Article
Veterinary Sciences
Khalid Ali Khan, D. N. Ganeshprasad, H. R. Sachin, Yogesh S. Shouche, Hamed A. Ghramh, A. H. Sneharani
Summary: This study explored the gut bacteriobiome composition of two different honey bee species (Apis florea and Apis cerana indica) using high throughput sequencing. The results showed that the phylum Proteobacteria dominated the bacterial community in both species, but the gut bacteria of A. cerana indica were more diverse than that of A. florea. These variations may have been influenced by apiary management techniques, ecological adaptation factors, or habitat size.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ebi Antony George, Neethu Thulasi, Patrick L. Kohl, Sachin Suresh, Benjamin Rutschmann, Axel Brockmann
Summary: The study found that there was a difference in the change in waggle phase duration with distance for Apis florea and Apis cerana under different visual contrast conditions.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
D. N. Ganeshprasad, Jafar K. Lone, Kunal Jani, Yogesh S. Shouche, Khalid Ali Khan, Samy Sayed, Mustafa Shukry, Showket A. Dar, Muntazir Mushtaq, A. H. Sneharani
Summary: This study analyzed and identified the gut microbiome of the wild honeybee species A. florea using both culture-based and culture-independent methods. The dominant gut bacteria in A. florea belonged to the families Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, and Nocardiaceae. Additionally, the study discovered some bacteria not previously reported in other Apis species, making it highly relevant in bee microbiome research.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Athira Reghunath, Anjana Surendran, Raju Ramasubbu
Summary: This study investigated the phenology, floral biology, pollination biology, fruit set, and insect infestation of the endemic and endangered semievergreen tree Syzygium myhendrae in the Western Ghats, India. The tree exhibited bi-annual flowering and fruiting behavior, with dense stamens serving as the main floral advertisement. Insects, particularly Apis dorsata, were the exclusive visitors and effective pollinators of the flowers. Infestation by wasps led to reduced fruit set rate and premature fruit drop. The reproductive failure and limited distribution of this tree species may be attributed to higher flower wastage, fruit infestation, and lower fruit production.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Patterson Rosa, Amin Eimanifar, Abigail G. Kimes, Samantha A. Brooks, James D. Ellis
Summary: A genome wide association study was conducted on two subspecies of western honey bees endemic to the Republic of South Africa, revealing genetic variants associated with important phenotypes such as ovariole number, scutellar plate, and tergite color. Mutations in genes such as Ebony and GB54634 were found to significantly influence these phenotypes, highlighting the genetic components underlying relevant behavioral traits in honey bees.
Article
Entomology
El-Kazafy A. Taha, Saad Al-Kahtani, Reda Taha
Summary: This study found that honey produced by different species or subspecies of honey bees exhibit significant differences in physical characteristics and chemical composition, indicating a correlation between the species of honey bees and the properties of the honey they produce.
JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Shabnam Parichehreh, Gholamhosein Tahmasbi, Alimorad Sarafrazi, Naser Tajabadi, Samaneh Solhjouy-Fard
Summary: This study modeled the spatial distribution of the dwarf honey bee in Iran and assessed the environmental factors influencing its distribution. The results showed that arid regions with hot summers and mild winters were the most favorable for the distribution of the dwarf honey bee. Vegetation and annual mean temperature were identified as the most important factors affecting the distribution of the species.
JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Benjamin P. Oldroyd, Boris Yagound, Michael H. Allsopp, Michael J. Holmes, Gabrielle Buchmann, Amro Zayed, Madeleine Beekman
Summary: The study investigated the genetic recombination rates between Cape honeybee workers and queens, revealing that workers have evolved mechanisms to reduce recombination while queens do not possess such mechanisms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Thomas Hagan, Julianne Lim, Rosalyn Gloag
Summary: In honey bees, drones disperse to specific locations to mate before returning to their natal nests. However, drones in apiaries have been observed returning to non-natal nests, possibly due to high nest density. In this study, we found no evidence of drone drift between colonies of the invasive Asian honey bee in Australia. The presence of drones with different genotypes is likely caused by queen turnover or worker reproduction.
Article
Entomology
Clara Jabal-Uriel, Laura Barrios, Anne Bonjour-Dalmon, Shiran Caspi-Yona, Nor Chejanovsly, Tal Erez, Dora Henriques, Mariano Higes, Yves Le Conte, Ana R. Lopes, Aranzazu Meana, Maria Alice Pinto, Maritza Reyes-Carreno, Victoria Soroker, Raquel Martin-Hernandez
Summary: The study on Nosema ceranae infection levels showed that geographical location and beekeeping conditions can influence the prevalence of infection, with higher levels in Israel and lower levels in mainland France. The correlation between infection levels and colony losses varied among different locations, suggesting the need for further research on the interaction of this parasite with other factors for effective control strategies.
Article
Entomology
Wiktoria Rojek, Karolina Kuszewska, Hajnalka Szentgyorgyi, Michal Woyciechowski
Summary: This study compared the asymmetry between honeybee workers reared without a queen and those reared with a queen. The results showed that the two groups of workers differed in the expression of asymmetry in different organs, and this difference was attributed to resource allocation. Furthermore, no evidence of directional asymmetry was found in the studied traits in worker honeybees.
Article
Biology
Hamutahl Cohen, Gordon P. Smith, Hillary Sardinas, Jocelyn F. Zorn, Quinn S. McFrederick, S. Hollis Woodard, Lauren C. Ponisio
Summary: The study found that mass-flowering crops increase bee abundance, but are also associated with parasite presence. Wild bee abundance is related to parasite presence, but only in areas with low amounts of non-crop flowers. Bee traits related to higher dispersal ability and broader diet are positively correlated with parasite presence.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Taghi Ghassemi-Khademi, Rasoul Khosravi, Saber Sadeghi, Nemat Hedayat, Daniel Paiva Silva, Mohamed Shebl, Asif Sajjad, Ali Ahmed Al-Raisi
Summary: We evaluated the genetic structure and niche segregation of Apis florea across its native range. The results showed two distinct lineages (eastern and western) for the species, which likely separated from each other during the Pleistocene and evolved in isolation. These findings are important for the effective conservation of this key pollinator species in Asia.
Article
Microbiology
Lucsame Gruneck, Kitiphong Khongphinitbunjong, Siam Popluechai
Summary: Research has shown significant differences in gut bacterial diversity and community composition between two native honey bee species in Thailand, with Lactobacillus dominating in Apis florea and Gilliamella and Snodgrassella predominating in Apis dorsata. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between host ecology and behavior with bee gut microbiomes.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Aneta Strachecka, Krzysztof Olszewski, Karolina Kuszewska, Jerzy Paleolog, Michal Woyciechowski
Summary: Female honeybee larvae can develop into workers or queens depending on their diet. Queen mandibular pheromones play a role in inhibiting ovarian development in adult workers. A queen-less colony may lead to the emergence of rebel workers, which develop faster and have different reproductive behaviors compared to normal workers.
Article
Ecology
Guiling Ding, Martin Hasselmann, Jiaxing Huang, John Roberts, Benjamin P. Oldroyd, Rosalyn Gloag
Summary: The study found that in the complementary sex determiner gene of the Asian honeybee, just a few amino acid differences can affect female development, while most alleles are detected in only one sample location, indicating high variation and balancing selection lead to the exceptionally high polymorphism in this locus.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
C. A. M. Cardoso-Junior, B. P. Oldroyd, I. Ronai
Summary: Social insects, like honeybees, have two female castes with extreme differences in reproductive capacity. The study found that the expression of Vitellogenin (Vg) in the ovaries of worker bees is influenced by Royal Jelly, the food of honeybee queens. Surprisingly, the expression of Vg is not linked to ovary activation in worker bees, suggesting potential non-reproductive functions for this gene.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Jules Smith-Ferguson, Terence C. Burnham, Madeleine Beekman
Summary: The ability to learn from past experiences and adjust behavior according to risk levels has been demonstrated in experiments with the acellular slime mould Physarum polycephalum. Results showed that individuals consistently made the same foraging decision over time, demonstrating non-associative learning capabilities in slime molds.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hee-Jin Noh, Frances Jacomb, Ros Gloag, Naomi E. Langmore
Summary: Through studying the interaction between the large-billed gerygones and the parasites, it is found that the gerygones have evolved a series of defense mechanisms, including frontline defenses and chick stage defense. In resisting parasitism, although frontline defenses are low-cost, they are ineffective, while chick stage defenses are high-cost but highly effective.
Article
Ecology
Amanda M. Norton, Emily J. Remnant, Jolanda Tom, Gabriele Buchmann, Tjeerd Blacquiere, Madeleine Beekman
Summary: Research shows that DWV genotypes A and B have different responses to mite numbers within honeybee colonies. DWV-A accumulation in honeybees is positively correlated with mite numbers, while DWV-B can persist with high loads in colonies even when mite numbers are low.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biology
Benjamin P. Oldroyd, Boris Yagound
Summary: Eusocial insects, such as bees, have distinct queens and workers that arise from a common genome, with caste-specific developmental trajectories potentially influenced by epigenetic processes. Early studies suggested a causal role for DNA methylation in caste dimorphism, but more recent research has shown inconsistent associations between methylation and caste. The functional significance of DNA methylation in social insects remains equivocal, with studies on honeybees and other species yielding conflicting evidence.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biology
Alyson Ashe, Vincent Colot, Benjamin P. Oldroyd
Summary: Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity that are transmitted through cell divisions but not by changes in DNA sequence. Despite the typical erasure of epigenetic states every generation, some are heritable and subject to natural selection. Epigenetic variation enhances phenotypic plasticity, modulates the effect of natural selection on genetic variation, and can contribute to hybrid dysfunction and speciation.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biology
Benjamin P. Oldroyd, Boris Yagound
Summary: Social insects, due to haplo-diploidy and relatedness asymmetries, are prime candidates for the evolution of genomic imprinting. Different mating systems may lead to different evolutionary pressures on genes, influencing their direction of evolution. Crosses between subspecies of honeybees have shown evidence of genomic imprinting affecting genes related to worker reproduction.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos A. M. Cardoso-Junior, Boris Yagound, Isobel Ronai, Emily J. Remnant, Klaus Hartfelder, Benjamin P. Oldroyd
Summary: The study found that DNA methylation is not a major factor in driving differential gene expression between tissues or behavioral types, while the presence of a queen affects the expression of all four DNA methyltransferase genes.
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Boris Yagound, Emily J. Remnant, Gabriele Buchmann, Benjamin P. Oldroyd
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Benjamin P. Oldroyd, Boris Yagound, Michael H. Allsopp, Michael J. Holmes, Gabrielle Buchmann, Amro Zayed, Madeleine Beekman
Summary: The study investigated the genetic recombination rates between Cape honeybee workers and queens, revealing that workers have evolved mechanisms to reduce recombination while queens do not possess such mechanisms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Zijia Sun, Nadine C. Chapman, Rika Raffiudin, Ramadhani Eka Putra, John Roberts, Chandra Widjaya, Gabriele Buchmann, Michael Holmes, Rosalyn Gloag
Summary: Introduced species are a global concern that can disrupt ecosystems and cause economic damage. In this study, mitochondrial DNA diversity was analyzed in native and invasive populations of the Asian honey bee. The results indicate severe founder event bottlenecks in invasive populations and high mitochondrial diversity in native-range populations. Further research is needed to understand the effects of mitochondrial diversity loss in invasive populations.
AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Francisco Garcia Bulle Bueno, Bernardo Garcia Bulle Bueno, Gabriele Buchmann, Tim Heard, Tanya Latty, Benjamin P. Oldroyd, Anette E. Hosoi, Rosalyn Gloag
Summary: This study assesses male dispersal ability in a stingless bee species and finds that male bee movements can facilitate gene flow over long distances, playing a key role in the resilience of bee populations to habitat loss and fragmentation. The study also demonstrates that the number of families contributing to male aggregations can be used to estimate local stingless bee colony densities for population monitoring of these important tropical pollinators.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
F. G. B. Bueno, R. Hajjar, T. Colin, G. Buchmann, T. Latty, R. Gloag
Summary: Improving our understanding of virgin queen behavior and mating biology in stingless bees is crucial for artificial selection programs. This study focused on the Australian stingless bee Tetragonulacarbonaria and described the behavior of queens from eclosion to egg-laying, as well as assessed the possibility of rearing and mating young queens under constrained conditions. The study found that controlled matings were possible, but successful sperm transfer may require active acceptance from the queens.