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Kline O, Phan NT, Porras MF, Chavana J, Little CZ, Stemet L, Acharya RS, Biddinger DJ, Reddy GVP, Rajotte EG, Joshi NK. Biology, Genetic Diversity, and Conservation of Wild Bees in Tree Fruit Orchards. BIOLOGY 2022; 12:31. [PMID: 36671724 PMCID: PMC9854918 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Different species of bees provide essential ecosystem services by pollinating various agricultural crops, including tree fruits. Many fruits and nuts depend on insect pollination, primarily by wild and managed bees. In different geographical regions where orchard crops are grown, fruit growers rely on wild bees in the farmscape and use orchard bees as alternative pollinators. Orchard crops such as apples, pears, plums, apricots, etc., are mass-flowering crops and attract many different bee species during their bloom period. Many bee species found in orchards emerge from overwintering as the fruit trees start flowering in spring, and the active duration of these bees aligns very closely with the blooming time of fruit trees. In addition, most of the bees in orchards are short-range foragers and tend to stay close to the fruit crops. However, the importance of orchard bee communities is not well understood, and many challenges in maintaining their populations remain. This comprehensive review paper summarizes the different types of bees commonly found in tree fruit orchards in the fruit-growing regions of the United States, their bio-ecology, and genetic diversity. Additionally, recommendations for the management of orchard bees, different strategies for protecting them from multiple stressors, and providing suitable on-farm nesting and floral resource habitats for propagation and conservation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Kline
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Ngoc T. Phan
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
- Research Center for Tropical Bees and Beekeeping, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Gia Lam, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Mitzy F. Porras
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Joshua Chavana
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Coleman Z. Little
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR 72035, USA
| | - Lilia Stemet
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Roshani S. Acharya
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - David J. Biddinger
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center, Biglerville, PA 17307, USA
| | - Gadi V. P. Reddy
- USDA-ARS-Southern Insect Management Research Unite, 141 Experiment Station Rd., P.O. Box 346, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
| | - Edwin G. Rajotte
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Neelendra K. Joshi
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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Memory-guided foraging and landscape design interact to determine ecosystem services. J Theor Biol 2022; 534:110958. [PMID: 34748733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110958] [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: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Many studies examine how the landscape affects memory-informed movement patterns, but very few examine how memory-informed foragers influence the landscape. This reverse relationship is an important factor in preventing the continued decline of many ecosystem services. We investigate this question in the context of crop pollination services by wild bees, a critical ecosystem service that is in steep decline. Many studies suggest that adding wild flower patches near crops can result in higher crop pollination services, but specific advice pertaining to the optimal location and density of these wild flower patches is lacking, as well as any estimate of the expected change in crop pollination services. In this work, we seek to understand what is the optimal placement of a flower patch relative to a single crop field, during crop bloom and considering spatial factors alone. We develop an individual based model of memory-based foraging by bumble bees to simulate bee movement from a single nest while the crop is in bloom, and measure the resulting crop pollination services. We consider a single crop field enhanced with a wild flower patch in a variable location, and measure crop flower visitation over the course of a single day. We analyze the pollination intensity and spatial distribution of flower visits to determine optimal wild flower patch placement for an isolated crop field. We find that the spatial arrangement of crop and wild flower patch have a significant effect on the number of crop flower visits, and that these effects arise from the memory-informed foraging pattern. The most effective planting locations are either in the centre of the crop field or on the far side of the crop field, away from the single bumble bee nest.
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Rowe L, Gibson D, Landis DA, Isaacs R. Wild bees and natural enemies prefer similar flower species and respond to similar plant traits. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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4
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Benvenuti S, Mazzoncini M. Entomogamy in wildflowers: What level of pollinator biodiversity is required? ACTA OECOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2021.103737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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The Herbal Supplements NOZEMAT HERB ® and NOZEMAT HERB PLUS ®: An Alternative Therapy for N. ceranae Infection and Its Effects on Honey Bee Strength and Production Traits. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020234. [PMID: 33669663 PMCID: PMC7922068 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are the most effective pollinators for different crops and wild flowering plants, thus maintaining numerous ecosystems in the world. However, honey bee colonies often suffer from stress or even death due to various pests and diseases. Among the latter, nosemosis is considered to be one of the most common diseases, causing serious damage to beekeeping every year. Here, we present, for the first time, the effects from the application of the herbal supplements NOZEMAT HERB® (NH) and NOZEMAT HERB PLUS® (NHP) for treating N. ceranae infection and positively influencing the general development of honey bee colonies. To achieve this, in autumn 2019, 45 colonies were selected based on the presence of N. ceranae infections. The treatment was carried out for 11 months (August 2019–June 2020). All colonies were sampled pre- and post-treatment for the presence of N. ceranae by means of light microscopy and PCR analysis. The honey bee colonies’ performance and health were evaluated pre- and post-treatment. The obtained results have shown that both supplements have exhibited statistically significant biological activity against N. ceranae in infected apiaries. Considerable enhancement in the strength of honey bee colonies and the amount of sealed workers was observed just one month after the application of NH and NHP. Although the mechanisms of action of NH and NHP against N. ceranae infection are yet to be completely elucidated, our results suggest a new holistic approach as an alternative therapy to control nosemosis and to improve honey bee colonies’ performance and health.
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Jabbour R, Noy S. The Promise of a Multi-Disciplinary, Mixed-Methods Approach to Inform Insect Pest Management: Evidence From Wyoming Alfalfa. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.548545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pest management strategies involve a complex set of considerations, circumstances, and decision-making. Existing research suggests that farmers are reflexive and reflective in their management choices yet continue to employ curative rather than preventative strategies, and opt for chemical over biological solutions. In this piece, we detail work from a two-year, multidisciplinary, mixed-methods study of insect pest management strategies in alfalfa in Wyoming, integrating data from four focus groups, a statewide survey, and biological sampling of production fields. We outline how these different sources of data together contribute to a more complete understanding of the challenges and strategies employed by farmers, and specifically on biological pest control. We applied this approach across alfalfa hay and seed crop systems. Relatively few farmers acknowledged biological control in focus groups or surveys, yet biological exploration yielded abundant parasitism of common pest alfalfa weevil. On the other hand, parasitism of seed alfalfa pest Lygus was far less common and patchy across fields. It is only in integrating quantitative and qualitative, biological and social data that we are able to generate a more complete portrait of the challenges and opportunities of working with farmers to embrace a preventative paradigm. In doing so, we offer insights on possible barriers to the adoption of preventative insect management strategies and provide a case study of integrating social science and biophysical techniques to better understand opportunities to expand biological pest control in cropping systems.
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Heller S, Joshi NK, Leslie T, Rajotte EG, Biddinger DJ. Diversified Floral Resource Plantings Support Bee Communities after Apple Bloom in Commercial Orchards. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17232. [PMID: 31754173 PMCID: PMC6872784 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52601-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural habitats, comprised of various flowering plant species, provide food and nesting resources for pollinator species and other beneficial arthropods. Loss of such habitats in agricultural regions and in other human-modified landscapes could be a factor in recent bee declines. Artificially established floral plantings may offset these losses. A multi-year, season-long field study was conducted to examine how wildflower plantings near commercial apple orchards influenced bee communities. We examined bee abundance, species richness, diversity, and species assemblages in both the floral plantings and adjoining apple orchards. We also examined bee community subsets, such as known tree fruit pollinators, rare pollinator species, and bees collected during apple bloom. During this study, a total of 138 species of bees were collected, which included 100 species in the floral plantings and 116 species in the apple orchards. Abundance of rare bee species was not significantly different between apple orchards and the floral plantings. During apple bloom, the known tree fruit pollinators were more frequently captured in the orchards than the floral plantings. However, after apple bloom, the abundance of known tree fruit pollinating bees increased significantly in the floral plantings, indicating potential for floral plantings to provide additional food and nesting resources when apple flowers are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Heller
- Fruit Research & Extension Center, Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 290 University Dr, Biglerville, 17307, PA, USA.,Department of Entomology, 501 ASI Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.,USDA APHIS PPQ Otis Laboratory, 1398 West Truck Road, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, 02542, USA
| | - Neelendra K Joshi
- Fruit Research & Extension Center, Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 290 University Dr, Biglerville, 17307, PA, USA. .,Department of Entomology, 501 ASI Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA. .,Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 217 Plant Sciences Building, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701, USA.
| | - Timothy Leslie
- Department of Biology, Long Island University, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
| | - Edwin G Rajotte
- Department of Entomology, 501 ASI Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA
| | - David J Biddinger
- Fruit Research & Extension Center, Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 290 University Dr, Biglerville, 17307, PA, USA. .,Department of Entomology, 501 ASI Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
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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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Lundin O, Ward KL, Williams NM. Identifying native plants for coordinated habitat management of arthropod pollinators, herbivores and natural enemies. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ola Lundin
- Department of Entomology and Nematology University of California, Davis Davis California
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Kimiora L. Ward
- Department of Entomology and Nematology University of California, Davis Davis California
| | - Neal M. Williams
- Department of Entomology and Nematology University of California, Davis Davis California
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O'Brien C, Arathi HS. Bee genera, diversity and abundance in genetically modified canola fields. GM CROPS & FOOD 2018. [PMID: 29528266 DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2018.1445470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Intensive agricultural practices resulting in large scale habitat loss ranks as the top contributing factors in the global bee decline. Growing Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant (GMHT) crops as large monocultures has resulted extensive applications of herbicides leading to the degradation of natural habitats surrounding farmlands. Herbicide tolerance trait is beneficial for crops such as Canola (Brassica napus) that are extremely vulnerable to weed competition. While the trait in itself does not harm pollinators, growing genetically modified herbicide tolerant cultivars indirectly contributes towards pollinator declines through habitat loss. Canola, a mass-flowering crop is highly attractive to bee pollinators and the extensive adoption of the herbicide tolerant trait has led to depletion of non-crop floral resources. Extensive use of herbicide in and near fields with herbicide tolerant cultivars systematically eliminates semi-natural habitats around agricultural fields which consist of non-crop flowering plants. Planting pollinator strips provides floral resources for bees after crop flowering. We document the bee genera in canola and the adjoining pollinator strip. The overlap in bee genera reinforces the importance of pollinator habitats in agricultural landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colton O'Brien
- a Department of Soil and Crop Sciences , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , CO 80523 USA
| | - H S Arathi
- a Department of Soil and Crop Sciences , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , CO 80523 USA
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Grab H, Danforth B, Poveda K, Loeb G. Landscape simplification reduces classical biological control and crop yield. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:348-355. [PMID: 29345735 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural intensification resulting in the simplification of agricultural landscapes is known to negatively impact the delivery of key ecosystem services such as the biological control of crop pests. Both conservation and classical biological control may be influenced by the landscape context in which they are deployed; yet studies examining the role of landscape structure in the establishment and success of introduced natural enemies and their interactions with native communities are lacking. In this study, we investigated the relationship between landscape simplification, classical and conservation biological control services and importantly, the outcome of these interactions for crop yield. We showed that agricultural simplification at the landscape scale is associated with an overall reduction in parasitism rates of crop pests. Additionally, only introduced parasitoids were identified, and no native parasitoids were found in crop habitat, irrespective of agricultural landscape simplification. Pest densities in the crop were lower in landscapes with greater proportions of semi-natural habitats. Furthermore, farms with less semi-natural cover in the landscape and consequently, higher pest numbers, had lower yields than farms in less agriculturally dominated landscapes. Our study demonstrates the importance of landscape scale agricultural simplification in mediating the success of biological control programs and highlights the potential risks to native natural enemies in classical biological control programs against native insects. Our results represent an important contribution to an understanding of the landscape-mediated impacts on crop yield that will be essential to implementing effective policies that simultaneously conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Grab
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
- Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, New York, 14456, USA
| | - Bryan Danforth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Greg Loeb
- Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, New York, 14456, USA
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12
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Nikolaidou C, Votsi NE, Sgardelis S, Halley J, Pantis J, Tsiafouli M. Ecosystem Service capacity is higher in areas of multiple designation types. ONE ECOSYSTEM 2017. [DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.2.e13718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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13
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Kovács-Hostyánszki A, Espíndola A, Vanbergen AJ, Settele J, Kremen C, Dicks LV. Ecological intensification to mitigate impacts of conventional intensive land use on pollinators and pollination. Ecol Lett 2017; 20:673-689. [PMID: 28346980 PMCID: PMC6849539 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, human appropriation of ecosystems is disrupting plant–pollinator communities and pollination function through habitat conversion and landscape homogenisation. Conversion to agriculture is destroying and degrading semi‐natural ecosystems while conventional land‐use intensification (e.g. industrial management of large‐scale monocultures with high chemical inputs) homogenises landscape structure and quality. Together, these anthropogenic processes reduce the connectivity of populations and erode floral and nesting resources to undermine pollinator abundance and diversity, and ultimately pollination services. Ecological intensification of agriculture represents a strategic alternative to ameliorate these drivers of pollinator decline while supporting sustainable food production, by promoting biodiversity beneficial to agricultural production through management practices such as intercropping, crop rotations, farm‐level diversification and reduced agrochemical use. We critically evaluate its potential to address and reverse the land use and management trends currently degrading pollinator communities and potentially causing widespread pollination deficits. We find that many of the practices that constitute ecological intensification can contribute to mitigating the drivers of pollinator decline. Our findings support ecological intensification as a solution to pollinator declines, and we discuss ways to promote it in agricultural policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki
- MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, Alkotmány u. 2-4., 2163, Vácrátót, Hungary.,MTA Centre for Ecological Research, GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group, Klebelsberg Kuno u. 3., 8237, Tihany, Hungary
| | - Anahí Espíndola
- Department of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences South 252, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3051, USA
| | - Adam J Vanbergen
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Edinburgh EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Josef Settele
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Dept. of Community Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle, Germany.,iDiv, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Claire Kremen
- University of California, 217 Wellman Hall Berkeley, California 94720-3114 CA, USA
| | - Lynn V Dicks
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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