Pathways for Novel Epidemiology: Plant–Pollinator–Pathogen Networks and Global Change

Abstract

Multiple global change pressures, and their interplay, cause plant-pollinator extinctions and modify species assemblages and interactions. This may alter the risks of pathogen host shifts, intra-or interspecific pathogen spread, and emergence of novel population or community epidemics. Flowers are hubs for pathogen transmission. Consequently, the structure of plant-pollinator interaction networks may be pivotal in pathogen host shifts and modulating disease dynamics. Traits of plants, pollinators, and pathogens may also govern the interspecific spread of pathogens. Pathogen spillover-spillback between managed and wild pollinators risks driving the evolution of virulence and community epidemics. Understanding this interplay between host-pathogen dynamics and global change will be crucial to predicting impacts on pollinators and pollination underpinning ecosystems and human wellbeing.

Experimental cross species transmission of a major viral pathogen in bees is predominantly from honeybees to bumblebees

“…Bombus terrestris is a dominant bee species in temperate European ecosystems that harbours several honeybee-associated viruses in the wild, including DWV (e.g. [ 12 – 24 ]). We used commercial B. terrestris colonies that were fed UV-radiated, freshly defrosted pollen pellets and honeybee colonies originating from our institute apiary in Halle (Germany) and originally purchased from local beekeepers.…”

Flower sharing and pollinator health: a behavioural perspective

“…This is partly analogous to the models created by Nunn et al [120] exploring faecally transmitted parasites in primates and which could be extended to animals grazing on a replenishing resource, in analogy to depleting flowers. Inevitably, however, the floral system does not allow pathogens to remain present in the environment beyond the short critical time window defined by several factors (figure 1), which should be a strong selective force on the pathogens, giving what is arguably a novel system in epidemiology [1]. In the electronic supplementary material [121], we provide an example of a simplified model, which sets out to explore how individual differences in behaviour within a nest could influence the spread of a florally transmitted disease.…”

“…B 377: 20210157 transmitted parasites in primates and which could be extended to animals grazing on a replenishing resource, in analogy to depleting flowers. Inevitably, however, the floral system does not allow pathogens to remain present in the environment beyond the short critical time window defined by several factors (figure 1), which should be a strong selective force on the pathogens, giving what is arguably a novel system in epidemiology [1]. In the electronic supplementary material https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.…”

“…As with all multicellular organisms, pollinating insects face threats from the pathogens that they have co-evolved alongside for millenia. A fine balance between the geographical distribution, prevalence and infectivity of pathogens defines the health of pollinator populations, and we are just beginning to understand the impacts of disease on plant-pollinator interactions and whole ecosystem dynamics [1]. In the field of pollinator disease ecology, much of the current research focus is on conserving wild pollinator populations and maintaining healthy populations of managed pollinators that are bred and distributed by humans [2], as well as minimizing the risk posed by the latter to the former.…”

Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests

“…As such, the presence of wild pig populations likely increases the susceptibility of coastal forests to invasion by non-native plants, fungi, insects, and pathogens. This is significant as climate change and urbanization are also linked with the increased susceptibility to fungi, pathogens, and insects [115][116][117]. The spread of invasive species and their co-occurring pathogens and pests could be a serious threat to the planted forests that comprise 27% of forests in the US Coastal Plain [23].…”