The presence of a larval honey bee parasite, Ascosphaera apis, on flowers reduces pollinator visitation to several plant species

Yousefi, Babak; Fouks, Bertrand

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2019.03.006

Cited by 6 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Parasite transmission can be affected by floral traits that affect physical contact and/or flower handling time during foraging (reviewed in McArt et al, 2014). Recent evidence suggests that flower architecture may play a role in pollinator disease avoidance (Yousefi and Fouks, 2019). Recent evidence suggests that flower architecture may play a role in pollinator disease avoidance (Yousefi and Fouks, 2019).…”

Section: Self-medicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the 10th consecutive flower visited by the pollinator, pollen deposition does not differ significantly between pollinators exhibiting high and low grooming intensities. of larval honey bee parasites (Yousefi and Fouks, 2019). The pollen dispersal of a donor flower by a pollinator was then calculated as a function of flower contamination (Figure 2).…”

Section: Self-medicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This model incorporates various grooming intensities, however in our case we expect to have only high intensity of grooming when flowers are contaminated by a parasite (intensive grooming as immune behavior). In addition, avoidance rate has been shown to be dependent on both plant and pollinator species, suggesting the role of flower handling in pollinator avoidance and parasite transmission (Durrer & Schmid-Hempel, 1994;Yousefi and Fouks, 2019). Most of the pollen is deposited or lost on the first five flowers visited by the pollinator, regardless of overall parasite prevalence.…”

Section: Self-medicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to affecting flower visitation, parasite avoidance may have played a role in the evolution of alternative foraging strategies that facilitate consumption of flower nectar without flower visitation, as exemplified by nectar-robbing (Box 2). Pollinator avoidance of flowers contaminated by parasites specific to the foraging pollinator species, and closely related pollinator species has been observed (Fouks & Lattorff, 2011Yousefi & Fouks, 2019). Pollinator avoidance of parasites on flowers requires pollinator detection of cues indicating parasite presence.…”

Section: Disease Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there is no direct evidence of the impact of floral parasite presence on plant fitness, parasite presence on flowers seems to reduce the relative attractiveness of their reward (Fouks & Lattorff, 2011. Moreover, pollinator disease avoidance can lead to a reduction in the overall pollinator visitation rates (Yousefi and Fouks, 2019). Since reduced pollinator visitation leads to pollen limitation (Knight et al, 2005) and decreased plant reproductive success (Irwin & Brody, 1998), the presence of pollinator parasites on flowers is likely to negatively impact plant fitness.…”

Section: Disease Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Pollinator parasites and the evolution of floral traits

Fouks

Wagoner

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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The main selective force driving floral evolution and diversity is plant–pollinator interactions. Pollinators use floral signals and indirect cues to assess flower reward, and the ensuing flower choice has major implications for plant fitness. While many pollinator behaviors have been described, the impact of parasites on pollinator foraging decisions and plant–pollinator interactions have been largely overlooked. Growing evidence of the transmission of parasites through the shared‐use of flowers by pollinators demonstrate the importance of behavioral immunity (altered behaviors that enhance parasite resistance) to pollinator health. During foraging bouts, pollinators can protect themselves against parasites through self‐medication, disease avoidance, and grooming. Recent studies have documented immune behaviors in foraging pollinators, as well as the impacts of such behaviors on flower visitation. Because pollinator parasites can affect flower choice and pollen dispersal, they may ultimately impact flower fitness. Here, we discuss how pollinator immune behaviors and floral traits may affect the presence and transmission of pollinator parasites, as well as how pollinator parasites, through these immune behaviors, can impact plant–pollinator interactions. We further discuss how pollinator immune behaviors can impact plant fitness, and how floral traits may adapt to optimize plant fitness in response to pollinator parasites. We propose future research directions to assess the role of pollinator parasites in plant–pollinator interactions and evolution, and we propose better integration of the role of pollinator parasites into research related to pollinator optimal foraging theory, floral diversity and agricultural practices.

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Section: Self-medicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Self-medicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Self-medicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Disease Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Disease Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Pollinator parasites and the evolution of floral traits

Fouks

Wagoner

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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The threat of pesticide and disease co-exposure to managed and wild bee larvae

Yordanova

Evison

Richard

et al. 2022

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Co-incubation of dsRNA reduces proportion of viable spores of Ascosphaera apis, a honey bee fungal pathogen

Tauber

Einspanier

Evans

et al. 2020

Journal of Apicultural Research

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There are viral, fungal, bacterial and trypanosomal pathogens that negatively impact the individual and superorganismal health of the western honey bee. One fungal pathogen, Ascosphaera apis , affects larvae and causes the disease chalkbrood. A previous genome analysis of As. apis revealed that its genome encodes for RNA interference genes, similar to other fungi and eukaryotes. Here, we examined whether As. apis -targeting double-stranded RNA species could disrupt the germination of As. apis .We observed that when spores were co-incubated with As. apis -targeting dsRNA, fewer spores were activated for germination, suggesting an uptake of exogenous genetic material at the very onset of germination and consequent damage to essential transcripts needed for germination. Overall, these results indicate that the causative agent of chalkbrood disease, As. apis , can be successfully targeted using an RNAi-based strategy. also made available for use under a CC0 license.

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The presence of a larval honey bee parasite, Ascosphaera apis, on flowers reduces pollinator visitation to several plant species

Cited by 6 publications

References 48 publications

Pollinator parasites and the evolution of floral traits

Pollinator parasites and the evolution of floral traits

The threat of pesticide and disease co-exposure to managed and wild bee larvae

Co-incubation of dsRNA reduces proportion of viable spores of Ascosphaera apis, a honey bee fungal pathogen

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