1
|
Remmers R, Frantzeskaki N. Bees in the city: Findings from a scoping review and recommendations for urban planning. AMBIO 2024; 53:1281-1295. [PMID: 38767748 PMCID: PMC11300792 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-02028-1] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Over the last decades, bee biodiversity has dropped sharply due to land use change, including urbanization. To contrast this, recent research has pointed to cities as a hotspot for bees. Because of this ambiguity, a scoping review has been conducted to examine the urban characteristics that impact bees and how bees are impacted. A total of 276 articles were analyzed against landscape and local habitat characteristics. The key findings include first that natural areas are more valuable for bees since biodiversity levels are higher. Second, urban areas generally score better than agricultural and rural areas. Third, plant biodiversity positively influences bee biodiversity. Fourth, the urban environment strongly affects some bee traits and the proportion of native bees. For making cities bee friendly and bee inclusive, we recommend to maintain natural areas, connect natural areas to urban ecosystems, encourage floral abundance and diversity and increasing the size of urban green areas overall.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rutger Remmers
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Niki Frantzeskaki
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Vening Meinesz building A, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kwon M, Nilufar Zakhidovna R, Boymaxmat Abdiazizovich K, Jung C, Kil EJ. First metagenomic analysis of virome in Uzbekistan honey bee (Apis mellifera): Investigating basic information on honey bee viruses. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 206:108171. [PMID: 39084550 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108171] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees are economically important insects. However, they face multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, such as diseases, pesticides, climate change, and pests, which cause the loss of honey bee colonies worldwide. Among these factors, viruses have been identified as the major cause of colony loss. Research on honey bee viruses in Uzbekistan is limited. This study investigated the viruses affecting honey bees in Uzbekistan. Virome analysis was conducted for each sample using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. Nine honey bee viruses have been identified: the acute bee paralysis virus, aphid lethal paralysis virus, Apis rhabdovirus 1 and 2, black queen cell virus, deformed wing virus, Lake Sinai virus 10, sacbrood virus, and Hubei partiti-like virus 34. Additionally, 15 plant viruses were identified, 7 of which were novel. This study is the first virome analysis of Uzbekistan honey bees and provides a foundation for understanding the viruses affecting honey bees and plants in Uzbekistan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minhyeok Kwon
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea; Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Chuleui Jung
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea; Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eui-Joon Kil
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea; Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Babin A, Schurr F, Delannoy S, Fach P, Huyen Ton Nu Nguyet M, Bougeard S, de Miranda JR, Rundlöf M, Wintermantel D, Albrecht M, Attridge E, Bottero I, Cini E, Costa C, De la Rúa P, Di Prisco G, Dominik C, Dzul D, Hodge S, Klein AM, Knapp J, Knauer AC, Mänd M, Martínez-López V, Medrzycki P, Pereira-Peixoto MH, Potts SG, Raimets R, Schweiger O, Senapathi D, Serrano J, Stout JC, Tamburini G, Brown MJF, Laurent M, Rivière MP, Chauzat MP, Dubois E. Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3524. [PMID: 38347035 PMCID: PMC10861508 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53357-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) to 11 IPAs (six RNA viruses, two bacteria, three microsporidia). The sentinel bees were deployed at 128 sites in eight European countries adjacent to either oilseed rape fields or apple orchards during crop bloom. Adult bees of each species were sampled before their placement and after crop bloom. The IPAs were detected and quantified using a harmonised, high-throughput and semi-automatized qPCR workflow. We describe differences among bee species in IPA profiles (richness, diversity, detection frequencies, loads and their change upon field exposure, and exposure risk), with no clear patterns related to the country or focal crop. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees' IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Babin
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
| | - Frank Schurr
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Patrick Fach
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Stéphanie Bougeard
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology and Welfare, France
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dimitry Wintermantel
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Albrecht
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleanor Attridge
- Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations, Tullamore, Ireland
| | - Irene Bottero
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elena Cini
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Cecilia Costa
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Gennaro Di Prisco
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, The Italian National Research Council, Piazzale E. Ferni 1, 80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Christophe Dominik
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Dzul
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon Hodge
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Knapp
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anina C Knauer
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marika Mänd
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vicente Martínez-López
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Bioscience Building, L69 7ZB, Liverpool, UK
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Helena Pereira-Peixoto
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Risto Raimets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - José Serrano
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jane C Stout
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Bari, Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA-Entomology and Zoology), Bari, Italy
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Marion Laurent
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Rivière
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
- Paris-Est University, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eric Dubois
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Eakins J, Lynch M, Carolan JC, Rowan NJ. Studies on the novel effects of electron beam treated pollen on colony reproductive output in commercially-reared bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) for mass pollination applications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 899:165614. [PMID: 37478954 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165614] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Commercially-reared bumblebees provide an important pollinator service that helps support food production and security. The deployment of an appropriate non-thermal disinfection technology for the bulk treatment of pollen collected from honeybees for the feeding of commercial bumblebees is important in order to mitigate against complex diseases and unwanted pathogen spillover to native bees. High level disinfection of pollen was achieved using an electron (e)-beam dose of 100 kGy that corresponded to 78 % loss of cellular viability of bee pathogens before feeding to bumblebees as measured by the novel in vitro use of flow cytometry (FCM). Novel findings showed that e-beam treated-pollen that was fed to bumblebees produced fewer females, gynes and exhibited an absence of males when compared to control bumblebee colonies that were fed untreated commercial pollen. A similar trend emerged in bumblebee colony reproductive outputs when using membrane filtered washed pollen. Proteomic analysis of bumblebees from individual colonies fed with treated-pollen revealed a differential abundance of proteins associated with stress, immunity and metabolism when compared to the untreated pollen control group. Microbiome analysis of the bumblebee gut content revealed differences in microbiota between treated and untreated pollen in bumblebee colony studies. This novel study evaluated the impact of industrial e-beam treated-pollen on complex bee disease mitigation where physically treated-pollen fed to bumblebees was shown to substantially affect colony reproductive outputs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Eakins
- Centre for Disinfection and Sterilization, Faculty of Science and Health, Technological Institute of the Shannon, Midlands Campus, Ireland; Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - M Lynch
- Centre for Disinfection and Sterilization, Faculty of Science and Health, Technological Institute of the Shannon, Midlands Campus, Ireland
| | - J C Carolan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - N J Rowan
- Centre for Disinfection and Sterilization, Faculty of Science and Health, Technological Institute of the Shannon, Midlands Campus, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Minias P. The effects of urban life on animal immunity: Adaptations and constraints. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165085. [PMID: 37379938 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165085] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Land transformation, including urbanization, is a dominant form of anthropogenic change to the global environment at the dawn of the Anthropocene epoch. More and more species are brought into direct contact with humans, being either required to develop broad-scale adaptations to urban environment or filtered out from urbanized areas. While behavioural or physiological adaptations are at the forefront of urban biology research, there is accumulating evidence for divergent pathogen pressure across urbanization gradients, requiring adjustments in host immune function. At the same time, host immunity may be constrained by unfavourable components of an urban environment, such as poor-quality food resources, disturbance, or pollution. Here, I reviewed existing evidence for adaptations and constrains in the immune system of urban animals, focusing on the recent implementation of metabarcoding, genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic approaches in urban biology research. I show that spatial variation in pathogen pressure across urban and non-urban landscapes is highly complex and may be context-dependent, but there is solid evidence for pathogen-driven immunostimulation in urban-dwelling animals. I also show that genes coding for molecules directly involved in interactions with pathogens are the prime candidates for immunogenetic adaptations to urban life. Evidence emerging from landscape genomics and transcriptomics show that immune adaptations to urban life may have a polygenic nature, but immune traits may not be among the key biological functions experiencing broad-scale microevolutionary changes in response to urbanization. Finally, I provided recommendations for future research, including i) a better integration of different 'omic' approaches to obtain a more complete picture of immune adaptations to urban life in non-model animal taxa, ii) quantification of fitness landscapes for immune phenotypes and genotypes across urbanization gradient, and iii) much broader taxonomic coverage (including invertebrates) necessary to draw more robust conclusions on how general (or taxa-specific) are immune responses of animals to urbanization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Visick OD, Ratnieks FLW. Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10609. [PMID: 37841222 PMCID: PMC10568204 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10609] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, lives worldwide in approximately 102 million managed hives but also wild throughout much of its native and introduced range. Despite the global importance of A. mellifera as a crop pollinator, wild colonies have received comparatively little attention in the scientific literature and basic information regarding their density and abundance is scattered. Here, we review 40 studies that have quantified wild colony density directly (n = 33) or indirectly using genetic markers (n = 7) and analyse data from 41 locations worldwide to identify factors that influence wild colony density. We also compare the density of wild and managed colonies at a regional scale using data on managed colonies from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Wild colony densities varied from 0.1 to 24.2/km2 and were significantly lower in Europe (average of 0.26/km2) than in Northern America (1.4/km2), Oceania (4.4/km2), Latin America (6.7/km2) and Africa (6.8/km2). Regional differences were not significant after controlling for both temperature and survey area, suggesting that cooler climates and larger survey areas may be responsible for the low densities reported in Europe. Managed colony densities were 2.2/km2 in Asia, 1.2/km2 in Europe, 0.2/km2, in Northern America, 0.2/km2 in Oceania, 0.5/km2 in Latin America and 1/km2 in Africa. Wild colony densities exceeded those of managed colonies in all regions except Europe and Asia. Overall, there were estimated to be between two and three times as many wild colonies as managed worldwide. More wild colony surveys, particularly in Asia and South America, are needed to assess the relative density of wild and managed colonies at smaller spatial scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver D. Visick
- Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI), School of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| | - Francis L. W. Ratnieks
- Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI), School of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chau KD, Samad-Zada F, Kelemen EP, Rehan SM. Integrative population genetics and metagenomics reveals urbanization increases pathogen loads and decreases connectivity in a wild bee. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:4193-4211. [PMID: 37173859 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16757] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
As urbanization continues to increase, it is expected that two-thirds of the human population will reside in cities by 2050. Urbanization fragments and degrades natural landscapes, threatening wildlife including economically important species such as bees. In this study, we employ whole genome sequencing to characterize the population genetics, metagenome and microbiome, and environmental stressors of a common wild bee, Ceratina calcarata. Population genomic analyses revealed the presence of low genetic diversity and elevated levels of inbreeding. Through analyses of isolation by distance, resistance, and environment across urban landscapes, we found that green spaces including shrubs and scrub were the most optimal pathways for bee dispersal, and conservation efforts should focus on preserving these land traits to maintain high connectivity across sites for wild bees. Metagenomic analyses revealed landscape sites exhibiting urban heat island effects, such as high temperatures and development but low precipitation and green space, had the highest taxa alpha diversity across all domains even when isolating for potential pathogens. Notably, the integration of population and metagenomic data showed that reduced connectivity in urban areas is not only correlated with lower relatedness among individuals but is also associated with increased pathogen diversity, exposing vulnerable urban bees to more pathogens. Overall, our combined population and metagenomic approach found significant environmental variation in bee microbiomes and nutritional resources even in the absence of genetic differentiation, as well as enabled the potential early detection of stressors to bee health.
Collapse
|
8
|
Tommasi N, Colombo B, Pioltelli E, Biella P, Casiraghi M, Galimberti A. Urban habitat fragmentation and floral resources shape the occurrence of gut parasites in two bumblebee species. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10299. [PMID: 37456076 PMCID: PMC10338672 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10299] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization and the expansion of human activities foster radical ecosystem changes with cascading effects also involving host-pathogen interactions. Urban pollinator insects face several stressors related to landscape and local scale features such as green habitat loss, fragmentation and availability reduction of floral resources with unpredictable effects on parasite transmission. Furthermore, beekeeping may contribute to the spread of parasites to wild pollinators by increasing the number of parasite hosts. Here we used DNA-based diagnostics tools to evaluate how the occurrence of parasites, namely microsporidians (Nosema spp.), trypanosomatids (Crithidia spp.) and neogregarines (Apicystis bombi), is shaped by the above-mentioned stressors in two bumblebee species (i.e. Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum). Infection rates of the two species were different and generally higher in B. terrestris. Moreover, they showed different responses towards the same ecological variables, possibly due to differences in body size and foraging habits supposed to affect their susceptibility to parasite infection. The probability of infection was found to be reduced in B. pascuorum by green habitat fragmentation, while increased along with floral resource availability. Unexpectedly, B. terrestris had a lower parasite richness nearby apiaries maybe due to the fact that parasites are prone to be transmitted among the most abundant species. Our finding supports the need to design proper conservation measures based on species-specific knowledge, as suggested by the variation in the parasite occurrence of the two species. Moreover, conservation policies aiming at safeguarding pollinators through flower planting should consider the indirect effects of these measures for parasite transmission together with pollinator biodiversity issues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tommasi
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Beatrice Colombo
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Emiliano Pioltelli
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Paolo Biella
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Maurizio Casiraghi
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Andrea Galimberti
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Xiong ZR, Sogin JH, Worobo RW. Microbiome analysis of raw honey reveals important factors influencing the bacterial and fungal communities. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1099522. [PMID: 36713191 PMCID: PMC9877413 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1099522] [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: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Raw honeys contain diverse microbial communities. Previous studies have focused on isolating bacteria and fungi that are culturable, while missing a large proportion of the microbial community due to culture-based constraints. This study utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze the composition of microorganisms in raw honey; these data can reveal environmental and physicochemical variables that are associated with different microbial communities. To examine the microbial composition (bacteria and fungi) of raw honey and analyze its association with physicochemical properties, four types of honey (monofloral, wildflower, manuka, and feral; n total = 36) were analyzed via amplicon metagenomics. The analyzed honey samples had relatively similar bacterial communities but more distinct and diverse fungal communities. Honey type was determined as a significant factor influencing alpha and beta diversity metrics of bacterial and fungal communities. For the bacterial communities, titratable acidity (TA) was associated with community richness and diversity. For the fungal communities, Brix, TA, and color were associated with community richness, while water activity and color were associated with community diversity. Additionally, important bacterial and fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that influenced the overall community were identified. Results from this study provide important insights into the microbial communities associated with different types of raw honey, which could improve our understanding of microbial dynamics in beehives, improve honey production, and prevent honeybee disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Ray Xiong
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Theodorou P. The effects of urbanisation on ecological interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 52:100922. [PMID: 35490874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cities are expanding worldwide and urbanisation is considered a global threat to biodiversity. Urban ecology has provided important insights on how urban environmental changes might affect individuals, populations, and species; however, we know little about how the ecological impacts of urbanisation alter species interactions. Species interactions are the backbone of ecological communities and play a crucial role in population and community dynamics and in the generation, maintenance and structure of biodiversity. Here, I review urban ecological studies to identify key mechanistic pathways through which urban environmental processes could alter antagonistic and mutualistic interactions among species. More specifically, I focus on insect predation, parasitoidism and herbivory, competition, insect host-pathogen interactions, and pollination. I furthermore identify important knowledge gaps that require additional research attention and I suggest future research directions that may help to shed light on the mechanisms that affect species interactions and structure insect communities and will thus aid conservation management in cities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Theodorou
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kohl PL, Rutschmann B, Steffan-Dewenter I. Population demography of feral honeybee colonies in central European forests. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220565. [PMID: 35950195 PMCID: PMC9346370 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
European honeybee populations are considered to consist only of managed colonies, but recent censuses have revealed that wild/feral colonies still occur in various countries. To gauge the ecological and evolutionary relevance of wild-living honeybees, information is needed on their population demography. We monitored feral honeybee colonies in German forests for up to 4 years through regular inspections of woodpecker cavity trees and microsatellite genotyping. Each summer, about 10% of the trees were occupied, corresponding to average densities of 0.23 feral colonies km-2 (an estimated 5% of the regional honeybee populations). Populations decreased moderately until autumn but dropped massively during winter, so that their densities were only about 0.02 colonies km-2 in early spring. During the reproductive (swarming) season, in May and June, populations recovered, with new swarms preferring nest sites that had been occupied in the previous year. The annual survival rate and the estimated lifespan of feral colonies (n = 112) were 10.6% and 0.6 years, respectively. We conclude that managed forests in Germany do not harbour self-sustaining feral honeybee populations, but they are recolonized every year by swarms escaping from apiaries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L. Kohl
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Rutschmann
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ivers NA, Jordan Z, Cohen H, Tripodi A, Brown MJF, Liere H, Lin BB, Philpott S, Jha S. Parasitism of urban bumble bees influenced by pollinator taxonomic richness, local garden management, and surrounding impervious cover. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01211-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
13
|
Cohen H, Ponisio LC, Russell KA, Philpott SM, McFrederick QS. Floral resources shape parasite and pathogen dynamics in bees facing urbanization. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2157-2171. [PMID: 35114032 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization is associated with increases in impervious land cover, which alters the distribution of resources available to wildlife and concentrates activity in un-built spaces such as parks and gardens. How resource shifts alter the dynamics of parasite and pathogen transmission has not been addressed for many important species in urban systems. We focus on urban gardens, resource-rich "islands" within the urban matrix, to examine how the availability of floral resources at local and landscape scales influences the prevalence of 6 RNA viruses and 3 parasites in honey bees and bumble bees. Because parasites and pathogens are transmitted at flowers between visitors, we expected that floral abundance would concentrate bees within gardens, amplifying infection rates in pollinators, unless increases in floral resources would enhance bee diversity enough to dilute transmission. We found that garden size and flowering perennial plant abundance had a positive, direct effect on parasite and pathogen richness in bumble bees, suggesting that resource provisioning amplifies transmission. We also found that parasitism rates in honey bees were positively associated with parasites and pathogens in bumble bees, suggesting spillover between species. Encouragingly, we found evidence that management may mitigate parasitism through indirect effects: garden size had a positive impact on bee diversity, which in-turn was negatively associated with parasite and pathogen richness in bumble bees. Unexpectedly, we observed that that parasite and pathogen richness in honey bees had no significant predictors, highlighting the complexity of comparing transmission dynamics between species. Although floral resources provide bees with food, we suggest more research on the tradeoffs between resource provisioning and disease transmission to implement conservation plantings in changing landscapes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamutahl Cohen
- Institute for Food and Agriculture, University of Florida, U.S.A
| | | | - Kaleigh A Russell
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, U.S.A
| | - Stacy M Philpott
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, U.S.A
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ward K, Cleare X, Li-Byarlay H. The Life Span and Levels of Oxidative Stress in Foragers Between Feral and Managed Honey Bee Colonies. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2022; 22:20. [PMID: 35137132 PMCID: PMC8826185 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Molecular damage caused by oxidative stress may lead to organismal aging and result in acute mortality to organisms. Thus, oxidative stress resistance and longevity are closely linked. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the most important managed pollinator in agriculture, but the long-term survival of honey bees is seriously threatened. Feral honey bee colonies can be used as natural resources to improve honey bee health. One question we ask here is whether feral honey bees are stress resistant or survive longer than managed bee populations. More work is needed to determine the impact of oxidative stress on honey bee health and survival. In this study, we used paired colony designs to compare the life span of worker bees (foragers) between feral and managed colonies and their levels of oxidative stress. Each pair of colonies shared similar foraging resources. The results indicated that foragers in feral colonies had longer survival times and life spans than those in managed colonies. The levels of oxidative stress from lipid damage content in feral colonies were higher than those in managed colonies, indicating that they used a tolerance mechanism rather than a repair mechanism to survive. Our study provides new insights into a colony difference in the physiology and oxidative stress resistance of feral honey bees compared with managed colony stocks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kilea Ward
- Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Central State University, 1400 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, OH 45384, USA
| | - Xaryn Cleare
- Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Central State University, 1400 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, OH 45384, USA
| | - Hongmei Li-Byarlay
- Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Central State University, 1400 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, OH 45384, USA
- Agricultural Research and Development Program, Central State University, 1400 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, OH 45384, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Salkova D, Shumkova R, Balkanska R, Palova N, Neov B, Radoslavov G, Hristov P. Molecular Detection of Nosema spp. in Honey in Bulgaria. Vet Sci 2021; 9:vetsci9010010. [PMID: 35051094 PMCID: PMC8777891 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is related to screening genetic material of various organisms in environmental samples. Honey represents a natural source of exogenous DNA, which allows for the detection of different honey bee pathogens and parasites. In the present study, we extracted DNA from 20 honey samples from different regions in Bulgaria and tested for the presence of DNA of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, as well as Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Only Nosema ceranae was detected, showing up in 30% of all samples, which confirms the widespread prevalence of this pathogen. All positive samples were found in plain regions of the country, while this pathogen was not detected in mountainous parts. None of the samples gave positive amplifications for the Nosema apis and Varroa mite. The obtained results from this study confirm previous observations that eDNA contained in honey is a potent source for effective biomonitoring of actual diseases in the honey bee.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delka Salkova
- Department of Experimental Parasitology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Rositsa Shumkova
- Research Centre of Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria;
| | - Ralitsa Balkanska
- Department “Special Branches”, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Academy, 2230 Kostinbrod, Bulgaria;
| | - Nadezhda Palova
- Scientific Center of Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, 8300 Sredets, Bulgaria;
| | - Boyko Neov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (B.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Georgi Radoslavov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (B.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Peter Hristov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (B.N.); (G.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +359-2-979-2327
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Reproductive patterns of solitary cavity-nesting bees responsive to both local and landscape factors. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01116-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
17
|
Gippet JM, Colin T, Grangier J, Winkler F, Haond M, Dumet A, Tragust S, Mondy N, Kaufmann B. Land-cover and climate factors contribute to the prevalence of the ectoparasitic fungus Laboulbenia formicarum in its invasive ant host Lasius neglectus. FUNGAL ECOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2021.101045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
18
|
Proesmans W, Albrecht M, Gajda A, Neumann P, Paxton RJ, Pioz M, Polzin C, Schweiger O, Settele J, Szentgyörgyi H, Thulke HH, Vanbergen AJ. Pathways for Novel Epidemiology: Plant-Pollinator-Pathogen Networks and Global Change. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:623-636. [PMID: 33865639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multiple global change pressures, and their interplay, cause plant-pollinator extinctions and modify species assemblages and interactions. This may alter the risks of pathogen host shifts, intra- or interspecific pathogen spread, and emergence of novel population or community epidemics. Flowers are hubs for pathogen transmission. Consequently, the structure of plant-pollinator interaction networks may be pivotal in pathogen host shifts and modulating disease dynamics. Traits of plants, pollinators, and pathogens may also govern the interspecific spread of pathogens. Pathogen spillover-spillback between managed and wild pollinators risks driving the evolution of virulence and community epidemics. Understanding this interplay between host-pathogen dynamics and global change will be crucial to predicting impacts on pollinators and pollination underpinning ecosystems and human wellbeing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Willem Proesmans
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France.
| | | | - Anna Gajda
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Maryline Pioz
- Abeilles et Environnement, INRAE, 84140 Avignon, France
| | - Christine Polzin
- Department of Environmental Politics, UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Josef Settele
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; iDiv, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines, 4031 Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Hajnalka Szentgyörgyi
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Hans-Hermann Thulke
- Department of Ecological Modelling, UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04138 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Adam J Vanbergen
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Krichilsky E, Centrella M, Eitzer B, Danforth B, Poveda K, Grab H. Landscape Composition and Fungicide Exposure Influence Host-Pathogen Dynamics in a Solitary Bee. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:107-116. [PMID: 33247307 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Both ecosystem function and agricultural productivity depend on services provided by bees; these services are at risk from bee declines which have been linked to land use change, pesticide exposure, and pathogens. Although these stressors often co-occur in agroecosystems, a majority of pollinator health studies have focused on these factors in isolation, therefore limiting our ability to make informed policy and management decisions. Here, we investigate the combined impact of altered landscape composition and fungicide exposure on the prevalence of chalkbrood disease, caused by fungi in the genus Ascosphaera Olive and Spiltoir 1955 (Ascosphaeraceae: Onygenales), in the introduced solitary bee, Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski 1887) (Megachilidae: Hymenoptera). We used both field studies and laboratory assays to evaluate the potential for interactions between altered landscape composition, fungicide exposure, and Ascosphaera on O. cornifrons mortality. Chalkbrood incidence in larval O. cornifrons decreased with high open natural habitat cover, whereas Ascosphaera prevalence in adults decreased with high urban habitat cover. Conversely, high fungicide concentration and high forest cover increased chalkbrood incidence in larval O. cornifrons and decreased Ascosphaera incidence in adults. Our laboratory assay revealed an additive effect of fungicides and fungal pathogen exposure on the mortality of a common solitary bee. Additionally, we utilized phylogenetic methods and identified four species of Ascosphaera with O. cornifrons, both confirming previous reports and shedding light on new associates. Our findings highlight the impact of fungicides on bee health and underscore the importance of studying interactions among factors associated with bee decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary Centrella
- Pesticide Management Education Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Brian Eitzer
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Johnson-Horsfall Laboratory, New Haven, CT
| | - Bryan Danforth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Heather Grab
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hinshaw C, Evans KC, Rosa C, López-Uribe MM. The Role of Pathogen Dynamics and Immune Gene Expression in the Survival of Feral Honey Bees. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.594263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of the ecoimmunology of feral organisms can provide valuable insight into how host–pathogen dynamics change as organisms transition from human-managed conditions back into the wild. Honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) offer an ideal system to investigate these questions as colonies of these social insects often escape management and establish in the wild. While managed honey bee colonies have low probability of survival in the absence of disease treatments, feral colonies commonly survive in the wild, where pathogen pressures are expected to be higher due to the absence of disease treatments. Here, we investigate the role of pathogen infections [Deformed wing virus (DWV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), and Nosema ceranae] and immune gene expression (defensin-1, hymenoptaecin, pgrp-lc, pgrp-s2, argonaute-2, vago) in the survival of feral and managed honey bee colonies. We surveyed a total of 25 pairs of feral and managed colonies over a 2-year period (2017–2018), recorded overwintering survival, and measured pathogen levels and immune gene expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our results showed that feral colonies had higher levels of DWV but it was variable over time compared to managed colonies. Higher pathogen levels were associated with increased immune gene expression, with feral colonies showing higher expression in five out of the six examined immune genes for at least one sampling period. Further analysis revealed that differential expression of the genes hymenoptaecin and vago increased the odds of overwintering survival in managed and feral colonies. Our results revealed that feral colonies express immune genes at higher levels in response to high pathogen burdens, providing evidence for the role of feralization in altering pathogen landscapes and host immune responses.
Collapse
|
21
|
Tüzün N, Stoks R. Lower bioenergetic costs but similar immune responsiveness under a heat wave in urban compared to rural damselflies. Evol Appl 2021; 14:24-35. [PMID: 33519954 PMCID: PMC7819556 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is mounting evidence that the widespread phenotypic changes in response to urbanization may reflect adaptations caused by rapid evolutionary processes driven by urban-related stressors. Compared to increased habitat fragmentation and pollution, adaptations towards another typical urban-related stressor, that is higher and longer lasting very high temperatures (heat waves), are much less studied. Notably, the sensitivities to heat waves of life-history traits and important fitness-related physiological traits such as immune responsiveness and bioenergetic variables (energy availability, energy consumption and their balance) have never been contrasted between urban and rural populations. By conducting a laboratory common-garden experiment, we compared effects of a simulated heat wave on life history (survival and growth rate), immune responsiveness and bioenergetic variables between three urban and three rural populations of the damselfly Coenagrion puella. Because energy-mediated trade-off patterns may only be detected under energetically costly manipulations, all larvae were immune-challenged by simulating ectoparasitism by water mites. As expected, the simulated heat wave caused negative effects on nearly all response variables. The immune responsiveness, on the other hand, increased under the heat wave, consistent with a trade-off pattern between immune function and growth, and this similarly between urban and rural populations. A key finding was that urban larvae suffered less from the simulated heat wave compared to the rural larvae in terms of a lower heat wave-induced depletion in energy availability. This suggests an adaptation of urban populations to better cope with the stronger and more frequent heat waves in cities. Notably, this urbanization-driven evolution in the bioenergetic variables was not apparent in the absence of a heat wave. Given that changes in energy budgets have strong fitness consequences, our findings suggest that the evolved higher ability to cope with heat waves is fundamental for the survival of urban damselfly populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nedim Tüzün
- Evolutionary Stress Ecology and EcotoxicologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Robby Stoks
- Evolutionary Stress Ecology and EcotoxicologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Galindo-Cardona A, Scannapieco AC, Russo R, Escalante K, Geria M, Lepori N, Ayup MM, Muntaabski I, Liendo MC, Landi L, Giray T, Monmany-Garzia AC. Varroa destructor Parasitism and Genetic Variability at Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Drone Congregation Areas and Their Associations With Environmental Variables in Argentina. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.590345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
23
|
Olgun T, Everhart SE, Anderson T, Wu-Smart J. Comparative analysis of viruses in four bee species collected from agricultural, urban, and natural landscapes. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234431. [PMID: 32530936 PMCID: PMC7292363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Managed honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and wild bees provide critical ecological services that shape and sustain natural, agricultural, and urban landscapes. In recent years, declines in bee populations have highlighted the importance of the pollination services they provide and the need for more research into the reasons for global bee losses. Several stressors cause declining populations of managed and wild bee species such as habitat degradation, pesticide exposure, and pathogens. Viruses, which have been implicated as a key stressor, are able to infect a wide range of species and can be transmitted both intra- and inter-specifically from infected bee species to uninfected bee species via vertical (from parent to offspring) and/or horizontal (between individuals via direct or indirect contact) transmission. To explore how viruses spread both intra- and inter-specifically within a community, we examined the impact of management, landscape type, and bee species on the transmission of four common viruses in Nebraska: Deformed wing virus (DWV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), and Sacbrood virus (SBV). Results indicated the prevalence of viruses is significantly affected (P < 0.005) by bee species, virus type, and season, but not by landscape or year (P = 0.290 and 0.065 respectively). The higher prevalence of DWV detected across bee species (10.4% on Apis mellifera, 5.3% on Bombus impatiens, 6.1% on Bombus griseocollis, and 22.44% on Halictus ligatus) and seasons (10.8% in early-mid summer and 11.4% in late summer) may indicate a higher risk of interspecific transmission of DWV. However, IAPV was predominately detected in Halictus ligatus (20.7%) and in late season collections (28.1%), which may suggest species-specific susceptibility and seasonal trends in infection rates associated with different virus types. However, there were limited detections of SBV and BQCV in bees collected during both sampling periods, indicating SBV and BQCV may be less prevalent among bee communities in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tugce Olgun
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Sydney E. Everhart
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Troy Anderson
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Judy Wu-Smart
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Honey bee virus causes context-dependent changes in host social behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:10406-10413. [PMID: 32341145 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002268117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic changes create evolutionarily novel environments that present opportunities for emerging diseases, potentially changing the balance between host and pathogen. Honey bees provide essential pollination services, but intensification and globalization of honey bee management has coincided with increased pathogen pressure, primarily due to a parasitic mite/virus complex. Here, we investigated how honey bee individual and group phenotypes are altered by a virus of concern, Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV). Using automated and manual behavioral monitoring of IAPV-inoculated individuals, we find evidence for pathogen manipulation of worker behavior by IAPV, and reveal that this effect depends on social context; that is, within versus between colony interactions. Experimental inoculation reduced social contacts between honey bee colony members, suggesting an adaptive host social immune response to diminish transmission. Parallel analyses with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-immunostimulated bees revealed these behaviors are part of a generalized social immune defensive response. Conversely, inoculated bees presented to groups of bees from other colonies experienced reduced aggression compared with dsRNA-immunostimulated bees, facilitating entry into susceptible colonies. This reduction was associated with a shift in cuticular hydrocarbons, the chemical signatures used by bees to discriminate colony members from intruders. These responses were specific to IAPV infection, suggestive of pathogen manipulation of the host. Emerging bee pathogens may thus shape host phenotypes to increase transmission, a strategy especially well-suited to the unnaturally high colony densities of modern apiculture. These findings demonstrate how anthropogenic changes could affect arms races between human-managed hosts and their pathogens to potentially affect global food security.
Collapse
|
25
|
Taric E, Glavinic U, Vejnovic B, Stanojkovic A, Aleksic N, Dimitrijevic V, Stanimirovic Z. Oxidative Stress, Endoparasite Prevalence and Social Immunity in Bee Colonies Kept Traditionally vs. Those Kept for Commercial Purposes. INSECTS 2020; 11:E266. [PMID: 32349295 PMCID: PMC7290330 DOI: 10.3390/insects11050266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Commercially and traditionally managed bees were compared for oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and malondialdehyde (MDA)), the prevalence of parasites (Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae and Nosema ceranae/apis) and social immunity (glucose oxidase gene expression). The research was conducted on Pester plateau (Serbia-the Balkan Peninsula), on seemingly healthy colonies. Significant differences in CAT, GST and SOD activities (p < 0.01), and MDA concentrations (p < 0.002) were detected between commercial and traditional colonies. In the former, the prevalence of both L. passim and N. ceranae was significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) higher. For the first time, L. passim was detected in honey bee brood. In commercial colonies, the prevalence of L. passim was significantly (p < 0.01) lower in brood than in adult bees, whilst in traditionally kept colonies the prevalence in adult bees and brood did not differ significantly. In commercially kept colonies, the GOX gene expression level was significantly (p < 0.01) higher, which probably results from their increased need to strengthen their social immunity. Commercially kept colonies were under higher oxidative stress, had higher parasite burdens and higher GOX gene transcript levels. It may be assumed that anthropogenic influence contributed to these differences, but further investigations are necessary to confirm that.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elmin Taric
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.T.); (Z.S.)
| | - Uros Glavinic
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.T.); (Z.S.)
| | - Branislav Vejnovic
- Department of Economics and Statistics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Aleksandar Stanojkovic
- Department of Animal Source Foods Science and Technology, Institute for Animal Husbandry, Autoput 16, 11080 Belgrade–Zemun, Serbia;
| | - Nevenka Aleksic
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Vladimir Dimitrijevic
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Zoran Stanimirovic
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.T.); (Z.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Samuelson AE, Gill RJ, Leadbeater E. Urbanisation is associated with reduced Nosema sp. infection, higher colony strength and higher richness of foraged pollen in honeybees. APIDOLOGIE 2020; 51:746-762. [PMID: 33122866 PMCID: PMC7584562 DOI: 10.1007/s13592-020-00758-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Bees are vital pollinators, but are faced with numerous threats that include loss of floral resources and emerging parasites amongst others. Urbanisation is a rapidly expanding driver of land-use change that may interact with these two major threats to bees. Here we investigated effects of urbanisation on food store quality and colony health in honeybees (Apis mellifera) by sampling 51 hives in four different land-use categories: urban, suburban, rural open and rural wooded during two seasons (spring and autumn). We found positive effects of urban land use on colony strength and richness of stored pollen morphotypes, alongside lower late-season Nosema sp. infection in urban and suburban colonies. Our results reveal that honeybees exhibit lower colony performance in strength in rural areas, adding to the growing evidence that modern agricultural landscapes can constitute poor habitat for insect pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ash E. Samuelson
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Richard J. Gill
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, UK
| | - Ellouise Leadbeater
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Feldhaar H, Otti O. Pollutants and Their Interaction with Diseases of Social Hymenoptera. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11030153. [PMID: 32121502 PMCID: PMC7142568 DOI: 10.3390/insects11030153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Many insect species, including social insects, are currently declining in abundance and diversity. Pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, or airborne fine particulate matter from agricultural and industrial sources are among the factors driving this decline. While these pollutants can have direct detrimental effects, they can also result in negative interactive effects when social insects are simultaneously exposed to multiple stressors. For example, sublethal effects of pollutants can increase the disease susceptibility of social insects, and thereby jeopardize their survival. Here we review how pesticides, heavy metals, or airborne fine particulate matter interact with social insect physiology and especially the insects’ immune system. We then give an overview of the current knowledge of the interactive effects of these pollutants with pathogens or parasites. While the effects of pesticide exposure on social insects and their interactions with pathogens have been relatively well studied, the effects of other pollutants, such as heavy metals in soil or fine particulate matter from combustion, vehicular transport, agriculture, and coal mining are still largely unknown. We therefore provide an overview of urgently needed knowledge in order to mitigate the decline of social insects.
Collapse
|
28
|
Chmiel JA, Daisley BA, Pitek AP, Thompson GJ, Reid G. Understanding the Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees: A Role for Probiotics as Mediators of Environmental Stress. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
|
29
|
Negri P, Villalobos E, Szawarski N, Damiani N, Gende L, Garrido M, Maggi M, Quintana S, Lamattina L, Eguaras M. Towards Precision Nutrition: A Novel Concept Linking Phytochemicals, Immune Response and Honey Bee Health. INSECTS 2019; 10:E401. [PMID: 31726686 PMCID: PMC6920938 DOI: 10.3390/insects10110401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The high annual losses of managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) has attracted intensive attention, and scientists have dedicated much effort trying to identify the stresses affecting bees. There are, however, no simple answers; rather, research suggests multifactorial effects. Several works have been reported highlighting the relationship between bees' immunosuppression and the effects of malnutrition, parasites, pathogens, agrochemical and beekeeping pesticides exposure, forage dearth and cold stress. Here we analyze a possible connection between immunity-related signaling pathways that could be involved in the response to the stress resulted from Varroa-virus association and cold stress during winter. The analysis was made understanding the honey bee as a superorganism, where individuals are integrated and interacting within the colony, going from social to individual immune responses. We propose the term "Precision Nutrition" as a way to think and study bees' nutrition in the search for key molecules which would be able to strengthen colonies' responses to any or all of those stresses combined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Negri
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| | - Ethel Villalobos
- Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3050 Maile Way, 310 Gilmore Hall, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA;
| | - Nicolás Szawarski
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| | - Natalia Damiani
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| | - Liesel Gende
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| | - Melisa Garrido
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| | - Matías Maggi
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| | - Silvina Quintana
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| | - Lorenzo Lamattina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas (IIB-CONICET), UNMdP, Dean Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina
| | - Martin Eguaras
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Deán Funes 3350, Mar del Plata CP 7600, Argentina; (N.S.); (N.D.); (L.G.); (M.G.); (M.M.); (S.Q.); (M.E.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Subotic S, Boddicker AM, Nguyen VM, Rivers J, Briles CE, Mosier AC. Honey bee microbiome associated with different hive and sample types over a honey production season. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223834. [PMID: 31703071 PMCID: PMC6839897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators in natural and agricultural ecosystems, and yet are in significant decline due to several factors including parasites, pathogens, pesticides, and habitat loss. A new beehive construction called the FlowTM hive was developed in 2015 to allow honey to be harvested directly from the hive without opening it, resulting in an apparent decrease in stress to the bees. Here, we compared the Flow and traditional Langstroth hive constructions to determine if there were any significant differences in the bee microbiome. The bee-associated bacterial communities did not differ between hive constructions and varied only slightly over the course of a honey production season. Samples were dominated by taxa belonging to the Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bartonella, Snodgrassella, Gilliamella, and Frischella genera, as observed in previous studies. The top ten most abundant taxa made up the majority of the sequence data; however, many low abundance organisms were persistent across the majority of samples regardless of sampling time or hive type. We additionally compared different preparations of whole bee and dissected bee samples to elaborate on previous bee microbiome research. We found that bacterial sequences were overwhelming derived from the bee guts, and microbes on the bee surfaces (including pollen) contributed little to the overall microbiome of whole bees. Overall, the results indicate that different hive constructions and associated disturbance levels do not influence the bee gut microbiome, which has broader implications for supporting hive health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sladjana Subotic
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Andrew M. Boddicker
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Vy M. Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - James Rivers
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christy E. Briles
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Annika C. Mosier
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
López-Uribe MM, Ricigliano VA, Simone-Finstrom M. Defining Pollinator Health: A Holistic Approach Based on Ecological, Genetic, and Physiological Factors. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2019; 8:269-294. [PMID: 31618045 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-020518-115045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Evidence for global bee population declines has catalyzed a rapidly evolving area of research that aims to identify the causal factors and to effectively assess the status of pollinator populations. The term pollinator health emerged through efforts to understand causes of bee decline and colony losses, but it lacks a formal definition. In this review, we propose a definition for pollinator health and synthesize the available literature on the application of standardized biomarkers to assess health at the individual, colony, and population levels. We focus on biomarkers in honey bees, a model species, but extrapolate the potential application of these approaches to monitor the health status of wild bee populations. Biomarker-guided health measures can inform beekeeper management decisions, wild bee conservation efforts, and environmental policies. We conclude by addressing challenges to pollinator health from a One Health perspective that emphasizes the interplay between environmental quality and human, animal, and bee health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita M López-Uribe
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA;
| | - Vincent A Ricigliano
- Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research, USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820, USA; ,
| | - Michael Simone-Finstrom
- Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research, USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820, USA; ,
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Belsky J, Joshi NK. Impact of Biotic and Abiotic Stressors on Managed and Feral Bees. INSECTS 2019; 10:E233. [PMID: 31374933 PMCID: PMC6723792 DOI: 10.3390/insects10080233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale declines in bee abundance and species richness over the last decade have sounded an alarm, given the crucial pollination services that bees provide. Population dips have specifically been noted for both managed and feral bee species. The simultaneous increased cultivation of bee-dependent agricultural crops has given rise to additional concern. As a result, there has been a surge in scientific research investigating the potential stressors impacting bees. A group of environmental and anthropogenic stressors negatively impacting bees has been isolated. Habitat destruction has diminished the availability of bee floral resources and nest habitats, while massive monoculture plantings have limited bee access to a variety of pollens and nectars. The rapid spread and increased resistance buildup of various bee parasites, pathogens, and pests to current control methods are implicated in deteriorating bee health. Similarly, many pesticides that are widely applied on agricultural crops and within beehives are toxic to bees. The global distribution of honey bee colonies (including queens with attendant bees) and bumble bee colonies from crop to crop for pollination events has been linked with increased pathogen stress and increased competition with native bee species for limited resources. Climatic alterations have disrupted synchronous bee emergence with flower blooming and reduced the availability of diverse floral resources, leading to bee physiological adaptations. Interactions amongst multiple stressors have created colossal maladies hitting bees at one time, and in some cases delivering additive impacts. Initiatives including the development of wild flower plantings and assessment of pesticide toxicity to bees have been undertaken in efforts to ameliorate current bee declines. In this review, recent findings regarding the impact of these stressors on bees and strategies for mitigating them are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Belsky
- Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, 319 Agricultural Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Neelendra K Joshi
- Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, 319 Agricultural Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Beasley DE, Fitzgerald JL, Fowler A, Keleher K, López-Uribe MM, Dunn RR. Do Bee Wings Adapt for Flight in Urban Environments? SOUTHEAST NAT 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/058.018.0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- DeAnna E. Beasley
- Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN 37403
| | | | - Alison Fowler
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| | - Kirsten Keleher
- 3North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, NC
| | - Margarita M. López-Uribe
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Penn State University, State College, PA 16802
| | - Robert R. Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Odemer R, Odemer F. Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMF) on honey bee queen development and mating success. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 661:553-562. [PMID: 30682608 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mobile phones can be found almost everywhere across the globe, upholding a direct point-to-point connection between the device and the broadcast tower. The emission of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) puts the surrounding environment inevitably into contact with this radiation. We have therefore exposed honey bee queen larvae to the radiation of a common mobile phone device (GSM band at 900 MHz) during all stages of their pre-adult development including pupation. After 14 days of exposure, hatching of adult queens was assessed and mating success after further 11 days, respectively. Moreover, full colonies were established of five of the untreated and four of the treated queens to contrast population dynamics. We found that mobile phone radiation had significantly reduced the hatching ratio but not the mating success. If treated queens had successfully mated, colony development was not adversely affected. We provide evidence that mobile phone radiation may alter pupal development, once succeeded this point, no further impairment has manifested in adulthood. Our results are discussed against the background of long-lasting consequences for colony performance and the possible implication on periodic colony losses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Odemer
- University of Hohenheim, Apicultural State Institute, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Franziska Odemer
- University of Hohenheim, Apicultural State Institute, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kuchling S, Kopacka I, Kalcher-Sommersguter E, Schwarz M, Crailsheim K, Brodschneider R. Investigating the role of landscape composition on honey bee colony winter mortality: A long-term analysis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12263. [PMID: 30116056 PMCID: PMC6095838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30891-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The health of honey bee colonies is, amongst others, affected by the amount, quality and diversity of available melliferous plants. Since landscape is highly diverse throughout Austria regarding the availability of nutritional resources, we used data from annual surveys on honey bee colony losses ranging over six years to analyse a possible relationship with land use. The data set comprises reports from a total of 6,655 beekeepers and 129,428 wintered honey bee colonies. Regions surrounding the beekeeping operations were assigned to one of six clusters according to their composition of land use categories by use of a hierarchical cluster analysis, allowing a rough distinction between urban regions, regions predominated by semi-natural areas and pastures, and mainly agricultural environments. We ran a Generalised Linear Mixed Model and found winter colony mortality significantly affected by operation size, year, and cluster membership, but also by the interaction of year and cluster membership. Honey bee colonies in regions composed predominantly of semi-natural areas, coniferous forests and pastures had the lowest loss probability in four out of six years, and loss probabilities within these regions were significantly lower in five out of six years compared to those within regions composed predominantly of artificial surfaces, broad-leaved and coniferous forest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Kuchling
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) GmbH, Data, Statistics and Integrative Risk Assessment, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Ian Kopacka
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) GmbH, Data, Statistics and Integrative Risk Assessment, Graz, 8010, Austria.
| | | | - Michael Schwarz
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) GmbH, Data, Statistics and Integrative Risk Assessment, Vienna, 1210, Austria
| | - Karl Crailsheim
- University of Graz, Institute of Biology, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lahr EC, Dunn RR, Frank SD. Getting ahead of the curve: cities as surrogates for global change. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180643. [PMID: 30051830 PMCID: PMC6053926 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization represents an unintentional global experiment that can provide insights into how species will respond and interact under future global change scenarios. Cities produce many conditions that are predicted to occur widely in the future, such as warmer temperatures, higher carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and exacerbated droughts. In using cities as surrogates for global change, it is challenging to disentangle climate variables-such as temperature-from co-occurring or confounding urban variables-such as impervious surface-and then to understand the interactive effects of multiple climate variables on both individual species and species interactions. However, such interactions are also difficult to replicate experimentally, and thus the challenges of cities are also their unique advantage. Here, we review insights gained from cities, with a focus on plants and arthropods, and how urban findings agree or disagree with experimental predictions and historical data. We discuss the types of hypotheses that can be best tested in cities, caveats to urban research and how to further validate cities as surrogates for global change. Lastly, we summarize how to achieve the goal of using urban species responses to predict broader regional- and ecosystem-level patterns in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor C Lahr
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Robert R Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Steven D Frank
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
McArt SH, Urbanowicz C, McCoshum S, Irwin RE, Adler LS. Landscape predictors of pathogen prevalence and range contractions in US bumblebees. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.2181. [PMID: 29142119 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Several species of bumblebees have recently experienced range contractions and possible extinctions. While threats to bees are numerous, few analyses have attempted to understand the relative importance of multiple stressors. Such analyses are critical for prioritizing conservation strategies. Here, we describe a landscape analysis of factors predicted to cause bumblebee declines in the USA. We quantified 24 habitat, land-use and pesticide usage variables across 284 sampling locations, assessing which variables predicted pathogen prevalence and range contractions via machine learning model selection techniques. We found that greater usage of the fungicide chlorothalonil was the best predictor of pathogen (Nosema bombi) prevalence in four declining species of bumblebees. Nosema bombi has previously been found in greater prevalence in some declining US bumblebee species compared to stable species. Greater usage of total fungicides was the strongest predictor of range contractions in declining species, with bumblebees in the northern USA experiencing greater likelihood of loss from previously occupied areas. These results extend several recent laboratory and semi-field studies that have found surprising links between fungicide exposure and bee health. Specifically, our data suggest landscape-scale connections between fungicide usage, pathogen prevalence and declines of threatened and endangered bumblebees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | | | - Rebecca E Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Samuelson AE, Leadbeater E. A land classification protocol for pollinator ecology research: An urbanization case study. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5598-5610. [PMID: 29938077 PMCID: PMC6010921 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Land-use change is one of the most important drivers of widespread declines in pollinator populations. Comprehensive quantitative methods for land classification are critical to understanding these effects, but co-option of existing human-focussed land classifications is often inappropriate for pollinator research. Here, we present a flexible GIS-based land classification protocol for pollinator research using a bottom-up approach driven by reference to pollinator ecology, with urbanization as a case study. Our multistep method involves manually generating land cover maps at multiple biologically relevant radii surrounding study sites using GIS, with a focus on identifying land cover types that have a specific relevance to pollinators. This is followed by a three-step refinement process using statistical tools: (i) definition of land-use categories, (ii) principal components analysis on the categories, and (iii) cluster analysis to generate a categorical land-use variable for use in subsequent analysis. Model selection is then used to determine the appropriate spatial scale for analysis. We demonstrate an application of our protocol using a case study of 38 sites across a gradient of urbanization in South-East England. In our case study, the land classification generated a categorical land-use variable at each of four radii based on the clustering of sites with different degrees of urbanization, open land, and flower-rich habitat. Studies of land-use effects on pollinators have historically employed a wide array of land classification techniques from descriptive and qualitative to complex and quantitative. We suggest that land-use studies in pollinator ecology should broadly adopt GIS-based multistep land classification techniques to enable robust analysis and aid comparative research. Our protocol offers a customizable approach that combines specific relevance to pollinator research with the potential for application to a wide range of ecological questions, including agroecological studies of pest control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ash E. Samuelson
- School of Biological SciencesRoyal Holloway University of LondonEghamUK
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Kohl PL, Rutschmann B. The neglected bee trees: European beech forests as a home for feral honey bee colonies. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4602. [PMID: 29637025 PMCID: PMC5890725 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is a common belief that feral honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) were eradicated in Europe through the loss of habitats, domestication by man and spread of pathogens and parasites. Interestingly, no scientific data are available, neither about the past nor the present status of naturally nesting honeybee colonies. We expected near-natural beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests to provide enough suitable nest sites to be a home for feral honey bee colonies in Europe. Here, we made a first assessment of their occurrence and density in two German woodland areas based on two methods, the tracing of nest sites based on forager flight routes (beelining technique), and the direct inspection of potential cavity trees. Further, we established experimental swarms at forest edges and decoded dances for nest sites performed by scout bees in order to study how far swarms from beekeeper-managed hives would potentially move into a forest. We found that feral honey bee colonies regularly inhabit tree cavities in near-natural beech forests at densities of at least 0.11-0.14 colonies/km2. Colonies were not confined to the forest edges; they were also living deep inside the forests. We estimated a median distance of 2,600 m from the bee trees to the next apiaries, while scout bees in experimental swarms communicated nest sites in close distances (median: 470 m). We extrapolate that there are several thousand feral honey bee colonies in German woodlands. These have to be taken in account when assessing the role of forest areas in providing pollination services to the surrounding land, and their occurrence has implications for the species' perception among researchers, beekeepers and conservationists. This study provides a starting point for investigating the life-histories and the ecological interactions of honey bees in temperate European forest environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Laurenz Kohl
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Rutschmann
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- HOBOS, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Colla SR, MacIvor JS. Questioning public perception, conservation policy, and recovery actions for honeybees in North America. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2017; 31:1202-1204. [PMID: 27624856 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheila R Colla
- Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - J Scott MacIvor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
McCluney KE, Burdine JD, Frank SD. Variation in arthropod hydration across US cities with distinct climate. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/jux003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin E. McCluney
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Campus Box 7613, 100 Derieux Place, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, 217 Life Science Building, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, USA
| | - Justin D. Burdine
- Department of Biological Sciences, 217 Life Science Building, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, USA
| | - Steven D. Frank
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Campus Box 7613, 100 Derieux Place, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Higher immunocompetence is associated with higher genetic diversity in feral honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera). CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0942-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
43
|
Sponsler DB, Matcham EG, Lin CH, Lanterman JL, Johnson RM. Spatial and taxonomic patterns of honey bee foraging: A choice test between urban and agricultural landscapes. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juw008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
|
44
|
Sepsis and Hemocyte Loss in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Infected with Serratia marcescens Strain Sicaria. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167752. [PMID: 28002470 PMCID: PMC5176276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Global loss of honey bee colonies is threatening the human food supply. Diverse pathogens reduce honey bee hardiness needed to sustain colonies, especially in winter. We isolated a free-living Gram negative bacillus from hemolymph of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera) found separated from winter clusters. In some hives, greater than 90% of the dying bees detached from the winter cluster were found to contain this bacterium in their hemolymph. Throughout the year, the same organism was rarely found in bees engaged in normal hive activities, but was detected in about half of Varroa destructor mites obtained from colonies that housed the septic bees. Flow cytometry of hemolymph from septic bees showed a significant reduction of plasmatocytes and other types of hemocytes. Interpretation of the16S rRNA sequence of the bacterium indicated that it belongs to the Serratia genus of Gram-negative Gammaproteobacteria, which has not previously been implicated as a pathogen of adult honey bees. Complete genome sequence analysis of the bacterium supported its classification as a novel strain of Serratia marcescens, which was designated as S. marcescens strain sicaria (Ss1). When compared with other strains of S. marcescens, Ss1 demonstrated several phenotypic and genetic differences, including 65 genes not previously found in other Serratia genomes. Some of the unique genes we identified in Ss1 were related to those from bacterial insect pathogens and commensals. Recovery of this organism extends a complex pathosphere of agents which may contribute to failure of honey bee colonies.
Collapse
|
45
|
McMenamin AJ, Brutscher LM, Glenny W, Flenniken ML. Abiotic and biotic factors affecting the replication and pathogenicity of bee viruses. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 16:14-21. [PMID: 27720045 PMCID: PMC5113721 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Bees are important pollinators of plants in both agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes. Recent losses of both managed and wild bee species have negative impacts on crop production and ecosystem diversity. Therefore, in order to mitigate bee losses, it is important to identify the factors most responsible. Multiple factors including pathogens, agrochemical exposure, lack of quality forage, and reduced habitat affect bee health. Pathogen prevalence is one factor that has been associated with colony losses. Numerous pathogens infect bees including fungi, protists, bacteria, and viruses, the majority of which are RNA viruses including several that infect multiple bee species. RNA viruses readily infect bees, yet there is limited understanding of their impacts on bee health, particularly in the context of other stressors. Herein we review the influence environmental factors have on the replication and pathogenicity of bee viruses and identify research areas that require further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J McMenamin
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Laura M Brutscher
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - William Glenny
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA; Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Michelle L Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA; Institute on Ecosystems, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Penick CA, Crofton CA, Holden Appler R, Frank SD, Dunn RR, Tarpy DR. The contribution of human foods to honey bee diets in a mid-sized metropolis. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juw001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
|
47
|
Appler RH, Frank SD, Tarpy DR. Within-Colony Variation in the Immunocompetency of Managed and Feral Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) in Different Urban Landscapes. INSECTS 2015; 6:912-25. [PMID: 26529020 PMCID: PMC4693178 DOI: 10.3390/insects6040912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization has the potential to dramatically affect insect populations worldwide, although its effects on pollinator populations are just beginning to be understood. We compared the immunocompetency of honey bees sampled from feral (wild-living) and managed (beekeeper-owned) honey bee colonies. We sampled foragers from feral and managed colonies in rural, suburban, and urban landscapes in and around Raleigh, NC, USA. We then analyzed adult workers using two standard bioassays for insect immune function (encapsulation response and phenoloxidase activity). We found that there was far more variation within colonies for encapsulation response or phenoloxidase activity than among rural to urban landscapes, and we did not observe any significant difference in immune response between feral and managed bees. These findings suggest that social pollinators, like honey bees, may be sufficiently robust or variable in their immune responses to obscure any subtle effects of urbanization. Additional studies of immune physiology and disease ecology of social and solitary bees in urban, suburban, and natural ecosystems will provide insights into the relative effects of changing urban environments on several important factors that influence pollinator productivity and health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Holden Appler
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Steven D Frank
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - David R Tarpy
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| |
Collapse
|