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Salzberg AL, Grab H, Hale C, Poveda K. Herbivore and pollinator body size effects on strawberry fruit quality. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305370. [PMID: 38917100 PMCID: PMC11198852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Land use change affects both pollinator and herbivore populations with consequences for crop production. Recent evidence also shows that land use change affects insect traits, with intraspecific body size of pollinators changing across landscape gradients. However, the consequences on crop production of trait changes in different plant interactors have not been well-studied. We hypothesized that changes in body size of key species can be enough to affect crop productivity, and therefore looked at how the field-realistic variation in body size of both an important pollinator, Bombus impatiens (Cresson), and a key pest herbivore, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot), can affect fruit size and damage in strawberry. First, we determined if pests vary in body size along land use gradients as prior studies have documented for pollinators; and second, we tested under controlled conditions how the individual and combined changes in size of an important pollinator and a key herbivore pest affect strawberry fruit production. The key herbivore pest was smaller in landscapes with more natural and semi-natural habitat, confirming that herbivore functional traits can vary along a land use gradient. Additionally, herbivore size, and not pollinator size, marginally affected fruit production-with plants exposed to larger pests producing smaller fruits. Our findings suggest that land use changes at the landscape level affect crop production not just through changes in the species diversity of insect communities that interact with the plant, but also through changes in body size traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Leigh Salzberg
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Heather Grab
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Casey Hale
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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2
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Pille Arnold J, Tylianakis JM, Murphy MV, Cawthray GR, Webber BL, Didham RK. Body-size-dependent effects of landscape-level resource energetics on pollinator abundance in woodland remnants. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232771. [PMID: 38864334 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Land use change alters floral resource availability, thereby contributing to declines in important pollinators. However, the severity of land use impact varies by species, influenced by factors such as dispersal ability and resource specialization, both of which can correlate with body size. Here. we test whether floral resource availability in the surrounding landscape (the 'matrix') influences bee species' abundance in isolated remnant woodlands, and whether this effect varies with body size. We sampled quantitative flower-visitation networks within woodland remnants and quantified floral energy resources (nectar and pollen calories) available to each bee species both within the woodland and the matrix. Bee abundance in woodland increased with floral energy resources in the surrounding matrix, with strongest effects on larger-bodied species. Our findings suggest important but size-dependent effects of declining matrix floral resources on the persistence of bees in remnant woodlands, highlighting the need to incorporate landscape-level floral resources in conservation planning for pollinators in threatened natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Pille Arnold
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
| | - Jason M Tylianakis
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Mark V Murphy
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Gregory R Cawthray
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Bruce L Webber
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
| | - Raphael K Didham
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
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3
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Fowler AE, McFrederick QS, Adler LS. Pollen Diet Diversity does not Affect Gut Bacterial Communities or Melanization in a Social and Solitary Bee Species. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:25. [PMID: 38165515 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02323-6] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Pollinators face many stressors, including reduced floral diversity. A low-diversity diet can impair organisms' ability to cope with additional stressors, such as pathogens, by altering the gut microbiome and/or immune function, but these effects are understudied for most pollinators. We investigated the impact of pollen diet diversity on two ecologically and economically important generalist pollinators, the social bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) and the solitary alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata). We experimentally tested the effect of one-, two-, or three-species pollen diets on gut bacterial communities in both species, and the melanization immune response in B. impatiens. Pollen diets included dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), and hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) alone, each pair-wise combination, or a mix of all three species. We fed bees their diet for 7 days and then dissected out guts and sequenced 16S rRNA gene amplicons to characterize gut bacterial communities. To assess melanization in B. impatiens, we inserted microfilament implants into the bee abdomen and measured melanin deposition on the implant. We found that pollen diet did not influence gut bacterial communities in M. rotundata. In B. impatiens, pollen diet composition, but not diversity, affected gut bacterial richness in older, but not newly-emerged bees. Pollen diet did not affect the melanization response in B. impatiens. Our results suggest that even a monofloral, low-quality pollen diet such as dandelion can support diverse gut bacterial communities in captive-reared adults of these bee species. These findings shed light on the effects of reduced diet diversity on bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison E Fowler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20008, USA.
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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4
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Leroy C, Brunet JL, Henry M, Alaux C. Using physiology to better support wild bee conservation. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac076. [PMID: 36632323 PMCID: PMC9825782 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence that wild bees are experiencing a decline in terms of species diversity, abundance or distribution, which leads to major concerns about the sustainability of both pollination services and intrinsic biodiversity. There is therefore an urgent need to better understand the drivers of their decline, as well as design conservation strategies. In this context, the current approach consists of linking observed occurrence and distribution data of species to environmental features. While useful, a highly complementary approach would be the use of new biological metrics that can link individual bee responses to environmental alteration with population-level responses, which could communicate the actual bee sensitivity to environmental changes and act as early warning signals of bee population decline or sustainability. We discuss here through several examples how the measurement of bee physiological traits or performance can play this role not only in better assessing the impact of anthropogenic pressures on bees, but also in guiding conservation practices with the help of the documentation of species' physiological needs. Last but not least, because physiological changes generally occur well in advance of demographic changes, we argue that physiological traits can help in predicting and anticipating future population trends, which would represent a more proactive approach to conservation. In conclusion, we believe that future efforts to combine physiological, ecological and population-level knowledge will provide meaningful contributions to wild bee conservation-based research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Luc Brunet
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
| | - Mickael Henry
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
| | - Cedric Alaux
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
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5
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Garlin J, Theodorou P, Kathe E, Quezada-Euán JJG, Paxton RJ, Soro A. Anthropogenic effects on the body size of two neotropical orchid bees. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:94. [PMID: 35918637 PMCID: PMC9347145 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02048-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
To accommodate an ever-increasing human population, agriculture is rapidly intensifying at the expense of natural habitat, with negative and widely reported effects on biodiversity in general and on wild bee abundance and diversity in particular. Cities are similarly increasing in area, though the impact of urbanisation on wild bees is more equivocal and potentially positive in northern temperate regions. Yet agriculture and urbanisation both lead to the loss and alteration of natural habitat, its fragmentation, a potential reduction in floral availability, and warmer temperatures, factors thought to be drivers of wild bee decline. They have also been shown to be factors to which wild bee populations respond through morphological change. Body size is one such trait that, because of its relation to individual fitness, has received growing attention as a morphological feature that responds to human induced modification in land use. Here, we investigated the change in body size of two sympatric orchid bee species on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in response to urbanization and agricultural intensification. By measuring 540 male individuals sampled from overall 24 sites, we found that Euglossa dilemma and Euglossa viridissima were on average smaller in urban and agricultural habitats than in natural ones. We discuss the potential role of reduced availability of resources in driving the observed body size shifts. Agricultural and urban land management in tropical regions might benefit wild bees if it encompassed the planting of flowering herbs and trees to enhance their conservation.
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6
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Chole H, de Guinea M, Woodard SH, Bloch G. Field-realistic concentrations of a neonicotinoid insecticide influence socially regulated brood development in a bumblebee. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220253. [PMID: 36382527 PMCID: PMC9667354 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The systemic neonicotinoid insecticides are considered as one of the key culprits contributing to ongoing declines in pollinator health and abundance. Bumblebees are among the most important pollinators of temperate zone plants, making their susceptibility to neonicotinoid exposure of great concern. We report that bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) colonies exposed to field-realistic concentrations of the commonly used neonicotinoid Imidacloprid grew slower, consumed less food, and produced fewer workers, males and gynes, but unexpectedly produced larger workers compared to control colonies. Behavioural observations show that queens in pesticide-treated colonies spend more time inactive and less time caring for the brood. We suggest that the observed effects on brood body size are driven by a decreased queen ability to manipulate the larva developmental programme. These findings reveal an intricate and previously unknown effect of insecticides on the social interactions controlling brood development in social insect colonies. Insecticide influences on the social mechanisms regulating larval development are potentially detrimental for bumblebees, in which body size strongly influences both caste differentiation and the division of labour among workers, two organization principles of insect societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Chole
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Miguel de Guinea
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - S. Hollis Woodard
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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7
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Jones J, Rader R. Pollinator nutrition and its role in merging the dual objectives of pollinator health and optimal crop production. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210170. [PMID: 35491607 PMCID: PMC9058521 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee and non-bee insect pollinators play an integral role in the quantity and quality of production for many food crops, yet there is growing evidence that nutritional challenges to pollinators in agricultural landscapes are an important factor in the reduction of pollinator populations worldwide. Schemes to enhance crop pollinator health have historically focused on floral resource plantings aimed at increasing pollinator abundance and diversity by providing more foraging opportunities for bees. These efforts have demonstrated that improvements in bee diversity and abundance are achievable; however, goals of increasing crop pollination outcomes via these interventions are not consistently met. To support pollinator health and crop pollination outcomes in tandem, habitat enhancements must be tailored to meet the life-history needs of specific crop pollinators, including non-bees. This will require greater understanding of the nutritional demands of these taxa together with the supply of floral and non-floral food resources and how these interact in cropping environments. Understanding the mechanisms underlying crop pollination and pollinator health in unison across a range of taxa is clearly a win–win for industry and conservation, yet achievement of these goals will require new knowledge and novel, targeted methods. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry to landscapes’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Jones
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Romina Rader
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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8
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Peters B, Keller A, Leonhardt SD. Diets maintained in a changing world: Does land‐use intensification alter wild bee communities by selecting for flexible generalists? Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8919. [PMID: 35600696 PMCID: PMC9108308 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Birte Peters
- Department for Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology University of Würzburg Biocenter Würzburg Germany
- Department of Bioinformatics University of Würzburg Biocenter Würzburg Germany
- Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Alexander Keller
- Cellular and Organismic Networks Faculty of Biology Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Sara Diana Leonhardt
- Department for Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology University of Würzburg Biocenter Würzburg Germany
- Department of Life Science Systems Technical University of Munich Freising Germany
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9
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McCabe LM, Boyle NK, Scalici MB, Pitts-Singer TL. Adult body size measurement redundancies in Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). PeerJ 2021; 9:e12344. [PMID: 34760367 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12344] [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: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Metrics to assess relative adult bee body size have included both mass and morphometrics, but these metrics may not equally or reliably estimate body size for all bee species and in all situations, due to bee age, diet, and/or environment. Understanding the relationships between different metrics and possible redundancies in the information they afford is important but not always known. Body size measurements provide valuable data for interpreting research outcomes for managed solitary bees, including Osmia lignaria Say and Megachile rotundata F. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Applied studies of these important and readily available U.S. crop pollinators focus on refining commercial management practices, and basic empirical studies in various scientific disciplines (from genomics to ecology) employ them as model systems to study solitary bees. To examine common metrics of body size, we measured head capsule width (HCW), intertegular distance (ITD), and fresh and dry weights of newly emerged adults of both species. Using linear and exponential models, we determined relationships between these body size metrics. For M. rotundata, linear models best described relationships between ITD and all other metrics, and between HCW and fresh and dry weights. For O. lignaria, linear models best fit relationships between all metrics except for fresh weight with both ITD and HCW, which were fitted better with exponential models. For both species, model fits were strongest when males and females were pooled. Depending on the study question, knowing that only one metric may reliably measure body size can simplify evaluations of O. lignaria and M. rotundata responses to artificial or environmental variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsie M McCabe
- USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect Research Unit, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Natalie K Boyle
- USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect Research Unit, Logan, UT, United States.,Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Morgan B Scalici
- Biology Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
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10
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Kenna D, Pawar S, Gill RJ. Thermal flight performance reveals impact of warming on bumblebee foraging potential. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kenna
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College LondonSilwood Park Campus Ascot UK
| | - Samraat Pawar
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College LondonSilwood Park Campus Ascot UK
| | - Richard J. Gill
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College LondonSilwood Park Campus Ascot UK
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11
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Grula CC, Rinehart JP, Greenlee KJ, Bowsher JH. Body size allometry impacts flight-related morphology and metabolic rates in the solitary bee Megachile rotundata. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 133:104275. [PMID: 34217739 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Body size is related to many aspects of life history, including foraging distance and pollination efficiency. In solitary bees, manipulating the amount of larval diet produces intraspecific differences in adult body size. The goal of this study was to determine how body size impacts metabolic rates, allometry, and flight-related morphometrics in the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata. By restricting or providing excess food, we produced a range of body sizes, which allowed us to test the effect of body size on allometry, the power required for flight, and amount of energy produced, as measured indirectly through CO2 emission. The power required during flight was predicted using the flight biomechanical formulas for wing loading and excess power index. We found larger bees had higher absolute metabolic rates at rest and during flight, but smaller bees had higher mass-specific metabolic rates at rest. During flight, bees did not have size-related differences in mass-specific metabolic rate. As bees increase in size, their thorax and abdomens become disproportionately larger, while their wings (area, and length) become disproportionately smaller. Smaller bees had more power available during flight as demonstrated by flight biomechanical formulas. Smaller body size was advantageous because of a reduced power requirement for flight with no metabolic cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney C Grula
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, 1340 Bolley Drive 218 Stevens Hall, Fargo, ND 58102, United States.
| | - Joseph P Rinehart
- Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Edward T. Schafer Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Center, 1616 Albrecht Boulevard, Fargo, ND 58102, United States.
| | - Kendra J Greenlee
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, 1340 Bolley Drive 218 Stevens Hall, Fargo, ND 58102, United States.
| | - Julia H Bowsher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, 1340 Bolley Drive 218 Stevens Hall, Fargo, ND 58102, United States.
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12
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Ghisbain G, Gérard M, Wood TJ, Hines HM, Michez D. Expanding insect pollinators in the Anthropocene. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2755-2770. [PMID: 34288353 PMCID: PMC9292488 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Global changes are severely affecting pollinator insect communities worldwide, resulting in repeated patterns of species extirpations and extinctions. Whilst negative population trends within this functional group have understandably received much attention in recent decades, another facet of global changes has been overshadowed: species undergoing expansion. Here, we review the factors and traits that have allowed a fraction of the pollinating entomofauna to take advantage of global environmental change. Sufficient mobility, high resistance to acute heat stress, and inherent adaptation to warmer climates appear to be key traits that allow pollinators to persist and even expand in the face of climate change. An overall flexibility in dietary and nesting requirements is common in expanding species, although niche specialization can also drive expansion under specific contexts. The numerous consequences of wild and domesticated pollinator expansions, including competition for resources, pathogen spread, and hybridization with native wildlife, are also discussed. Overall, we show that the traits and factors involved in the success stories of expanding pollinators are mostly species specific and context dependent, rendering generalizations of 'winning traits' complicated. This work illustrates the increasing need to consider expansion and its numerous consequences as significant facets of global changes and encourages efforts to monitor the impacts of expanding insect pollinators, particularly exotic species, on natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Ghisbain
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Maxence Gérard
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium.,Department of Zoology, Division of Functional Morphology, INSECT Lab, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 18b, Stockholm, 11418, Sweden
| | - Thomas J Wood
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Heather M Hines
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A.,Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, Mons, 7000, Belgium
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13
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Figueroa LL, Compton S, Grab H, McArt SH. Functional traits linked to pathogen prevalence in wild bee communities. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7529. [PMID: 33824396 PMCID: PMC8024325 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports of pollinator declines have prompted efforts to understand contributing factors and protect vulnerable species. While pathogens can be widespread in bee communities, less is known about factors shaping pathogen prevalence among species. Functional traits are often used to predict susceptibility to stressors, including pathogens, in other species-rich communities. Here, we evaluated the relationship between bee functional traits (body size, phenology, nesting location, sociality, and foraging choice) and prevalence of trypanosomes, neogregarines, and the microsporidian Nosema ceranae in wild bee communities. For the most abundant bee species in our system, Bombus impatiens, we also evaluated the relationship between intra-specific size variation and pathogen prevalence. A trait-based model fit the neogregarine prevalence data better than a taxa-based model, while the taxonomic model provided a better model fit for N. ceranae prevalence, and there was no marked difference between the models for trypanosome prevalence. We found that Augochlorella aurata was more likely to harbor trypanosomes than many other bee taxa. Similarly, we found that bigger bees and those with peak activity later in the season were less likely to harbor trypanosomes, though the effect of size was largely driven by A. aurata. We found no clear intra-specific size patterns for pathogen prevalence in B. impatiens. These results indicate that functional traits are not always better than taxonomic affinity in predicting pathogen prevalence, but can help to explain prevalence depending on the pathogen in species-rich bee communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Figueroa
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| | - Sally Compton
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Heather Grab
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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14
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Kammerer M, Goslee SC, Douglas MR, Tooker JF, Grozinger CM. Wild bees as winners and losers: Relative impacts of landscape composition, quality, and climate. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 33433964 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.kwh70rz2s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Wild bees, like many other taxa, are threatened by land-use and climate change, which, in turn, jeopardizes pollination of crops and wild plants. Understanding how land-use and climate factors interact is critical to predicting and managing pollinator populations and ensuring adequate pollination services, but most studies have evaluated either land-use or climate effects, not both. Furthermore, bee species are incredibly variable, spanning an array of behavioral, physiological, and life-history traits that can increase or decrease resilience to land-use or climate change. Thus, there are likely bee species that benefit, while others suffer, from changing climate and land use, but few studies have documented taxon-specific trends. To address these critical knowledge gaps, we analyzed a long-term dataset of wild bee occurrences from Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC, USA, examining how different bee genera and functional groups respond to landscape composition, quality, and climate factors. Despite a large body of literature documenting land-use effects on wild bees, in this study, climate factors emerged as the main drivers of wild-bee abundance and richness. For wild-bee communities in spring and summer/fall, temperature and precipitation were more important predictors than landscape composition, landscape quality, or topography. However, relationships varied substantially between wild-bee genera and functional groups. In the Northeast USA, past trends and future predictions show a changing climate with warmer winters, more intense precipitation in winter and spring, and longer growing seasons with higher maximum temperatures. In almost all of our analyses, these conditions were associated with lower abundance of wild bees. Wild-bee richness results were more mixed, including neutral and positive relationships with predicted temperature and precipitation patterns. Thus, in this region and undoubtedly more broadly, changing climate poses a significant threat to wild-bee communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Kammerer
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Sarah C Goslee
- USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Margaret R Douglas
- Department of Environmental Studies & Environmental Science, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, USA
| | - John F Tooker
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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15
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Kammerer M, Goslee SC, Douglas MR, Tooker JF, Grozinger CM. Wild bees as winners and losers: Relative impacts of landscape composition, quality, and climate. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:1250-1265. [PMID: 33433964 PMCID: PMC7986353 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Wild bees, like many other taxa, are threatened by land-use and climate change, which, in turn, jeopardizes pollination of crops and wild plants. Understanding how land-use and climate factors interact is critical to predicting and managing pollinator populations and ensuring adequate pollination services, but most studies have evaluated either land-use or climate effects, not both. Furthermore, bee species are incredibly variable, spanning an array of behavioral, physiological, and life-history traits that can increase or decrease resilience to land-use or climate change. Thus, there are likely bee species that benefit, while others suffer, from changing climate and land use, but few studies have documented taxon-specific trends. To address these critical knowledge gaps, we analyzed a long-term dataset of wild bee occurrences from Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC, USA, examining how different bee genera and functional groups respond to landscape composition, quality, and climate factors. Despite a large body of literature documenting land-use effects on wild bees, in this study, climate factors emerged as the main drivers of wild-bee abundance and richness. For wild-bee communities in spring and summer/fall, temperature and precipitation were more important predictors than landscape composition, landscape quality, or topography. However, relationships varied substantially between wild-bee genera and functional groups. In the Northeast USA, past trends and future predictions show a changing climate with warmer winters, more intense precipitation in winter and spring, and longer growing seasons with higher maximum temperatures. In almost all of our analyses, these conditions were associated with lower abundance of wild bees. Wild-bee richness results were more mixed, including neutral and positive relationships with predicted temperature and precipitation patterns. Thus, in this region and undoubtedly more broadly, changing climate poses a significant threat to wild-bee communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Kammerer
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in EcologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
- Department of EntomologyCenter for Pollinator ResearchHuck Institutes of the Life SciencesPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
- Present address:
USDA‐ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research UnitUniversity ParkPA16802USA
- Present address:
USDA‐ARS Jornada Experimental RangeLas CrucesNM88003USA
| | - Sarah C. Goslee
- USDA‐ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research UnitUniversity ParkPAUSA
| | - Margaret R. Douglas
- Department of Environmental Studies & Environmental ScienceDickinson CollegeCarlislePAUSA
| | - John F. Tooker
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in EcologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
- Department of EntomologyCenter for Pollinator ResearchHuck Institutes of the Life SciencesPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
| | - Christina M. Grozinger
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in EcologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
- Department of EntomologyCenter for Pollinator ResearchHuck Institutes of the Life SciencesPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
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16
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Schroeder H, Grab H, Kessler A, Poveda K. Human-Mediated Land Use Change Drives Intraspecific Plant Trait Variation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 11:592881. [PMID: 33519849 PMCID: PMC7840540 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.592881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In the Anthropocene, more than three quarters of ice-free land has experienced some form of human-driven habitat modification, with agriculture dominating 40% of the Earth's surface. This land use change alters the quality, availability, and configuration of habitat resources, affecting the community composition of plants and insects, as well as their interactions with each other. Landscapes dominated by agriculture are known to support a lower abundance and diversity of pollinators and frequently larger populations of key herbivore pests. In turn, insect communities subsidized by agriculture may spill into remaining natural habitats with consequences for wild plants persisting in (semi) natural habitats. Adaptive responses by wild plants may allow them to persist in highly modified landscapes; yet how landscape-mediated variation in insect communities affects wild plant traits related to reproduction and defense remains largely unknown. We synthesize the evidence for plant trait changes across land use gradients and propose potential mechanisms by which landscape-mediated changes in insect communities may be driving these trait changes. Further, we present results from a common garden experiment on three wild Brassica species demonstrating variation in both defensive and reproductive traits along an agricultural land use gradient. Our framework illustrates the potential for plant adaptation under land use change and predicts how defense and reproduction trait expression may shift in low diversity landscapes. We highlight areas of future research into plant population and community effects of land use change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Schroeder
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Heather Grab
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - André Kessler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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17
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Kelemen EP, Rehan SM. Opposing pressures of climate and land-use change on a native bee. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 27:1017-1026. [PMID: 33274535 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities are rapidly changing the environment, and species that do not respond face a higher risk of extinction. Species may respond to environmental changes by modifying their behaviors, shifting their distributions, or changing their morphology. Recent morphological responses are often measured by changes in body size. Changes in body size are often attributed to climate change, but may instead be due to differences in available resources associated with changes in local land-use. The effects of temperature and land-use can be uncoupled in populations of the small carpenter bee Ceratina calcarata, which have experienced changes in agricultural and urban cover independent of climate change. We studied how the morphology of this bee has changed over the past 118 years (1902-2019) in relation to climate change and the past 45 years (1974-2019) in relation to agricultural and urban cover. Over this time, summer temperatures increased. We found that male and female size decreased with increasing temperature. Male size also decreased with agricultural expansion. Female size, however, increased with agricultural expansion. These results suggest that rising temperatures correlate with a decrease in female body size, while, opposite to predicted, agricultural land-use may select for increased female body size. These opposing pressures act concurrently and may result in bee extirpation from agricultural habitats if selection for large sizes is unsustainable as temperatures continue to increase. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the need to consider multiple environmental stressors when examining the effects of climate change due to their interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan P Kelemen
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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18
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Centrella M, Russo L, Moreno Ramírez N, Eitzer B, Dyke M, Danforth B, Poveda K. Diet diversity and pesticide risk mediate the negative effects of land use change on solitary bee offspring production. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Centrella
- Pesticide Management Education Program Cornell University Cooperative Extension Ithaca NY USA
| | - Laura Russo
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology University of Tennessee Knoxville TN USA
| | | | - Brian Eitzer
- The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station New Haven CT USA
| | - Maria Dyke
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca NY USA
| | - Bryan Danforth
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca NY USA
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca NY USA
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19
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Hillaert J, Vandegehuchte ML, Hovestadt T, Bonte D. Habitat loss and fragmentation increase realized predator–prey body size ratios. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmijn Hillaert
- Department of Biology Terrestrial Ecology Unit Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | | | - Thomas Hovestadt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology Biocenter University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Dries Bonte
- Department of Biology Terrestrial Ecology Unit Ghent University Ghent Belgium
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20
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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.
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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; ,
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21
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Chole H, Woodard SH, Bloch G. Body size variation in bees: regulation, mechanisms, and relationship to social organization. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 35:77-87. [PMID: 31426016 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Size polymorphism is common in bees, and is determined by environmental factors such as temperature, brood cell size, and the diet provided to developing larvae. In social bees, these factors are further influenced by intricate interactions between the queen, workers, and the developing brood which eventually determine the final size and caste of developing larvae. Environmental and social factors act in part on juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids, which are key hormonal regulators of body size and caste determination. In some social bees, body size variation is central for social organization because it structures reproductive division of labor, task allocation among workers, or both. At ecological scales, body size also impacts bee-mediated pollination services in solitary and social species by influencing floral visitation and pollination efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Chole
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Sarah Hollis Woodard
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
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22
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Decourtye A, Alaux C, Le Conte Y, Henry M. Toward the protection of bees and pollination under global change: present and future perspectives in a challenging applied science. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 35:123-131. [PMID: 31473587 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 30 years (1987-2016), bibliometric data have shown a drastic change in the scientific investigation of threats to bee populations. Bee research efforts committed to studying bioagressors of honeybees (mainly Varroa sp.) were predominant, but now appear to be shifting from bioagressors to global change in the published literature. This rise of global change science reveals prevailing topics, for current and future years: climate change, landscape alteration, agricultural intensification and invasive species. We argue that with increased investment in applied research and development, the scientific, beekeeping and agricultural communities will be able to find management strategies for productive agrosystems and enhanced resilience of pollination and beekeeping. This implies the need for restoring and improving food resources and shelters of bees by ecological intensification of diversified farming systems, and also reconciling sustainable beekeeping with wild pollinator conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Decourtye
- UMT PrADE, Avignon, France; ITSAP-Institut de l'abeille, Avignon, France; ACTA, Avignon, France.
| | - Cédric Alaux
- UMT PrADE, Avignon, France; INRA, UR406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - Yves Le Conte
- UMT PrADE, Avignon, France; INRA, UR406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - Mickaël Henry
- UMT PrADE, Avignon, France; INRA, UR406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
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23
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Rothwell A, Ginsberg HS. The Bee Fauna of Coastal Napatree Point and Two Inland Sites in Southern Rhode Island. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/045.026.0301] [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)
- Aya Rothwell
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Howard S. Ginsberg
- US Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Rhode Island Field Station, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
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24
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Grab H, Brokaw J, Anderson E, Gedlinske L, Gibbs J, Wilson J, Loeb G, Isaacs R, Poveda K. Habitat enhancements rescue bee body size from the negative effects of landscape simplification. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heather Grab
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca New York
| | - Julia Brokaw
- Department of Entomology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan
| | - Elisabeth Anderson
- Department of Entomology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan
| | - Lauren Gedlinske
- Department of Entomology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan
| | - Jason Gibbs
- Department of Entomology University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Julianna Wilson
- Department of Entomology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan
| | - Greg Loeb
- Department of Entomology New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Geneva New York
| | - Rufus Isaacs
- Department of Entomology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan
- Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca New York
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25
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Vanderplanck M, Roger N, Moerman R, Ghisbain G, Gérard M, Popowski D, Granica S, Fournier D, Meeus I, Piot N, Smagghe G, Terrana L, Michez D. Bumble bee parasite prevalence but not genetic diversity impacted by the invasive plant
Impatiens glandulifera. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maryse Vanderplanck
- Research Institute for Biosciences Laboratory of Zoology University of Mons Place du Parc 20 Mons B‐7000 Belgium
- Evo‐Eco‐Paleo ‐ UMR 8198 CNRS Université de Lille Lille F‐59000 France
| | - Nathalie Roger
- Research Institute for Biosciences Laboratory of Zoology University of Mons Place du Parc 20 Mons B‐7000 Belgium
| | - Romain Moerman
- Research Institute for Biosciences Laboratory of Zoology University of Mons Place du Parc 20 Mons B‐7000 Belgium
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Université libre de Bruxelles Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50 Brussels B‐1000 Belgium
| | - Guillaume Ghisbain
- Research Institute for Biosciences Laboratory of Zoology University of Mons Place du Parc 20 Mons B‐7000 Belgium
| | - Maxence Gérard
- Research Institute for Biosciences Laboratory of Zoology University of Mons Place du Parc 20 Mons B‐7000 Belgium
| | - Dominik Popowski
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phytotherapy Medical University of Warsaw Banacha 1 Warsaw 02‐097 Poland
| | - Sebastian Granica
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phytotherapy Medical University of Warsaw Banacha 1 Warsaw 02‐097 Poland
| | - Denis Fournier
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Université libre de Bruxelles Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50 Brussels B‐1000 Belgium
| | - Ivan Meeus
- Department of Crop Protection Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Laboratory of Agrozoology Ghent University Coupure Links 653 Ghent B‐9000 Belgium
| | - Niels Piot
- Department of Crop Protection Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Laboratory of Agrozoology Ghent University Coupure Links 653 Ghent B‐9000 Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Crop Protection Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Laboratory of Agrozoology Ghent University Coupure Links 653 Ghent B‐9000 Belgium
| | - Lucas Terrana
- Research Institute for Biosciences Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics University of Mons Place du Parc 20 Mons B‐7000 Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Research Institute for Biosciences Laboratory of Zoology University of Mons Place du Parc 20 Mons B‐7000 Belgium
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26
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De Luca PA, Buchmann S, Galen C, Mason AC, Vallejo‐Marín M. Does body size predict the buzz-pollination frequencies used by bees? Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4875-4887. [PMID: 31031950 PMCID: PMC6476788 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Body size is an important trait linking pollinators and plants. Morphological matching between pollinators and plants is thought to reinforce pollinator fidelity, as the correct fit ensures that both parties benefit from the interaction. We investigated the influence of body size in a specialized pollination system (buzz-pollination) where bees vibrate flowers to release pollen concealed within poricidal stamens. Specifically, we explored how body size influences the frequency of buzz-pollination vibrations. Body size is expected to affect frequency as a result of the physical constraints it places on the indirect flight muscles that control the production of floral vibrations. Larger insects beat their wings less rapidly than smaller-bodied insects when flying, but whether similar scaling relationships exist with floral vibrations has not been widely explored. This is important because the amount of pollen ejected is determined by the frequency of the vibration and the displacement of a bee's thorax. We conducted a field study in three ecogeographic regions (alpine, desert, grassland) and recorded flight and floral vibrations from freely foraging bees from 27 species across four families. We found that floral vibration frequencies were significantly higher than flight frequencies, but never exceeded 400 Hz. Also, only flight frequencies were negatively correlated with body size. As a bee's size increased, its buzz ratio (floral frequency/flight frequency) increased such that only the largest bees were capable of generating floral vibration frequencies that exceeded double that of their flight vibrations. These results indicate size affects the capacity of bees to raise floral vibration frequencies substantially above flight frequencies. This may put smaller bees at a competitive disadvantage because even at the maximum floral vibration frequency of 400 Hz, their inability to achieve comparable thoracic displacements as larger bees would result in generating vibrations with lower amplitudes, and thus less total pollen ejected for the same foraging effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. De Luca
- School of Chemistry, Environmental & Life SciencesUniversity of the BahamasNassauBahamas
| | - Stephen Buchmann
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizona
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizona
| | - Candace Galen
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouri
| | - Andrew C. Mason
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughTorontoOntarioCanada
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27
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Kratschmer S, Pachinger B, Schwantzer M, Paredes D, Guzmán G, Goméz JA, Entrenas JA, Guernion M, Burel F, Nicolai A, Fertil A, Popescu D, Macavei L, Hoble A, Bunea C, Kriechbaum M, Zaller JG, Winter S. Response of wild bee diversity, abundance, and functional traits to vineyard inter-row management intensity and landscape diversity across Europe. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4103-4115. [PMID: 31015991 PMCID: PMC6467850 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Agricultural intensification is a major driver of wild bee decline. Vineyards may be inhabited by plant and animal species, especially when the inter-row space is vegetated with spontaneous vegetation or cover crops. Wild bees depend on floral resources and suitable nesting sites which may be found in vineyard inter-rows or in viticultural landscapes. Inter-row vegetation is managed by mulching, tillage, and/or herbicide application and results in habitat degradation when applied intensively. Here, we hypothesize that lower vegetation management intensities, higher floral resources, and landscape diversity affect wild bee diversity and abundance dependent on their functional traits. We sampled wild bees semi-quantitatively in 63 vineyards representing different vegetation management intensities across Europe in 2016. A proxy for floral resource availability was based on visual flower cover estimations. Management intensity was assessed by vegetation cover (%) twice a year per vineyard. The Shannon Landscape Diversity Index was used as a proxy for landscape diversity within a 750 m radius around each vineyard center point. Wild bee communities were clustered by country. At the country level, between 20 and 64 wild bee species were identified. Increased floral resource availability and extensive vegetation management both affected wild bee diversity and abundance in vineyards strongly positively. Increased landscape diversity had a small positive effect on wild bee diversity but compensated for the negative effect of low floral resource availability by increasing eusocial bee abundance. We conclude that wild bee diversity and abundance in vineyards is efficiently promoted by increasing floral resources and reducing vegetation management frequency. High landscape diversity further compensates for low floral resources in vineyards and increases pollinating insect abundance in viticulture landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Kratschmer
- Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation ResearchUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Bärbel Pachinger
- Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation ResearchUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Martina Schwantzer
- Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation ResearchUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Gema Guzmán
- Institute for Sustainable AgricultureCSICCórdobaSpain
| | - José A. Goméz
- Institute for Sustainable AgricultureCSICCórdobaSpain
| | | | - Muriel Guernion
- UMR 6553 EcoBioUniversity Rennes 1, Biological Station of PaimpontPaimpontFrance
| | | | - Annegret Nicolai
- UMR 6553 EcoBioUniversity Rennes 1, Biological Station of PaimpontPaimpontFrance
| | - Albin Fertil
- UMR 6553 EcoBioUniversity Rennes 1, Biological Station of PaimpontPaimpontFrance
| | | | - Laura Macavei
- UNIMORE, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaItaly
| | - Adela Hoble
- University of Agriculture Science and Veterinary MedicineCluj NapocaRomania
| | - Claudiu Bunea
- University of Agriculture Science and Veterinary MedicineCluj NapocaRomania
| | - Monika Kriechbaum
- Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation ResearchUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Johann G. Zaller
- Institute of ZoologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Silvia Winter
- Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation ResearchUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
- Division of Plant ProtectionUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
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28
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Mayes DM, Bhatta CP, Shi D, Brown JC, Smith DR. Body Size Influences Stingless Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Communities Across a Range of Deforestation Levels in Rondônia, Brazil. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2019; 19:5475280. [PMID: 31222324 PMCID: PMC6474196 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Developments in understanding bee responses to habitat loss indicate that body size is a trait with important consequences for conservation. Stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) are a diverse group of eusocial bees providing pollination services in tropical landscapes, exhibiting a large range in body size across species. We tested the effects of deforestation on the body sizes of stingless bee communities by using museum specimens and revisiting a previous effort that sampled stingless bee communities across varying levels of deforestation at 183 sites in Rondônia, Brazil, in 1996-1997. Body size measurements (intertegular distance) from 72 species collected were included as dependent variables in response to forest area, forest edge, and connectivity of forest patches at several spatial scales. We find that stingless bee body size is negatively related to forest cover: mean community body size was larger in areas with greater amounts of deforestation, and smaller in areas with less deforestation. Second, stingless bee species richness was positively associated with forest edge regardless of body size. Lastly, we find that as forest patch isolation increased, the stingless bee community body size also increased. These findings support hypotheses that small stingless bee species might be more negatively affected by deforestation, adding to the growing body of evidence that stingless bees require areas of intact forest in near proximity to other forest patches to conserve these diverse pollinator communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Mayes
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS
| | - C P Bhatta
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS
| | - D Shi
- Department of Geography & Atmospheric Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
| | - J C Brown
- Department of Geography & Atmospheric Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
| | - D R Smith
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS
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29
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Bartomeus I, Stavert JR, Ward D, Aguado O. Historical collections as a tool for assessing the global pollination crisis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:rstb.2017.0389. [PMID: 30455207 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing concern about the decline of pollinators worldwide. However, despite reports that pollinator declines are widespread, data are scarce and often geographically and taxonomically biased. These biases limit robust inference about any potential pollinator crisis. Non-structured and opportunistic historical specimen collection data provide the only source of historical information which can serve as a baseline for identifying pollinator declines. Specimens historically collected and preserved in museums not only provide information on where and when species were collected, but also contain other ecological information such as species interactions and morphological traits. Here, we provide a synthesis of how researchers have used historical data to identify long-term changes in biodiversity, species abundances, morphology and pollination services. Despite recent advances, we show that information on the status and trends of most pollinators is absent. We highlight opportunities and limitations to progress the assessment of pollinator declines globally. Finally, we demonstrate different approaches to analysing museum collection data using two contrasting case studies from distinct geographical regions (New Zealand and Spain) for which long-term pollinator declines have never been assessed. There is immense potential for museum specimens to play a central role in assessing the extent of the global pollination crisis.This article is part of the theme issue 'Biological collections for understanding biodiversity in the Anthropocene'.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Bartomeus
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - J R Stavert
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - D Ward
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - O Aguado
- Andrena Iniciativas y Estudios Medio Ambientales, Valladolid, Spain
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30
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Hillaert J, Hovestadt T, Vandegehuchte ML, Bonte D. Size-dependent movement explains why bigger is better in fragmented landscapes. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:10754-10767. [PMID: 30519404 PMCID: PMC6262741 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Body size is a fundamental trait known to allometrically scale with metabolic rate and therefore a key determinant of individual development, life history, and consequently fitness. In spatially structured environments, movement is an equally important driver of fitness. Because movement is tightly coupled with body size, we expect habitat fragmentation to induce a strong selection pressure on size variation across and within species. Changes in body size distributions are then, in turn, expected to alter food web dynamics. However, no consensus has been reached on how spatial isolation and resource growth affect consumer body size distributions. Our aim was to investigate how these two factors shape the body size distribution of consumers under scenarios of size-dependent and size-independent consumer movement by applying a mechanistic, individual-based resource-consumer model. We also assessed the consequences of altered body size distributions for important ecosystem traits such as resource abundance and consumer stability. Finally, we determined those factors that explain most variation in size distributions. We demonstrate that decreasing connectivity and resource growth select for communities (or populations) consisting of larger species (or individuals) due to strong selection for the ability to move over longer distances if the movement is size-dependent. When including size-dependent movement, intermediate levels of connectivity result in increases in local size diversity. Due to this elevated functional diversity, resource uptake is maximized at the metapopulation or metacommunity level. At these intermediate levels of connectivity, size-dependent movement explains most of the observed variation in size distributions. Interestingly, local and spatial stability of consumer biomass is lowest when isolation and resource growth are high. Finally, we highlight that size-dependent movement is of vital importance for the survival of populations or communities within highly fragmented landscapes. Our results demonstrate that considering size-dependent movement is essential to understand how habitat fragmentation and resource growth shape body size distributions-and the resulting metapopulation or metacommunity dynamics-of consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmijn Hillaert
- Department of BiologyTerrestrial Ecology UnitGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Thomas Hovestadt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical BiologyBiocenterUniversity of WuerzburgWuerzburgGermany
| | | | - Dries Bonte
- Department of BiologyTerrestrial Ecology UnitGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
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31
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Dahirel M, De Cock M, Vantieghem P, Bonte D. Urbanization-driven changes in web building and body size in an orb web spider. J Anim Ecol 2018; 88:79-91. [PMID: 30280386 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In animals, behavioural responses may play an important role in determining population persistence in the face of environmental changes. Body size is a key trait central to many life-history traits and behaviours. Correlations with body size may constrain behavioural variation in response to environmental changes, especially when size itself is influenced by environmental conditions. Urbanization is an important human-induced rapid environmental change that imposes multiple selection pressures on both body size and (size-constrained) behaviour. How these combine to shape behavioural responses of urban-dwelling species is unclear. Using web building, an easily quantifiable behaviour linked to body size and the garden spider Araneus diadematus as a model, we evaluated direct behavioural responses to urbanization and body size constraints across a network of 63 selected populations differing in urbanization intensity. We additionally studied urbanization at two spatial scales to account for some environmental pressures varying across scales and to obtain first qualitative insights about the role of plasticity and genetic selection. Spiders were smaller in highly urbanized sites (local scale only), in line with expectations based on reduced prey biomass availability and the Urban Heat Island effect. Web surface and mesh width decreased with urbanization at the local scale, while web surface also increased with urbanization at the landscape scale. The latter two responses are expected to compensate, at least in part, for reduced prey biomass availability in cities. The use of multivariate mixed modelling reveals that although web traits and body size are correlated within populations, behavioural responses to urbanization do not appear to be constrained by size: there is no evidence of size-web correlations among populations or among landscapes, and web traits appear independent from each other. Our results demonstrate that responses in size-dependent behaviours may be decoupled from size changes, thereby allowing fitness maximization in novel environments. The spatial scale at which traits respond suggests contributions of both genetic adaptation (for web investment) and plasticity (for mesh width). Although fecundity decreased with local-scale urbanization, A. diadematus abundances were similar across urbanization gradients; behavioural responses thus appear overall successful at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Dahirel
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.,Univ Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
| | - Maarten De Cock
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Vantieghem
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Dries Bonte
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
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32
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Kaluza BF, Wallace HM, Heard TA, Minden V, Klein A, Leonhardt SD. Social bees are fitter in more biodiverse environments. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12353. [PMID: 30120304 PMCID: PMC6098141 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30126-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee population declines are often linked to human impacts, especially habitat and biodiversity loss, but empirical evidence is lacking. To clarify the link between biodiversity loss and bee decline, we examined how floral diversity affects (reproductive) fitness and population growth of a social stingless bee. For the first time, we related available resource diversity and abundance to resource (quality and quantity) intake and colony reproduction, over more than two years. Our results reveal plant diversity as key driver of bee fitness. Social bee colonies were fitter and their populations grew faster in more florally diverse environments due to a continuous supply of food resources. Colonies responded to high plant diversity with increased resource intake and colony food stores. Our findings thus point to biodiversity loss as main reason for the observed bee decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin F Kaluza
- Department of Ecology, Leuphana University, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany
- Genecology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, 4558, Australia
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Helen M Wallace
- Genecology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, 4558, Australia
| | - Tim A Heard
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Brisbane, 4001, Queensland, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Vanessa Minden
- Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Klein
- Department of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sara D Leonhardt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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33
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Hillaert J, Vandegehuchte ML, Hovestadt T, Bonte D. Information use during movement regulates how fragmentation and loss of habitat affect body size. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180953. [PMID: 30111596 PMCID: PMC6111160 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An individual's body size is central to its behaviour and physiology, and tightly linked to its movement ability. The spatial arrangement of resources and a consumer's capacity to locate them are therefore expected to exert strong selection on consumer body size. We investigated the evolutionary impact of both the fragmentation and loss of habitat on consumer body size and its feedback effects on resource distribution, under varying levels of information used during habitat choice. We developed a mechanistic, individual-based, spatially explicit model, including several allometric rules for key consumer traits. Our model reveals that as resources become more fragmented and scarce, informed habitat choice selects for larger body sizes while random habitat choice promotes small sizes. Information use may thus be an overlooked explanation for the observed variation in body size responses to habitat fragmentation. Moreover, we find that resources can accumulate and aggregate if information about resource abundance is incomplete. Informed movement results in stable resource-consumer dynamics and controlled resources across space. However, habitat loss and fragmentation destabilize local dynamics and disturb resource suppression by the consumer. Considering information use during movement is thus critical to understand the eco-evolutionary dynamics underlying the functioning and structuring of consumer communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmijn Hillaert
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Martijn L Vandegehuchte
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Hovestadt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Emil-Fischer-Strasse 32, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Dries Bonte
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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34
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Smith TJ, Mayfield MM. The effect of habitat fragmentation on the bee visitor assemblages of three Australian tropical rainforest tree species. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:8204-8216. [PMID: 30250696 PMCID: PMC6144977 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical forest loss and fragmentation can change bee community dynamics and potentially interrupt plant-pollinator relationships. While bee community responses to forest fragmentation have been investigated in a number of tropical regions, no studies have focused on this topic in Australia. In this study, we examine taxonomic and functional diversity of bees visiting flowers of three tree species across small and large rainforest fragments in Australian tropical landscapes. We found lower taxonomic diversity of bees visiting flowers of trees in small rainforest fragments compared with large forest fragments and show that bee species in small fragments were subsets of species in larger fragments. Bees visiting trees in small fragments also had higher mean body sizes than those in larger fragments, suggesting that small-sized bees may be less likely to persist in small fragments. Lastly, we found reductions in the abundance of eusocial stingless bees visiting flowers in small fragments compared to large fragments. These results suggest that pollinator visits to native trees living in small tropical forest remnants may be reduced, which may in turn impact on a range of processes, potentially including forest regeneration and diversity maintenance in small forest remnants in Australian tropical countryside landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias J. Smith
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQldAustralia
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35
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Grab H, Poveda K, Danforth B, Loeb G. Landscape context shifts the balance of costs and benefits from wildflower borders on multiple ecosystem services. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1102. [PMID: 30068682 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the face of global biodiversity declines driven by agricultural intensification, local diversification practices are broadly promoted to support farmland biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services. The creation of flower-rich habitats on farmland has been subsidized in both the USA and EU to support biodiversity and promote delivery of ecosystem services. Yet, theory suggests that the landscape context in which local diversification strategies are implemented will influence their success. However, few studies have empirically evaluated this theory or assessed the ability to support multiple ecosystem services simultaneously. Here, we evaluate the impact of creating flower-rich habitats in field margins on pollination, pest control, and crop yield over 3 years using a paired design across a landscape gradient. We find general positive effects of natural habitat cover on fruit weight and that flowering borders increase yields by promoting bee visitation to adjacent crops only in landscapes with intermediate natural habitat cover. Flowering borders had little impact on biological control regardless of landscape context. Thus, knowledge of landscape context can be used to target wildflower border placement in areas where they will have the greatest likelihood for success and least potential for increasing pest populations or yield loss in nearby crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Grab
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Bryan Danforth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Greg Loeb
- Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
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36
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Van Reeth C, Caro G, Bockstaller C, Michel N. Current and previous spatial distributions of oilseed rape fields influence the abundance and the body size of a solitary wild bee, Andrena cineraria, in permanent grasslands. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197684. [PMID: 29787595 PMCID: PMC5963745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild bees are essential pollinators whose survival partly depends on the capacity of their environment to offer a sufficient amount of nectar and pollen. Semi-natural habitats and mass-flowering crops such as oilseed rape provide abundant floristic resources for bees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influences of the spatial distribution of semi-natural habitats and oilseed rape fields on the abundance and the mean body size of a solitary bee in grasslands. We focused on a generalist mining bee, Andrena cineraria, that forages and reproduces during oilseed rape flowering. In 21 permanent grasslands of Eastern France, we captured 1 287 individuals (1 205 males and 82 females) and measured the body size of male individuals. The flower density in grasslands was quantified during bee captures (2016) and the landscape surrounding grasslands was characterized during two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). The influence of oilseed rape was tested through its distribution in the landscape during both the current year of bee sampling and the previous year. Bee abundance was positively influenced by the flower density in grasslands and by the area covered by oilseed rape around grasslands in the previous year. The mean body size of A. cineraria was explained by the interaction between flower density in the grassland and the distance to the nearest oilseed rape field in the current year: the flower density positively influenced the mean body size only in grasslands distant from oilseed rape. A. cineraria abundance and body size distribution were not affected by the area of semi-natural habitats in the landscape. The spatial distribution of oilseed rape fields (during both the current and the previous year) as well as the local density of grassland flowers drive both bee abundance and the mean value of an intraspecific trait (body size) in permanent grasslands. Space-time variations of bee abundance and mean body size in grasslands may have important ecological implications on plant pollination and on interspecific interactions between pollinators. Specifically, a competition between bee species for nesting sites might occur in oilseed rape rich landscapes, thus raising important conservation issues for bee species that do not benefit from oilseed rape resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Van Reeth
- Laboratoire Agronomie Environnement (UMR 1121), Université de Lorraine, INRA, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Gaël Caro
- Laboratoire Agronomie Environnement (UMR 1121), Université de Lorraine, INRA, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Christian Bockstaller
- Laboratoire Agronomie Environnement (UMR 1121), INRA, Université de Lorraine, Colmar, France
| | - Nadia Michel
- Laboratoire Agronomie Environnement (UMR 1121), Université de Lorraine, INRA, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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37
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Turcotte MM, Araki H, Karp DS, Poveda K, Whitehead SR. The eco-evolutionary impacts of domestication and agricultural practices on wild species. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:rstb.2016.0033. [PMID: 27920378 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Agriculture is a dominant evolutionary force that drives the evolution of both domesticated and wild species. However, the various mechanisms of agriculture-induced evolution and their socio-ecological consequences are not often synthetically discussed. Here, we explore how agricultural practices and evolutionary changes in domesticated species cause evolution in wild species. We do so by examining three processes by which agriculture drives evolution. First, differences in the traits of domesticated species, compared with their wild ancestors, alter the selective environment and create opportunities for wild species to specialize. Second, selection caused by agricultural practices, including both those meant to maximize productivity and those meant to control pest species, can lead to pest adaptation. Third, agriculture can cause non-selective changes in patterns of gene flow in wild species. We review evidence for these processes and then discuss their ecological and sociological impacts. We finish by identifying important knowledge gaps and future directions related to the eco-evolutionary impacts of agriculture including their extent, how to prevent the detrimental evolution of wild species, and finally, how to use evolution to minimize the ecological impacts of agriculture.This article is part of the themed issue 'Human influences on evolution, and the ecological and societal consequences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin M Turcotte
- Center for Adaptation to a Changing Environment, CHN G35.1, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Hitoshi Araki
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 0608589, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Daniel S Karp
- Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T1Z4
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Comstock Hall 4117, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Susan R Whitehead
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Comstock Hall 4117, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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38
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Dahirel M, Dierick J, De Cock M, Bonte D. Intraspecific variation shapes community-level behavioral responses to urbanization in spiders. Ecology 2017; 98:2379-2390. [PMID: 28585743 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Urban areas are an extreme example of human-changed environments, exposing organisms to multiple and strong selection pressures. Adaptive behavioral responses are thought to play a major role in animals' success or failure in such new environments. Approaches based on functional traits have proven especially valuable to understand how species communities respond to environmental gradients. Until recently, they have, however, often ignored the potential consequences of intraspecific trait variation (ITV). When ITV is prevalent, it may highly impact ecological processes and resilience against stressors. This may be especially relevant in animals, in which behavioral traits can be altered very flexibly at the individual level to track environmental changes. We investigated how species turnover and ITV influenced community-level behavioral responses in a set of 62 sites of varying levels of urbanization, using orb web spiders and their webs as models of foraging behavior. ITV alone explained around one-third of the total trait variation observed among communities. Spider web structure changed according to urbanization, in ways that increase the capture efficiency of webs in a context of smaller urban prey. These trait shifts were partly mediated by species turnover, but ITV increased their magnitude, potentially helping to buffer the effects of environmental changes on communities. The importance of ITV varied depending on traits and on the spatial scale at which urbanization was considered. Despite being neglected from community-level analyses in animals, our results highlight the importance of accounting for intraspecific trait variation to fully understand trait responses to (human-induced) environmental changes and their impact on ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Dahirel
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,UMR 6553 Ecobio, Université de Rennes 1/CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Jasper Dierick
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maarten De Cock
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dries Bonte
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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