Interaction effects of different drivers of wild bee decline and their influence on host–pathogen dynamics

Meeus, Ivan; Pisman, Matti; Smagghe, Guy; Piot, Niels

doi:10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.007

Cited by 52 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Knowledge about the health of bees and bumblebees is important as they are among the most important pollinators for many native plants as well as several crops [ 42 , 43 ]. Wild bee and bumblebee populations have been in a steady decline worldwide [ 7 ], and among several factors, land-use change and increased pathogen prevalence have been proposed to contribute to bee decline [ 8 , 9 , 44 ]. As anthropogenic use of land is likely to increase, we investigated the impact of urbanization on the gut microbial community composition of wild B .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Habitat loss and fragmentation, decline in food resources and nest availability, and increased use of pesticides, as well as climate change have been proposed as the most important factors leading to insect decline [ 8 ]. Recently, increased prevalence of diseases and parasites has been suggested to contribute to pollinator decline as well [ 9 ]. However, there is increasing consensus that there is likely no single factor that can explain this severe decline, but rather a complex interaction of many factors that act together [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat-specific variation in gut microbial communities and pathogen prevalence in bumblebee queens (Bombus terrestris)

et al. 2018

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Gut microbial communities are critical for the health of many insect species. However, little is known about how gut microbial communities respond to anthropogenic changes and how such changes affect host-pathogen interactions. In this study, we used deep sequencing to investigate and compare the composition of gut microbial communities within the midgut and ileum (both bacteria and fungi) in Bombus terrestris queens collected from natural (forest) and urbanized habitats. Additionally, we investigated whether the variation in gut microbial communities under each habitat affected the prevalence of two important bumblebee pathogens that have recently been associated with Bombus declines (Crithidia bombi and Nosema bombi). Microbial community composition differed strongly among habitat types, both for fungi and bacteria. Fungi were almost exclusively associated with bumblebee queens from the forest habitats, and were not commonly detected in bumblebee queens from the urban sites. Further, gut bacterial communities of urban B. terrestris specimens were strongly dominated by bee-specific core bacteria like Snodgrassella (Betaproteobacteria) and Gilliamella (Gammaproteobacteria), whereas specimens from the forest sites contained a huge fraction of environmental bacteria. Pathogen infection was very low in urban populations and infection by Nosema was only observed in specimens collected from forest habitats. No significant relationship was found between pathogen prevalence and microbial gut diversity. However, there was a significant and negative relationship between prevalence of Nosema and relative abundance of the core resident Snodgrassella, supporting its role in pathogen defense. Overall, our results indicate that land-use change may lead to different microbial gut communities in bumblebees, which may have implications for bumblebee health, survival and overall fitness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat-specific variation in gut microbial communities and pathogen prevalence in bumblebee queens (Bombus terrestris)

et al. 2018

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“…This means that the queen survives one year and her reproductive daughters (gynes) start new colonies in the spring after an overwinter period of torpor (called diapause) [ 28 , 29 ]. There are numerous species of bumble bees, some of which have suffered high losses and local extinctions that are partially attributed to habitat destruction and fragmentation, chemical-exposure, pathogens, and climate change, [ 26 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. The majority of bumble bee host pathogen research has focused on microsporidia (i.e., Nosema bombi ) and trypanosomatid (i.e., Crithidia bombi ) infections [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], though there is a growing body of virus literature, which is featured herein [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inter-genera virus transmission is likely influenced by virus prevalence and abundance in bee populations, as well as the dynamic composition of bee and forb species in specific geographic regions. In addition, plant-pollinator networks and in turn pathogen transmission between co-foraging bees, are influenced by habitat loss and will likely be influenced by climate change [ 31 , 37 ]. Investigating the co-evolutionary history of specific virus-host pairs, host antiviral immune responses, and viral counter measures in numerous bee species will greatly enhance our understanding of bee virus ecology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Honey Bee and Bumble Bee Antiviral Defense

McMenamin

Daughenbaugh

Parekh

et al. 2018

Viruses

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Bees are important plant pollinators in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Managed and wild bees have experienced high average annual colony losses, population declines, and local extinctions in many geographic regions. Multiple factors, including virus infections, impact bee health and longevity. The majority of bee-infecting viruses are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Bee-infecting viruses often cause asymptomatic infections but may also cause paralysis, deformity or death. The severity of infection is governed by bee host immune responses and influenced by additional biotic and abiotic factors. Herein, we highlight studies that have contributed to the current understanding of antiviral defense in bees, including the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), the Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) and bumble bee species (Bombus spp.). Bee antiviral defense mechanisms include RNA interference (RNAi), endocytosis, melanization, encapsulation, autophagy and conserved immune pathways including Jak/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) and the NF-κB mediated Toll and Imd (immune deficiency) pathways. Studies in Dipteran insects, including the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and pathogen-transmitting mosquitos, provide the framework for understanding bee antiviral defense. However, there are notable differences such as the more prominent role of a non-sequence specific, dsRNA-triggered, virus limiting response in honey bees and bumble bees. This virus-limiting response in bees is akin to pathways in a range of organisms including other invertebrates (i.e., oysters, shrimp and sand flies), as well as the mammalian interferon response. Current and future research aimed at elucidating bee antiviral defense mechanisms may lead to development of strategies that mitigate bee losses, while expanding our understanding of insect antiviral defense and the potential evolutionary relationship between sociality and immune function.

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“…Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), including managed honey bees and wild bees, are believed to be the most effective pollinators because of their specific pollen-carrying body structures, with wild bees representing the main pollinators for a large number of agricultural crops ( Biesmeijer et al 2006 ). However, with the acute declines in managed honey bee and wild bee populations over recent decades, there are great concerns about the loss of pollination services from these key providers ( Biesmeijer et al 2006 , Stokstad 2007 , Hayes et al 2008 , Potts et al 2010 , Meeus et al 2018 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Plant Diversity, Vegetation Composition, and Habitat Type on Different Functional Trait Groups of Wild Bees in Rural Beijing

Axmacher

Song

et al. 2018

Journal of Insect Science

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The loss of flower-rich habitats and agricultural intensification have resulted in significant losses of wild bee diversity from agricultural landscapes that is increasingly threatening the pollination of zoochorous agricultural crops and agricultural sustainability. However, the links of different wild bee functional trait groups with habitat types and plant resources in agricultural landscapes remain poorly understood, thus impeding the formulation of effective policies for bee conservation. We therefore analyzed how bees representing different functional groups responded to variations in habitat type, vegetation composition and plant diversity. Natural shrubland sustained the highest diversity in bees overall, in large-sized bees, solitary bees and belowground-nesting bees, while each habitat harbored unique species. In half of the functional bee groups, species were negatively linked to tree coverage and herb coverage, respectively, while plant diversity was positively related to all functional groups except large-sized bees and aboveground-nesting bees. Overall bee abundance was positively related to abundance of plants in the Sympetalae, and negatively related to abundance of plants in the Archichlamydeae. Different bee functional groups showed distinct preferences for different plant communities. In order to conserve the diversity of wild bees across functional groups to optimize associated pollination services, a diverse habitat mosaic, and particularly plant species in Sympetalae need to be promoted in agricultural landscapes. Future studies should aim to enhance our understanding of plant-pollinator associations and specific food requirement of different wild bee species for their effective conservation.

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Interaction effects of different drivers of wild bee decline and their influence on host–pathogen dynamics

Cited by 52 publications

References 47 publications

Habitat-specific variation in gut microbial communities and pathogen prevalence in bumblebee queens (Bombus terrestris)

Habitat-specific variation in gut microbial communities and pathogen prevalence in bumblebee queens (Bombus terrestris)

Honey Bee and Bumble Bee Antiviral Defense

Effects of Plant Diversity, Vegetation Composition, and Habitat Type on Different Functional Trait Groups of Wild Bees in Rural Beijing

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