Prospects in Connecting Genetic Variation to Variation in Fertility in Male Bees

Abstract

Bees are economically and ecologically important pollinating species. Managed and native bee species face increasing pressures from human-created stressors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and introduced pathogens. There has been increasing attention towards how each of these factors impacts fertility, especially sperm production and maintenance in males. Here, we turn our attention towards another important factor impacting phenotypic variation: genetics. Using honey bees as a model, we explore the current understanding of how genetic variation within and between populations contributes to variation in sperm production, sperm maintenance, and insemination success among males. We conclude with perspectives and future directions in the study of male fertility in honey bees and non-Apis pollinators more broadly, which still remain largely understudied.

Male Reproduction: Regulation, Differentiation and Epigenetics

“…Finally, Slater and colleagues [ 10 ] placed their attention on the fertility of male honeybees, a specie that has fundamental ecological and economical importance, but that, at the same time, is worryingly threatened by anthropic activities. They discussed the up-to-date knowledge of how genetic variation within and between populations contributes to variation in SPZ production and maintenance, as well as insemination success among male bees.…”