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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Entomology
  • Plant-pollinator interactions

Background:

  • Pollen nutritional content, toxicity, and digestibility influence bee development.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for studying bee-flower networks.
  • The role of pollen traits in shaping bee-flower interactions is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of pollen nutritional traits on the development of the generalist bee Bombus terrestris.
  • To assess the nutritional content, toxicity, and digestibility of pollen from Cirsium, Trifolium, Salix, and Cistus genera.
  • To explore how pollen characteristics influence plant selection by bees.

Main Methods:

  • Bioassays using Bombus terrestris microcolonies.
  • Analysis of pollen nutritional content, toxicity, and digestibility.
  • Comparative study of pollen from four different plant genera.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in microcolony development were observed across different pollen types.
  • Cirsium pollen, characterized by rare δ7-sterols and low digestibility, was least favorable for bee development.
  • Bees consuming Cirsium pollen increased syrup collection, suggesting detoxification behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Pollen traits, including nutritional content and digestibility, significantly impact bee development and plant selection.
  • Low digestibility and specific sterols in Cirsium pollen may explain its limited use by generalist bees.
  • This study provides insights into the drivers of plant selection by bees and the rarity of Asteraceae pollen in their diet.