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A 3D Printed Pollen Trap for Bumble Bee Bombus Hive Entrances
Published on: July 9, 2020
Pollen-borne microbes shape bee fitness
Prarthana S Dharampal1, Caitlin Carlson2, Cameron R Currie2
11 Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin , Madison, WI , USA.
Abstract:
Teeming within pollen provisions are diverse communities of symbiotic microbes, which provide a variety of benefits to bees. Microbes themselves may represent a major dietary resource for developing bee larvae. Despite their apparent importance in sustaining bee health, evidence linking pollen-borne microbes to larval health is currently lacking. We examined the effects of microbe-deficient diets on the fitness of larval mason bees. In a series of diet manipulations, microbe-rich maternally collected pollen provisions were replaced with increasing fractions of sterilized, microbe-deficient pollen provisions before being fed to developing larvae. Convergent findings from amino acid and fatty acid trophic biomarker analyses revealed that larvae derived a substantial amount of nutrition from microbial prey and occupied a significantly higher trophic position than that of strict herbivores. Larvae feeding on increasingly sterile diets experienced significant adverse effects on growth rates, biomass and survivorship. When completely deprived of pollen-borne microbes, larvae consistently exhibited marked decline in fitness. We conclude that microbes associated with aged pollen provisions are central to bee health, not only as nutritional mutualists, but also as a major dietary component. In an era of global bee decline, the conservation of such bee-microbe interactions may represent an important facet of pollinator protection strategies.
Insights
Microbes in bee pollen are a vital food source for developing larvae, significantly impacting their growth and survival. Protecting these bee-microbe relationships is crucial for pollinator health.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Microbiology
- Entomology
Background:
- Diverse symbiotic microbes inhabit bee pollen, offering benefits to bees.
- These microbes may constitute a significant dietary resource for developing bee larvae.
- Evidence linking pollen-borne microbes to larval health is currently limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of microbe-deficient diets on the fitness of larval mason bees.
- To determine the nutritional contribution of pollen-borne microbes to bee larvae.
- To assess the impact of microbial deprivation on larval growth, biomass, and survival.
Main Methods:
- Larval mason bees were fed diets with varying fractions of sterilized, microbe-deficient pollen.
- Amino acid and fatty acid trophic biomarker analyses were employed.
- Larval growth rates, biomass, and survivorship were measured.
Main Results:
- Trophic biomarker analyses indicated larvae derived substantial nutrition from microbial prey, occupying a higher trophic position than herbivores.
- Larvae on increasingly sterile diets showed significant adverse effects on growth, biomass, and survivorship.
- Complete deprivation of pollen-borne microbes led to a marked decline in larval fitness.
Conclusions:
- Microbes associated with aged pollen are essential for bee health, acting as both nutritional mutualists and a major dietary component.
- The conservation of bee-microbe interactions is vital for pollinator protection, especially amid global bee decline.
- These findings highlight the critical role of symbiotic microbes in sustaining bee populations.
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