Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Global declines in pollinators, including bees, can have major consequences for ecosystem services. Bees are dominant pollinators, making it imperative to mitigate declines. Pathogens are strongly implicated in the decline of native and honey bees. Diet affects bee immune responses, suggesting the potential for floral resources to provide natural resistance to pathogens. We discovered that sunflower (Helianthus annuus) pollen dramatically and consistently reduced a protozoan pathogen (Crithidia bombi) infection in bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) and also reduced a microsporidian pathogen (Nosema ceranae) of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), indicating the potential for broad anti-parasitic effects. In a field survey, bumble bees from farms with more sunflower area had lower Crithidia infection rates. Given consistent effects of sunflower in reducing pathogens, planting sunflower in agroecosystems and native habitat may provide a simple solution to reduce disease and improve the health of economically and ecologically important pollinators.
Source: Scientific Reports
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Awards: G1092513048, Collaborative Research: The role of floral secondary compounds in bee performance and disease transmission in a natural ecosystem, G157154203, G1805376146, G2144462574, G2755829895, Collaborative Research: The role of floral secondary compounds in bee performance and disease transmission in a natural ecosystem, G3745789502, G4301983112, G4544156836, G5032551810, G6378590229
OpenAlex ID: W2890826894