Pollinator or pedigree: which factors determine the evolution of pollen nutrients?

Ruedenauer, Fabian A.; Spaethe, Johannes; Kooi, Casper J. van der; Leonhardt, Sara D.

doi:10.1007/s00442-019-04494-x

Cited by 43 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Notably, the majority of the plant species and families we analyzed fall within P:L ratios < 3:1, exhibiting a median of approximately 1.7:1 and mean of approximately 2.5:1 P:L (Figures 1 and 2). These results support the hypothesis that there are physiological, ecological, and phylogenetic limits on pollen nutritional values [17,54]. Perhaps the requirements of producing and depositing other pollen components (exine, intine, sugars, water, which can add up to 50% of pollen weight [22]) limit plants from increasing concentrations of protein and lipid without increasing all other components.…”

Section: Nutritional Content Of Pollensupporting

confidence: 76%

“…Pollen species and bee-nutrition values occupy a wide range of concentrations and ratios ( Figure 1, Table S2). Previous analyses of pollen nutrients ranged from approximately 2% to 60% protein and 1% to 20% lipids [17,22], or 7% to 50.8% protein and 0.48% to 17.6% lipid [54]. Our data are similar; from fresh collected pollen, species concentrations ranged from 1.5% to 48.4% protein and 1.2% to 24.6% lipid.…”

Section: Nutritional Content Of Pollensupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Since analytical methodologies have differed between studies, they have yielded varying species-specific nutrient composition values [17,18,21,[51][52][53]. A recent meta-analysis of pollen nutritional values was the first to consolidate data across studies using different analytical techniques to analyze multiple pollen nutrients and reveal broad phylogenetic trends [54]. This study suggested that there are generally higher protein and P:L ratios found in bee-pollinated versus wind-pollinated plants (although pollen collected directly from bees had not been included).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pollen Protein: Lipid Macronutrient Ratios May Guide Broad Patterns of Bee Species Floral Preferences

Vaudo

Tooker

Patch

et al. 2020

Insects

158

155

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Pollinator nutritional ecology provides insights into plant–pollinator interactions, coevolution, and the restoration of declining pollinator populations. Bees obtain their protein and lipid nutrient intake from pollen, which is essential for larval growth and development as well as adult health and reproduction. Our previous research revealed that pollen protein to lipid ratios (P:L) shape bumble bee foraging preferences among pollen host-plant species, and these preferred ratios link to bumble bee colony health and fitness. Yet, we are still in the early stages of integrating data on P:L ratios across plant and bee species. Here, using a standard laboratory protocol, we present over 80 plant species’ protein and lipid concentrations and P:L values, and we evaluate the P:L ratios of pollen collected by three bee species. We discuss the general phylogenetic, phenotypic, behavioral, and ecological trends observed in these P:L ratios that may drive plant–pollinator interactions; we also present future research questions to further strengthen the field of pollination nutritional ecology. This dataset provides a foundation for researchers studying the nutritional drivers of plant–pollinator interactions as well as for stakeholders developing planting schemes to best support pollinators.

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Section: Nutritional Content Of Pollensupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Nutritional Content Of Pollensupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Pollen Protein: Lipid Macronutrient Ratios May Guide Broad Patterns of Bee Species Floral Preferences

Vaudo

Tooker

Patch

et al. 2020

Insects

158

155

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“…due to linked biosynthesis pathways. For example, a negative correlation between protein and fat, as found by Ruedenauer et al (2019) for pollen collected by bees, might enable bees to select a high P:L ratio (Vaudo et al 2016b) through focusing on a reduced fat/FA intake.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…amino acids (AAs) and fatty acids (FAs), more likely candidates for reception and thus perception. In fact, the content of free AAs positively correlates with the total protein content of pollen ( r = 0.40, P < 0.001; data obtained from Weiner et al ) and negatively with its fat content (for bee‐collected pollen, Ruedenauer et al ). We consequently predicted that bees would use both AAs and FAs in pollen as nutritional cues to obtain information on the content of their regulated macronutrient protein.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Best be(e) on low fat: linking nutrient perception, regulation and fitness

et al. 2020

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Preventing malnutrition through consuming nutritionally appropriate resources represents a challenge for foraging animals. This is due to often high variation in the nutritional quality of available resources. Foragers consequently need to evaluate different food sources. However, even the same food source can provide a plethora of nutritional and non-nutritional cues, which could serve for quality assessment. We show that bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, overcome this challenge by relying on lipids as nutritional cue when selecting pollen. The bees 'prioritised' lipid perception in learning experiments and avoided lipid consumption in feeding experiments, which supported survival and reproduction. In contrast, survival and reproduction were severely reduced by increased lipid contents. Our study highlights the importance of fat regulation for pollen foraging bumblebees. It also reveals that nutrient perception, nutrient regulation and reproductive fitness can be linked, which represents an effective strategy enabling quick foraging decisions that prevent malnutrition and maximise fitness.

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Perception, regulation, and fitness effects of pollen phytosterols in the bumble bee, Bombus terrestris

Nebauer

Schleifer

Ruedenauer

et al. 2023

American J of Botany

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Premise: Many flowering plants depend on insects for pollination and thus attract pollinators by offering rewards, mostly nectar and pollen. Bee pollinators rely on pollen as their main nutrient source. Pollen provides all essential micro-and macronutrients including substances that cannot be synthesized by bees themselves, such as sterols, which bees need for processes such as hormone production. Variations in sterol concentrations may consequently affect bee health and reproductive fitness. We therefore hypothesized that (1) these variations in pollen sterols affect longevity and reproduction in bumble bees and (2) can thus be perceived via the bees' antennae before consumption. Methods: We studied the effect of sterols on longevity and reproduction of Bombus terrestris workers in feeding experiments and investigated sterol perception using chemotactile proboscis extension response (PER) conditioning. Results: Workers could perceive several sterols (cholesterol, cholestenone, desmosterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol) via their antennae but not differentiate between them. However, when sterols were presented in pollen, and not as a single compound, the bees were unable to differentiate between pollen differing in sterol content. Additionally, different sterol concentrations in pollen neither affected pollen consumption nor brood development or worker longevity. Conclusions: Since we used both natural concentrations and concentrations higher than those found in pollen, our results indicate that bumble bees may not need to pay specific attention to pollen sterol content beyond a specific threshold. Naturally encountered concentrations might fully support their sterol requirements and higher concentrations do not seem to have negative effects.

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Pollinator or pedigree: which factors determine the evolution of pollen nutrients?

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Cited by 43 publications

References 49 publications

Pollen Protein: Lipid Macronutrient Ratios May Guide Broad Patterns of Bee Species Floral Preferences

Pollen Protein: Lipid Macronutrient Ratios May Guide Broad Patterns of Bee Species Floral Preferences

Best be(e) on low fat: linking nutrient perception, regulation and fitness

Perception, regulation, and fitness effects of pollen phytosterols in the bumble bee, Bombus terrestris

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