Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive Strategies
Co-evolution is a major driving force shaping the outcome of host-parasite interactions over time. After host shifts, the lack of co-evolution can have a drastic impact on novel host populations. Nevertheless, it is known that Western honey bee (<i>Apis</i><i>mellifera</i>) p...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/2/120 |
| _version_ | 1797405979145404416 |
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| author | Arrigo Moro Tjeerd Blacquière Delphine Panziera Vincent Dietemann Peter Neumann |
| author_facet | Arrigo Moro Tjeerd Blacquière Delphine Panziera Vincent Dietemann Peter Neumann |
| author_sort | Arrigo Moro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Co-evolution is a major driving force shaping the outcome of host-parasite interactions over time. After host shifts, the lack of co-evolution can have a drastic impact on novel host populations. Nevertheless, it is known that Western honey bee (<i>Apis</i><i>mellifera</i>) populations can cope with host-shifted ectoparasitic mites (<i>Varroa destructor</i>) by means of natural selection. However, adaptive phenotypic traits of the parasites and temporal variations in host resistance behavior are poorly understood. Here, we show that mites made adaptive shifts in reproductive strategy when associated with resistant hosts and that host resistance traits can change over time. In a fully-crossed field experiment, worker brood cells of local adapted and non-adapted (control) <i>A.</i><i>mellifera</i> host colonies were infested with mites originating from both types of host colonies. Then, mite reproduction as well as recapping of cells and removal of infested brood (i.e., Varroa Sensitive Hygiene, VSH) by host workers were investigated and compared to data from the same groups of host colonies three years earlier. The data suggest adaptive shifts in mite reproductive strategies, because mites from adapted hosts have higher probabilities of reproduction, but lower fecundity, when infesting their associated hosts than mites in treated colonies. The results confirm that adapted hosts can reduce mite reproductive success. However, neither recapping of cells nor VSH were significantly expressed, even though the latter was significantly expressed in this adapted population three years earlier. This suggests temporal variation in the expression of adaptive host traits. It also appears as if mechanisms not investigated here were responsible for the reduced mite reproduction in the adapted hosts. In conclusion, a holistic view including mite adaptations and studies of the same parasite/host populations over time appears overdue to finally understand the mechanisms enabling survival of <i>V.</i><i>destructor</i>-infested honey bee host colonies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:18:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9cdb3b75f67e4c0e993c3eed4b6b004e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:18:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-9cdb3b75f67e4c0e993c3eed4b6b004e2023-12-03T15:15:28ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-01-0112212010.3390/insects12020120Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive StrategiesArrigo Moro0Tjeerd Blacquière1Delphine Panziera2Vincent Dietemann3Peter Neumann4Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, CH-3097 Bern, SwitzerlandWageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708PB-1 Wageningen, The NetherlandsWageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708PB-1 Wageningen, The NetherlandsAgroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, CH-3003 Bern, SwitzerlandInstitute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, CH-3097 Bern, SwitzerlandCo-evolution is a major driving force shaping the outcome of host-parasite interactions over time. After host shifts, the lack of co-evolution can have a drastic impact on novel host populations. Nevertheless, it is known that Western honey bee (<i>Apis</i><i>mellifera</i>) populations can cope with host-shifted ectoparasitic mites (<i>Varroa destructor</i>) by means of natural selection. However, adaptive phenotypic traits of the parasites and temporal variations in host resistance behavior are poorly understood. Here, we show that mites made adaptive shifts in reproductive strategy when associated with resistant hosts and that host resistance traits can change over time. In a fully-crossed field experiment, worker brood cells of local adapted and non-adapted (control) <i>A.</i><i>mellifera</i> host colonies were infested with mites originating from both types of host colonies. Then, mite reproduction as well as recapping of cells and removal of infested brood (i.e., Varroa Sensitive Hygiene, VSH) by host workers were investigated and compared to data from the same groups of host colonies three years earlier. The data suggest adaptive shifts in mite reproductive strategies, because mites from adapted hosts have higher probabilities of reproduction, but lower fecundity, when infesting their associated hosts than mites in treated colonies. The results confirm that adapted hosts can reduce mite reproductive success. However, neither recapping of cells nor VSH were significantly expressed, even though the latter was significantly expressed in this adapted population three years earlier. This suggests temporal variation in the expression of adaptive host traits. It also appears as if mechanisms not investigated here were responsible for the reduced mite reproduction in the adapted hosts. In conclusion, a holistic view including mite adaptations and studies of the same parasite/host populations over time appears overdue to finally understand the mechanisms enabling survival of <i>V.</i><i>destructor</i>-infested honey bee host colonies.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/2/120<i>Apis mellifera</i>co-evolutionhoney beehostparasite<i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| spellingShingle | Arrigo Moro Tjeerd Blacquière Delphine Panziera Vincent Dietemann Peter Neumann Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive Strategies Insects <i>Apis mellifera</i> co-evolution honey bee host parasite <i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| title | Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive Strategies |
| title_full | Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive Strategies |
| title_short | Host-Parasite Co-Evolution in Real-Time: Changes in Honey Bee Resistance Mechanisms and Mite Reproductive Strategies |
| title_sort | host parasite co evolution in real time changes in honey bee resistance mechanisms and mite reproductive strategies |
| topic | <i>Apis mellifera</i> co-evolution honey bee host parasite <i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/2/120 |
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