PMCID: PMC11183941 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11456] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The decline of honey bee populations significantly impacts the human food supply due to poor pollination and yield decreases of essential crop species. Given the reduction of pollinators, research into critical landscape components, such as floral resource availability and land use change, might provide valuable information about the nutritional status and health of honey bee colonies. To address this issue, we examine the effects of landscape factors like agricultural area, urban area, and climatic factors, including maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation, on honey bee hive populations and nutritional health of 326 honey bee colonies across varying landscapes in Mexico. DNA metabarcoding facilitated the precise identification of pollen from 267 plant species, encompassing 243 genera and 80 families, revealing a primary herb-based diet. Areas characterized by high landscape diversity exhibited greater pollen diversity within the colony. Conversely, colonies situated in regions with higher proportions of agricultural and urban landscapes demonstrated lower bee density. The maximum ambient temperature outside hives positively correlated with pollen diversity, aligning with a simultaneous decrease in bee density. Conversely, higher relative humidity positively influenced both the bee density of the colony and the diversity of foraged pollen. Our national-level study investigated pollen dietary availability and colony size in different habitat types, latitudes, climatic conditions, and varied levels and types of disturbances. This effort was taken to gain a better insight into the mechanisms driving declines in honey bee populations. This study illustrates the need for more biodiverse agricultural landscapes, the preservation of diverse habitats, and the conservation of natural and semi-natural spaces. These measures can help to improve the habitat quality of other bee species, as well as restore essential ecosystem processes, such as pollination and pest control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J. Balvino‐Olvera
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio D, 1° Piso, Circuito de PosgradosCiudad UniversitariaCDMXMexico
| | - Ulises Olivares‐Pinto
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad JuriquillaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoJuriquillaQuerétaroMexico
| | - Antonio González‐Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y SustentabilidadUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMoreliaMichoacánMexico
| | - María J. Aguilar‐Aguilar
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
| | - Gloria Ruiz‐Guzmán
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
| | - Jorge Lobo‐Segura
- Escuela de BiologíaUniversidad de Costa RicaSan PedroCosta Rica
- Laboratorio Binacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela de BiologíaUniversidad de Costa RicaSan PedroCosta Rica
| | - Jorge Cortés‐Flores
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
- Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Sede TlaxcalaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoSanta Cruz TlaxcalaMexico
| | - E. Jacob Cristobal‐Perez
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
- Laboratorio Binacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela de BiologíaUniversidad de Costa RicaSan PedroCosta Rica
| | - Silvana Martén‐Rodríguez
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
| | - Violeta Patiño‐Conde
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
| | - Mauricio Quesada
- Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela Nacional de Estudios SuperioresUnidad MoreliaMoreliaMichoacánMexico
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y SustentabilidadUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMoreliaMichoacánMexico
- Laboratorio Binacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica, Escuela de BiologíaUniversidad de Costa RicaSan PedroCosta Rica
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Pille Arnold J, Tylianakis JM, Murphy MV, Cawthray GR, Webber BL, Didham RK. Body-size-dependent effects of landscape-level resource energetics on pollinator abundance in woodland remnants. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232771. [PMID: 38864334 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2771] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Land use change alters floral resource availability, thereby contributing to declines in important pollinators. However, the severity of land use impact varies by species, influenced by factors such as dispersal ability and resource specialization, both of which can correlate with body size. Here. we test whether floral resource availability in the surrounding landscape (the 'matrix') influences bee species' abundance in isolated remnant woodlands, and whether this effect varies with body size. We sampled quantitative flower-visitation networks within woodland remnants and quantified floral energy resources (nectar and pollen calories) available to each bee species both within the woodland and the matrix. Bee abundance in woodland increased with floral energy resources in the surrounding matrix, with strongest effects on larger-bodied species. Our findings suggest important but size-dependent effects of declining matrix floral resources on the persistence of bees in remnant woodlands, highlighting the need to incorporate landscape-level floral resources in conservation planning for pollinators in threatened natural habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Pille Arnold
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
| | - Jason M Tylianakis
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Mark V Murphy
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Gregory R Cawthray
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Bruce L Webber
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
| | - Raphael K Didham
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Wu J, Liu F, Sun J, Wei Q, Kang W, Wang F, Zhang C, Zhao M, Xu S, Han B. Toxic effects of acaricide fenazaquin on development, hemolymph metabolome, and gut microbiome of honeybee (Apis mellifera) larvae. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 358:142207. [PMID: 38697560 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142207] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Fenazaquin, a potent insecticide widely used to control phytophagous mites, has recently emerged as a potential solution for managing Varroa destructor mites in honeybees. However, the comprehensive impact of fenazaquin on honeybee health remains insufficiently understood. Our current study investigated the acute and chronic toxicity of fenazaquin to honeybee larvae, along with its influence on larval hemolymph metabolism and gut microbiota. Results showed that the acute median lethal dose (LD50) of fenazaquin for honeybee larvae was 1.786 μg/larva, and the chronic LD50 was 1.213 μg/larva. Although chronic exposure to low doses of fenazaquin exhibited no significant effect on larval development, increasing doses of fenazaquin resulted in significant increases in larval mortality, developmental time, and deformity rates. At the metabolic level, high doses of fenazaquin inhibited nucleotide, purine, and lipid metabolism pathways in the larval hemolymph, leading to energy metabolism disorders and physiological dysfunction. Furthermore, high doses of fenazaquin reduced gut microbial diversity and abundance, characterized by decreased relative abundance of functional gut bacterium Lactobacillus kunkeei and increased pathogenic bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. The disrupted gut microbiota, combined with the observed gut tissue damage, could potentially impair food digestion and nutrient absorption in the larvae. Our results provide valuable insights into the complex and diverse effects of fenazaquin on honeybee larvae, establishing an important theoretical basis for applying fenazaquin in beekeeping.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Fengying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiajing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qiaohong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Weipeng Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Institute of Horticultural Research, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Chenhuan Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Meijiao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Shufa Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Bin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Nguyen PN, Samad-Zada F, Chau KD, Rehan SM. Microbiome and floral associations of a wild bee using biodiversity survey collections. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16657. [PMID: 38817079 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The health of bees can be assessed through their microbiome, which serves as a biomarker indicating the presence of both beneficial and harmful microorganisms within a bee community. This study presents the characterisation of the bacterial, fungal, and plant composition on the cuticle of adult bicoloured sweat bees (Agapostemon virescens). These bees were collected using various methods such as pan traps, blue vane traps and sweep netting across the northern extent of their habitat range. Non-destructive methods were employed to extract DNA from the whole pinned specimens of these wild bees. Metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA, ITS and rbcL regions was then performed. The study found that the method of collection influenced the detection of certain microbial and plant taxa. Among the collection methods, sweep net samples showed the lowest fungal alpha diversity. However, minor differences in bacterial or fungal beta diversity suggest that no single method is significantly superior to others. Therefore, a combination of techniques can cater to a broader spectrum of microbial detection. The study also revealed regional variations in bacterial, fungal and plant diversity. The core microbiome of A. virescens comprises two bacteria, three fungi and a plant association, all of which are commonly detected in other wild bees. These core microbes remained consistent across different collection methods and locations. Further extensive studies of wild bee microbiomes across various species and landscapes will help uncover crucial relationships between pollinator health and their environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phuong N Nguyen
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Katherine D Chau
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Wright EK, Timberlake TP, Baude M, Vaughan IP, Memmott J. Quantifying the production of plant pollen at the farm scale. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:2888-2899. [PMID: 38622779 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Plant pollen is rich in protein, sterols and lipids, providing crucial nutrition for many pollinators. However, we know very little about the quantity, quality and timing of pollen availability in real landscapes, limiting our ability to improve food supply for pollinators. We quantify the floral longevity and pollen production of a whole plant community for the first time, enabling us to calculate daily pollen availability. We combine these data with floral abundance and nectar measures from UK farmland to quantify pollen and nectar production at the landscape scale throughout the year. Pollen and nectar production were significantly correlated at the floral unit, and landscape level. The species providing the highest quantity of pollen on farmland were Salix spp. (38%), Filipendula ulmaria (14%), Rubus fruticosus (10%) and Taraxacum officinale (9%). Hedgerows were the most pollen-rich habitats, but permanent pasture provided the majority of pollen at the landscape scale, because of its large area. Pollen and nectar were closely associated in their phenology, with both peaking in late April, before declining steeply in June and remaining low throughout the year. Our data provide a starting point for including pollen in floral resource assessments and ensuring the nutritional requirements of pollinators are met in farmland landscapes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen K Wright
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
- Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Royal Fort House, Bristol, BS8 1UH, UK
| | - Thomas P Timberlake
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Mathilde Baude
- Université d'Orléans, Château de la Source, BP 6749, Orléans Cedex 2, 45067, France
- Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement (iEES-Paris), Sorbonne Université, UPEC, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Ian P Vaughan
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Jane Memmott
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Boff S, Ayasse M. Exposure to sublethal concentration of flupyradifurone alters sexual behavior and cuticular hydrocarbon profile in Heriades truncorum, an oligolectic solitary bee. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:859-869. [PMID: 37602924 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13268] [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: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The aboveground oligolectic bee, Heriades truncorum, is a particularly good model for studying the impact of pesticides on sexual communication, since some aspects of its mating behavior have previously been described. We have tested (1) the interference of the pesticide flupyradifurone on male precopulatory behavior and male mating partner preferences, (2) the way that the pesticide interferes in male quality assessment by the female, and (3) the effects of the pesticide on the chemical compounds in the female cuticle. We exposed bees of both sexes to a sublethal concentration of flupyradifurone. Various behaviors were registered in a mating arena with two females (one unexposed and one exposed) and one male (either unexposed or exposed). Unexposed males were quicker to attempt to mate. Treatment also impacted precopulatory behavior and male quality assessment by females. Males approached unexposed females more quickly than insecticide-exposed ones. Females exposed to insecticide produced lower amounts of some cuticular hydrocarbons (sex pheromone candidates) and appeared less choosy than unexposed females. Our findings suggest that insecticide exposure affects sexual communication, playing a role both in male preference and in male quality assessment by the female.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Boff
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Botsch JC, Daniels JD, Bujan J, Roeder KA. Temperature influences desiccation resistance of bumble bees. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 155:104647. [PMID: 38710384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104647] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Ongoing climate change has increased temperatures and the frequency of droughts in many parts of the world, potentially intensifying the desiccation risk for insects. Because resisting desiccation becomes more difficult at higher temperatures and lower humidity, avoiding water loss is a key challenge facing terrestrial insects. However, few studies have examined the interactive effects of temperature and environmental humidity on desiccation resistance in insects. Such studies on bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) are especially rare, despite their ecological and economic importance. Here, we crossed temperature (20, 25, and 30 °C) with humidity (<5, 50, >95 % RH) manipulations and measured time to mortality, water loss rates, and the water content at mortality of bumble bees (Bombus impatiens). We found that both higher temperature and lower humidity increased water loss rates, while warmer temperatures reduced survival time and lower humidity decreased water content at mortality. Additionally, we observed large intraspecific variation in water balance traits between colonies, and larger individuals survived longer and could tolerate more water loss before mortality. This study raises important questions about the mechanisms underpinning water loss in bumble bees and suggests that frequent access to nectar may be especially important for bumble bees' water balance and survival in a warming and drying climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamieson C Botsch
- North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Brookings, SD 57006, USA; Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Jesse D Daniels
- North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| | - Jelena Bujan
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Karl A Roeder
- North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| |
Collapse
|