Microbes and pollinator behavior in the floral marketplace

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 44, P. 16 - 22

Published: Oct. 16, 2020

Language: Английский

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More than mesolectic: Characterizing the nutritional niche of Osmia cornifrons

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2023

Abstract Characterizing the nutritional needs of wild bee species is an essential step to better understanding biology and providing suitable supplemental forage for at‐risk species. Here, we aim characterize a model solitary species, Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski), by using dietary protein‐to‐lipid ratio (P:L ratio) as proxy niche breadth. We first identified mean target P:L (~3.02:1) collection range (0.75–6.26:1) from pollen provisions collected across variety sites time points. then investigated tolerance larvae rearing bees in vitro on diets. Multifloral single‐source diets with ratios within surveyed did not always support larval development, indicating that other components such plant secondary compounds micronutrients must also be considered experiments. Finally, used metabarcoding identify whole understand how much plants outside their host families meet needs, well individual forager bouts, observe if maintained strict floral constancy or visited multiple genera per foraging bout. Whole provision surveys revealed surprising use, ranging ~5% 70% provision. Samples trips contained genera, suggesting are some form decision making. Overall, these results suggest O. have wide breadth, but while broad, tolerable alone enough create quality diet , make up carefully considered.

Language: Английский

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Floral nectar: Fifty years of new ecological perspectives beyond pollinator reward

Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 62, P. 125764 - 125764

Published: Nov. 26, 2023

Floral nectar is central to ecology, since it mediates interactions with pollinators, flower-visiting antagonists and microbes through its chemical composition. Here we review how historical assumptions about ecological meaning were first challenged, then modified expanded the discovery of secondary metabolites in nectar. We explore origin specific neuroactive compounds known act as important insect neurotransmitters, advances field bee cognition plant-microbe-animal challenge such views. As all actors involved latter are under simultaneous reciprocal selective pressures, their coexistence characterized by conflicts trade-offs, evolutionary interpretation which suggests exciting new perspectives one longest studied aspects plant-pollinator interactions.

Language: Английский

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The Sensory and Cognitive Ecology of Nectar Robbing

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Oct. 15, 2021

Animals foraging from flowers must assess their environment and make critical decisions about which patches, plants, to exploit obtain limiting resources. The cognitive ecology of plant-pollinator interactions explores not only the complex nature pollinator behavior decision making, but also how cognition shapes pollination plant fitness. Floral visitors sometimes depart what we think as typical instead floral resources by robbing nectar (bypassing opening consuming through holes or perforations made in tissue). impacts on fitness are well-studied; however, there is considerably less understanding, animal’s perspective, processes underlying robbing. Examining standpoint animal important for understanding evolution this its ecological evolutionary consequences. In review, draw central concepts consider either when individuals use strategy they switch between legitimate foraging. We discuss sensory biases, learning, role a variable making vs. legitimately. ways an involved can address questions plant-robber affect patterns natural selection evolution. conclude highlighting future research directions

Language: Английский

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Evolutionary and Ecological Considerations on Nectar-Mediated Tripartite Interactions in Angiosperms and Their Relevance in the Mediterranean Basin

Plants, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 10(3), P. 507 - 507

Published: March 9, 2021

The Mediterranean basin hosts a high diversity of plants and bees, it is considered one the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Insect pollination, i.e., pollen transfer from male reproductive structures to conspecific female ones, was classically thought be mutualistic relationship that links these two groups organisms, giving rise an admirable complex network interactions. Although nectar often involved in mediating interactions, relatively little known about modifications its chemical traits during evolution plants. Here, we examine how current sucrose-dominated floral most could have arisen course angiosperms. transition hexose-rich sucrose-rich secretion probably triggered by increasing temperature aridity Cretaceous period, when angiosperms were radiating. This may opened new ecological niches for insects co-diversifying with specific nectar-dwelling yeasts originated later (i.e., Metschnikowiaceae). Our hypothesis embeds recent discoveries biology, such as involvement microbiota secondary metabolites shaping interactions pollinators, suggests complex, multifaceted evolutionary scenario are just beginning discover.

Language: Английский

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From the butterfly’s point of view: learned colour association determines differential pollination of two co-occurring mock verbains by Agraulis vanillae (Nymphalidae)

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 130(4), P. 715 - 725

Published: April 29, 2020

Abstract Learning plays an important role in the location and utilization of nectar sources for pollinators. In this work we focus on plant-pollinator interaction between butterfly Agraulis vanillae (Nymphalidae) two Glandularia plant species (Verbenaceae) that grow sympatry. Bioassays using arrays artificial flowers (red vs. lilac-purple) showed naïve A. butterflies do not have innate colour preferences any tested colours. Trained were able to learn associate both floral colours with presence rewards. Wild visited red peruviana much more frequently than lilac-purple venturii. Standing crop measurements G. offered three times sucrose Analyses confirmed corolla flowers) venturii (lilac-purple discriminable butterfly’s space. These findings may indicate flexibility due a learned association coloration higher

Language: Английский

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Upper-limit agricultural dietary exposure to streptomycin in the laboratory reduces learning and foraging in bumblebees

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1968)

Published: Feb. 9, 2022

In the past decade, broadcast-spray application of antibiotics in US crops has increased exponentially response to bacterial crop pathogens, but little is known about sublethal impacts on beneficial organisms agroecosystems. This concerning given key roles that microbes play modulating insect fitness. A growing body evidence suggests gut microbiomes may a role learning and behaviour, which are for survival pollinators their pollination efficacy, turn could be disrupted by dietary antibiotic exposure. laboratory, we tested effects an upper-limit exposure streptomycin (200 ppm)-an widely used treat pathogens crops-on bumblebee (

Language: Английский

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Bees differentiate sucrose solution from water at a distance

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 20, 2022

Abstract Bees are perhaps the most important model for studying complex cognition in invertebrates, showing a variety of impressive abilities. Many experiments employ training procedure which animal associates characteristic “flower” (neutral stimulus) to sucrose solution (positive over multiple foraging bouts. We hypothesized that might appear different from water bee sensorium, rendering it superfluous learn intended experimental cues. To test this hypothesis, we presented bumblebees simultaneously with 1.6M and on artificial flowers. solutions three conditions, identify likely recognition mechanism: drop form, inside cotton-plugged centrifuge tubes, soaked into raised cigarette filters. The chose contact significantly more often all confirming their ability discriminate at distance, spectral differences being mechanism differentiation. These results have large implications design procedures, as presence an alternative cue may mask learning challenging tasks. This force us re-examine much literature unpublished ‘negative results’ cognition: weakening some claims, but strengthening others.

Language: Английский

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