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Related Experiment Video

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How Population Structure and Nest Membership Shape Pathogen Patterns in Bumble Bees.

Jana Dobelmann¹, Lena Wilfert¹

¹Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

Molecular Ecology

|October 14, 2025

Summary

Island bumble bee populations show that high genetic diversity does not protect against pathogens. Instead, pathogen prevalence in bumble bees (Bombus spp.) is linked to colony density and genetic similarity within nests.

Keywords:

bumble bee density genetic diversity pathogen population structure

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Pathogen Dynamics

Background:

Host density, genetic diversity, and social structure are crucial for wildlife pathogen transmission.
Interactions between these factors are poorly understood, especially in insect populations.
Islands offer unique ecological settings to study these dynamics due to distinct population variations.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of host density and genetic diversity on pathogen transmission in bumble bee populations.
To test predictions that dense, genetically homogeneous populations facilitate pathogen spread.
To assess pathogen prevalence in relation to population structure and genetic diversity across island and mainland bumble bee species.

Main Methods:

Assessed population structure of Bombus pascuorum and Bombus terrestris across island and mainland sites.
Genetically analyzed bumble bee populations for heterozygosity and genetic clustering.
Tested bees for five micro-parasitic and four viral pathogens.
Correlated pathogen prevalence with colony density, genetic diversity, and genetic similarity.

Main Results:

Bumble bee species showed varied population structuring on islands, with some populations exhibiting low heterozygosity.
Colony density positively influenced the prevalence of certain pathogens, independent of genetic diversity.
Contrary to hypotheses, high genetic diversity did not confer protection against pathogens.
Nestmates displayed more similar pathogen profiles than unrelated individuals, indicating the role of within-nest social structure.

Conclusions:

Bumble bee pathogen transmission is influenced by colony density and within-nest genetic similarity, rather than solely by overall genetic diversity.
Generalist bumble bee pathogens may be more sensitive to host species diversity and density.
Social structure and high contact rates within nests play a significant role in shaping pathogen prevalence in wild bees.