Effects, but no interactions, of ubiquitous pesticide and parasite stressors on honey bee (<scp><i>A</i></scp><i>pis mellifera</i>) lifespan and behaviour in a colony environment

Retschnig, Gina; Williams, Geoffrey R.; Odemer, Richard; Boltin, Janina; Poto, Cornelia Di; Mehmann, Marion M.; Retschnig, Peter; Winiger, Pius; Rosenkranz, Peter; Neumann, Peter

doi:10.1111/1462-2920.12825

Cited by 52 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…The observed infection loads of individual bees were significantly higher for L. passim compared to N. ceranae , and are well within the limits of previous reports for foraging bees (Bourgeois et al., 2010; Ravoet et al., 2013, 2015; Retschnig, Neumann, & Williams, 2014; Retschnig et al., 2015). Despite the observed high infection loads, there were no significant differences between the infection loads of both parasites in single‐ or double‐infected hosts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As laboratory tests may not necessarily reflect field conditions (Retschnig et al., 2015), we took advantage of natural occurring infections of honey bee hosts with N. ceranae and L. passim in the field to test the following hypotheses: If the two parasites significantly interact with each other, we expect less or more individual hosts infected with both parasites compared to a random distribution. Likewise, infection loads of bees with one parasite alone should differ from those bees infected with both parasites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Host sharing by the honey bee parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae

Tritschler

Retschnig

Yañez

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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The trypanosome Lotmaria passim and the microsporidian Nosema ceranae are common parasites of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, intestine, but the nature of interactions between them is unknown. Here, we took advantage of naturally occurring infections and quantified infection loads of individual workers (N = 408) originating from three apiaries (four colonies per apiary) using PCR to test for interactions between these two parasites. For that purpose, we measured the frequency of single and double infections, estimated the parasite loads of single and double infections, and determined the type of correlation between both parasites in double infections. If interactions between both parasites are strong and antagonistic, single infections should be more frequent than double infections, double infections will have lower parasite loads than single infections, and double infections will present a negative correlation. Overall, a total of 88 workers were infected with N. ceranae, 53 with L. passim, and eight with both parasites. Although both parasites were found in all three apiaries, there were significant differences among apiaries in the proportions of infected bees. The data show no significant differences between the expected and observed frequencies of single‐ and double‐infected bees. While the infection loads of individual bees were significantly higher for L. passim compared to N. ceranae, there were no significant differences in infection loads between single‐ and double‐infected hosts for both parasites. These results suggest no strong interactions between the two parasites in honey bees, possibly due to spatial separation in the host. The significant positive correlation between L. passim and N. ceranae infection loads in double‐infected hosts therefore most likely results from differences among individual hosts rather than cooperation between parasites. Even if hosts are infected by multiple parasites, this does not necessarily imply that there are any significant interactions between them.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host sharing by the honey bee parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae

Tritschler

Retschnig

Yañez

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Pettis et al (2012) reported a higher infection of Nosema species in honeybees exposed to neonicotinoids, while Aufauvre et al (2012) demonstrated the impact of multiple exposure to both parasites and pesticides. However, under field conditions, Retschnig et al (2015) found no interactions between N. ceranae and neonicotinoid pesticides, and therefore, more studies under natural situations are necessary before definitive conclusions can be made.…”

Section: Pesticidesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Honeybee health in Africa—a review

Pirk¹,

Strauss²,

Yusuf³

et al. 2015

Apidologie

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-Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) pathogens and parasites and the negative effects thereof on honeybee populations remain an issue of public concern and the subject of active research. Africa with its high genetic diversity of honeybee sub-species and large wild population is also exposed to various factors responsible for colony losses in other parts of the world. Apart from the current American foulbrood epidemic in the Western Cape of South Africa, no large-scale colony losses have been reported elsewhere on the continent. We discuss the presence of pathogens, parasites, pests and predators of African honeybees as well as the threats they face in relation to habitat changes arising from the impact of increased human populations. In addition, we discuss current efforts aimed at protecting and promoting the health of African honeybees.honeybees / Africa / honeybee health / pathogens / parasites / pests / predators / habitat loss

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“…As mentioned earlier, when multiple stresses (such as pesticides and parasites) are combined, the outcome for individual bees, colonies and populations is predicted to be negative (Bryden et al, 2013;Vanbergen et al, 2013;Goulson et al, 2015). Indeed, studies supporting this idea are on the increase (Alaux et al, 2010;Vidau et al, 2011;Fauser-Misslin et al, 2014;Retschnig et al, 2014;Doublet et al, 2015; but see Retschnig et al, 2015), but significant knowledge gaps relating the effects of potential ecologically relevant threats to diverse pollinators persist (Lundin et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Neonicotinoids override a parasite exposure impact on hibernation success of a key bumblebee pollinator

Fauser

Sandrock

Neumann

et al. 2017

Ecological Entomology

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Abstract. 1. Seasonal adaptations enabling the bridging of periodic challenging abiotic conditions are taxonomically widespread. However, sensitivity to other environmental stresses can be heightened during these periods.2. Several temperate insects with over-wintering strategies play key ecosystem and economic roles, including wild bee pollinators. For example, hibernation survival in temperate bumblebees is crucial, as only new queens of future social colonies over-winter. These bees are also faced with other abiotic and biotic stressors, some of which have been linked to recent pollinator declines, such as exposure to pesticides and parasites.3. Using a fully crossed experiment, the influence of dietary exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides (thiamethoxam and clothianidin) and/or the prevalent bumblebee parasite Crithidia bombi on hibernation survival and hibernation weight change of Bombus terrestris bumblebee queens was investigated.4. Both neonicotinoid and C. bombi exposures reduced hibernation success individually, but no additive or synergistic effects between the stressors were found. Further, effects were asynchronous, with early neonicotinoid effects on hibernation mortality overriding later parasite effects under combined exposures. Neonicotinoid exposure also increased hibernation weight loss of surviving queens.5. Diapause periods, employed by numerous temperate organisms, are likely to be especially vulnerable to environmental stresses, besides the seasonal challenge for which these periods are an adaptation. Thus, diapause requires inclusion during the consideration of the impacts of such stresses. Accordingly, it is demonstrated here that naturally relevant exposures of pesticides and parasites have important detrimental effects on bumblebees during a critical hibernation period, with potential consequences for populations of these key wild pollinators.

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Effects, but no interactions, of ubiquitous pesticide and parasite stressors on honey bee (Apis mellifera) lifespan and behaviour in a colony environment

Cited by 52 publications

References 78 publications

Host sharing by the honey bee parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae

Host sharing by the honey bee parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae

Honeybee health in Africa—a review

Neonicotinoids override a parasite exposure impact on hibernation success of a key bumblebee pollinator

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