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Does pathogen spillover from commercially reared bumble bees threaten wild pollinators?
Michael C Otterstatter1, James D Thomson
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. michael.otterstatter@utoronto.ca
Plos One
|July 24, 2008
Summary
Pathogen spillover from commercial bumble bees (Bombus spp.) to wild populations is a likely cause of wild bee declines. Reducing parasite loads in commercial bees can help prevent this disease spread.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Insect pollinator declines, particularly in bee species, threaten essential ecosystem services.
- Colony Collapse Disorder in honey bees highlights the vulnerability of pollinators.
- Wild bumble bee populations have also declined, with pathogen spillover from commercial bees suspected as a cause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for pathogen spillover from commercially reared bumble bees to wild populations.
- To model the spatial dynamics of pathogen spread, specifically Crithidia bombi.
- To assess the impact of commercial bumble bees on wild bumble bee health near greenhouses.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a spatially explicit model for pathogen spillover in bumble bees.
- Estimation of pathogen transmission parameters using laboratory experiments and literature data.
- Field monitoring of wild bumble bee populations near greenhouses for Crithidia bombi infection.
Main Results:
- The model predicted rapid disease spread, potentially infecting 35-100% of wild bumble bees within a 2 km radius of greenhouses.
- A disease wave was predicted to spread at approximately 2 km per week.
- Field observations showed Crithidia bombi prevalences consistent with model predictions, with evidence of invasion into several wild bumble bee species.
Conclusions:
- Pathogen spillover from commercial bumble bees is a significant contributor to the decline of wild bumble bee populations in North America.
- Crithidia bombi transmission from commercial to wild bees poses a substantial ecological risk.
- Improved management of commercial bees, including parasite load reduction and reduced overlap with wild populations, is crucial for mitigating spillover and conserving wild bees.
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