Dietary foundations for pollinators: nutritional profiling of plants for bee health

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: June 26, 2024

Human activities, including urban expansion, intensive farming practices, and the application of pesticides have significantly reshaped bee habitats. Understanding nutritional content pollen, primary source bees’ proteins lipids, is important for maintaining their diet health. In this study, we set out to determine composition pollen from various plant families genera. Our objectives were analyze levels non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), amino (AAs), protein-to-lipid (P:L) ratios, omega-6:3 ratios 57 species native North America. These data suggest a potential trade-off between NEFA AA within suggesting that diverse floral may benefit bees more than single source. The profiles showed considerable diversity, with all providing essential (EAAs) required health, except methionine which was lacking in Rhus glabra pollen. family Asteraceae especially abundant EAAs. P:L varied widely further emphasizing need access array profiles. There no overall differences introduced species. This study highlights significance resources meet comprehensive needs bees, contributing support pollinator populations broader ecological system.

Language: Английский

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Divergent impacts of the neonicotinoid insecticide, clothianidin, on flight performance metrics in two species of migratory butterflies

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Long-distance flight is crucial for the survival of migratory insects, and disruptions to their capacity can have significant consequences conservation. In this study, we examined how a widely used insecticide, clothianidin (class: neonicotinoid), impacted performance two species butterflies, monarchs (Danaus plexippus) painted ladies (Vanessa cardui). To do this, quantified free-flight energetics tethered-flight velocity distance using flow-through respirometry mill assays. Our findings show differential effects pesticide on species. For ladies, found that exposure reduced average metabolic rates, but did not affect either or total during tethered flight. Other studies linked low rates with dispersal capacity, indicating may hinder lady in wild. Conversely, monarchs, saw no effect observe increases velocity, large individuals, achieved by clothianidin-exposed This suggests potential stimulatory response low-dose exposures clothianidin. These indicate has influence all are same way. highlights need be thoughtful when selecting assays, as different assays evaluate fundamentally distinct aspects physiology, such yield divergent results.

Language: Английский

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Late summer western monarch survival is affected by shade environment and milkweed species

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 19, 2025

Background Periods of extreme heat are increasing, impacting many plants and animals. In the western United States, temperatures often exceed growth survival thresholds for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), necessitating that conservation plans this iconic species develop new alternatives to augment larval performance in planning process. Microrefugia, small scale habitats buffer organisms from conditions, may be a useful strategy when restoring or conserving habitat. Methods To understand role microclimate as feature habitat, we conducted an observational study across five states determine use shaded habitat relative open sunny shade is available. We then experimental field which placed second instar caterpillars enclosures two microhabitats (sun shade) with hostplant (showy narrow-leaved milkweed) quantified responses last generation before fall migration. Results study, monarchs used at higher rate than full sun was The indicated adults on showy milkweed while similar environments. Similarly, foraged were smaller those shade, narrowed-leaved not impacted by microhabitat. Implications Insect Conservation Together findings suggest would benefit including microrefugia well milkweed, appropriate, support late-season breeding.

Language: Английский

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Extent and impacts of winter breeding in the North American monarch butterfly

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 59, P. 101077 - 101077

Published: June 17, 2023

Since the 1960s, scientists have observed North American monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) continuing reproductive activities past fall migration and into winter months when climate is mild. Recent work suggests that small populations of breeding monarchs are present in western southeastern USA, as well northwestern Mexico, with new forming areas where non-native milkweeds planted. The year-round presence milkweed plants temperatures suitable for immature development vital factors allowing breeding. Non-native milkweeds, conjunction novel barriers to migration, likely contributing rise behavior. Warmer climates already impacting phenology range, possibly favoring Similar pressures but different implications expected eastern given differences ecology, species, changes two regions.

Language: Английский

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Evaluating the influence of plant defenses on prey quality as an opportunity to enhance biological control in agroecosystems

Biological Control, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 193, P. 105515 - 105515

Published: April 21, 2024

To ensure sustainable food production within agroecosystems, effective pest control is of utmost importance. One critical component integrated management biological control. The attraction, retention, and persistence natural enemies cropping systems are key factors for the success effectiveness Despite great efforts to attract augment in little known about retention their populations after they arrive at a crop field. Plant defensive traits play role shaping herbivore population dynamics, yet impact on structure carnivorous arthropod communities contribution boosting remains understudied. Here, we discuss plant defenses retaining enemy by influencing quality herbivorous as prey enemies. These bottom-up effects host-plant often overlooked development strategies. However, these could serve foundation novel applications management.

Language: Английский

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Ecological Dynamics of Volatile Organic Compound–Mediated Interactions in Aristolochia Contorta With Parasitoids and Herbivores

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

In the evolutionary arms race between plants and herbivores, sophisticated mechanisms of indirect plant defense play a pivotal role. This study investigated role volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in attracting parasitoid Ooencyrtus spp. to Aristolochia contorta, while also providing insights into interactions among A. herbivore Sericinus montela, tritrophic context. utilized field surveys, olfactometer experiments, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis investigate VOCs. Field surveys showed 54.6% egg parasitism rate, with quadrats containing contorta larvae more than those alone. bioassays, preferred leaves damaged by pattern wheel simulating damage, 46.8% choosing these over undamaged controls. Leaves treated larval saliva were similarly attractive, drawing 48.7% spp.; however, difference attraction saliva-treated untreated was not statistically significant, suggesting may be central attraction. GC-MS identified VOCs leaves, including hexyl acetate, cyclohexene, δ-cadinene, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, minimal amounts exo-isocitral β-pinene. Despite complex responses, our suggests saliva-induced do significantly boost finding implies that VOC response damage application is multifaceted, serving multiple defensive functions, amount insufficient substantially influence behavior toward leaves. Our results emphasize contorta's contribute understanding ecological dynamics within plant-parasitoid-herbivore interactions. Moreover, findings suggest new avenues for exploring roles chemical signals, highlighting facilitated cues defenses.

Language: Английский

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Isotopic (δ2H and δ13C) tracing the provenance and fate of individual fatty acids fueling migrating animals: A case study of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Nov. 25, 2022

Introduction Among long-distance migratory insects, the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus ) is one of most iconic, whose journey fueled by nectar from flowering plants along route which may involve up to 3,500 km. Understanding how and where monarchs obtain their dietary resources fuel flight ensure overwintering stores would provide new insights into strategy this species subsequently help focus conservation efforts. Methods This pilot study was designed as a first attempt assess composition, dynamics, isotopic (δ 2 H, δ 13 C) composition essential non-essential fatty acids (FA) acquired or manufactured de novo larval host milkweed Asclepias spp.) butterflies adult emergence overwintering. Results Data controlled laboratory tracer tests suggested that convert energy mainly 16:0 18:1 store them neutral lipids in abdomen. FA reflects not only sources but also subsequent fractionation metabolism. On other hand, H values omega-3 acid alpha-linolenic (ALA) correlated with Wing , markers an individual’s geographic origin indicated importance diet. Additionally, wild-type females, high C ALA between polar might indicate increased bioconversion activity during gravidity. Finally, LIN showed positive isotope sources, indicating catabolic processes were involved manufacture. Furthermore, negative correlation values, could potentially be useful when investigating individual life-history traits, such efforts periods fasting. Discussion interpretation supported significant larger variations compared FA. Altogether, our results evidence analysis migrating can used infer nutritional history individuals including provenance nectaring sites key life events.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal plasticity in morphology and metabolism differs between migratory North American and resident Costa Rican monarch butterflies

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

Abstract Environmental heterogeneity in temperate latitudes is expected to maintain seasonally plastic life‐history strategies that include the tuning of morphologies and metabolism support overwintering. For species have expanded their ranges into tropical latitudes, it unclear extent which capacity for plasticity will be maintained or erode with disuse. The migratory generations North American (NA) monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus lead distinctly different lives from summer generation NA parents descendants living Costa Rica (CR). monarchs postpone reproduction, travel thousands kilometers south overwinter Mexico, subsist on little food months. Whether recently dispersed populations such as those Rica, are no longer subject selection imposed by migration, retain ancestral seasonal unclear. To investigate differences plasticity, we reared CR autumn Illinois, USA, measured reaction norms aspects morphology related flight. were forewing thorax size, increasing wing area body mass ratio autumn. While increased autumn, they did not increase forewing. similar resting maximal flight metabolic rates across seasons. However, had elevated Our findings suggest recent expansion habitats year‐round breeding may accompanied (1) loss some morphological well (2) underlying physiological mechanisms homeostasis face temperature heterogeneity.

Language: Английский

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Dramatic Recent Declines in the Size of Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Roosts During Fall Migration

Published: May 24, 2024

The conservation status of monarch butterflies in North America is a topic intense scrutiny and debate. It clear that winter colonies Mexico are declining, yet some recent studies suggest summer breeding populations relatively stable similar to historical abundances. One possible explanation for these discordant patterns fall migration success has been recently disrupted. Here, we use unexplored citizen-scientist dataset on the size “roosts,” which resting aggregations vegetation, infer changes abundance along route over last 17 years. We found timing remained unchanged while flyway generally become warmer greener. Warmer greener conditions were associated with larger roosts, steady, dramatic declines roost sizes through time independent climate landscape factors. Roost have declined as much 80%, losses increasing from north south route. These findings failure during could explain apparent drop numbers overwintering populations. This turn suggests efforts support most needed, such limiting planting non-native milkweeds enhance parasite loads perhaps dampen success. Overall, it appears under imminent threat, even if species’ overall survival not.

Language: Английский

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The Adaptability of Beet Webworm (Loxostege sticticalis) to Soybeans and Other Different Host Plants

Agronomy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(11), P. 2595 - 2595

Published: Nov. 4, 2024

The beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis has caused significant economic losses to the production of agriculture and animal husbandry in China. Preference testing larva feeding adult oviposition flight capability tests were carried out on five host plants: soybean, pigweed, pea, broad bean, alfalfa. An experimental population life table growth trends over subsequent 200 days constructed. test results show that larvae showed no preference among different plants. However, adults lay more eggs soybeans. pests failed complete a generation when fed beans alfalfas. When they shortest development period, heaviest pupal weight, longest longevity, largest egg-laying amount. net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic increase (r), finite (λ), simulated trend pigweed highest values, those peas lowest values. total distance time soybeans significantly greater compared peas. In summary, webworms fastest reproduction, population, strongest capability.

Language: Английский

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