Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen
Pathogens are one of the factors driving pollinator declines. Diet can play an important role in mediating pollinator health and resistance to pathogens. Sunflower pollen (Helianthus annuus) dramatically reduced a gut pathogen (Crithidia bombi) of Bombus impatiens previously, but the breadth of this...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.190279 |
| _version_ | 1819092216411324416 |
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| author | George M. LoCascio Luis Aguirre Rebecca E. Irwin Lynn S. Adler |
| author_facet | George M. LoCascio Luis Aguirre Rebecca E. Irwin Lynn S. Adler |
| author_sort | George M. LoCascio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pathogens are one of the factors driving pollinator declines. Diet can play an important role in mediating pollinator health and resistance to pathogens. Sunflower pollen (Helianthus annuus) dramatically reduced a gut pathogen (Crithidia bombi) of Bombus impatiens previously, but the breadth of this effect was unknown. We tested whether pollen from nine H. annuus cultivars, four wild H. annuus populations, H. petiolarus, H. argophyllus and two Solidago spp., reduced Crithidia in B. impatiens compared to mixed wildflower pollen and buckwheat pollen (Fagopyrum esculentum) as controls. We also compared hand- and honeybee-collected pollen (which contains nectar) to assess whether diet effects on pathogens were due to pollen or nectar. All Helianthus and Solidago pollen reduced Crithidia by 20–40-fold compared to buckwheat pollen, and all but three taxa reduced Crithidia compared to wildflower pollen. We found no consistent differences between hand- and bee-collected pollen, suggesting that pollen alone can reduce Crithidia infection. Our results indicate an important role of pollen diet for bee health and potentially broad options within the Asteraceae for pollinator plantings to manage bee disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:52:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9fdeff2fb994175803ae4d57fe60adf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:52:05Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9fdeff2fb994175803ae4d57fe60adf2022-12-21T18:47:33ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032019-04-016410.1098/rsos.190279190279Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogenGeorge M. LoCascioLuis AguirreRebecca E. IrwinLynn S. AdlerPathogens are one of the factors driving pollinator declines. Diet can play an important role in mediating pollinator health and resistance to pathogens. Sunflower pollen (Helianthus annuus) dramatically reduced a gut pathogen (Crithidia bombi) of Bombus impatiens previously, but the breadth of this effect was unknown. We tested whether pollen from nine H. annuus cultivars, four wild H. annuus populations, H. petiolarus, H. argophyllus and two Solidago spp., reduced Crithidia in B. impatiens compared to mixed wildflower pollen and buckwheat pollen (Fagopyrum esculentum) as controls. We also compared hand- and honeybee-collected pollen (which contains nectar) to assess whether diet effects on pathogens were due to pollen or nectar. All Helianthus and Solidago pollen reduced Crithidia by 20–40-fold compared to buckwheat pollen, and all but three taxa reduced Crithidia compared to wildflower pollen. We found no consistent differences between hand- and bee-collected pollen, suggesting that pollen alone can reduce Crithidia infection. Our results indicate an important role of pollen diet for bee health and potentially broad options within the Asteraceae for pollinator plantings to manage bee disease.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.190279bumblebeesbombus impatienscrithidia bombigoldenrodpollinator declinesunflower |
| spellingShingle | George M. LoCascio Luis Aguirre Rebecca E. Irwin Lynn S. Adler Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen Royal Society Open Science bumblebees bombus impatiens crithidia bombi goldenrod pollinator decline sunflower |
| title | Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen |
| title_full | Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen |
| title_fullStr | Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen |
| title_short | Pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen |
| title_sort | pollen from multiple sunflower cultivars and species reduces a common bumblebee gut pathogen |
| topic | bumblebees bombus impatiens crithidia bombi goldenrod pollinator decline sunflower |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.190279 |
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