Article
Biology
Laura L. Ingwell, John J. Ternest, Jacob R. Pecenka, Ian Kaplan
Summary: The study indicates that both insecticides and non-crop forage play integral roles in shaping pollinator health in agricultural landscapes, but the relative importance and interaction of these two factors depend on which aspect of 'health' is being considered.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jessica L. Knapp, Adam Bates, Ove Jonsson, Bjorn Klatt, Theresia Krausl, Ullrika Sahlin, Glenn P. Svensson, Maj Rundlof
Summary: Trade-offs between pesticide use, pollinators and yield in pollinator-dependent, mass-flowering crops may cause conflicts between conservation and agronomic goals. This study proposes a framework to explore these trade-offs, using red clover as an example. The results indicate that the insecticide thiacloprid can increase seed yield without negative effects on the key pollinator, Bombus terrestris, and the presence of red clover benefits pollinator populations.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wilnelia Recart, Diane R. Campbell
Summary: The presence of the highly invasive plant Linaria vulgaris facilitated pollinator visitation rates to the native Penstemon strictus on a small spatial scale, but did not affect pollinator-mediated selection on platform length. Pollinator visitation varied across years, as did the relationships between seed production, pollinator visitation, and platform length. No net selection on platform length was detected in any of the 3 years, indicating how plant-pollinator interactions and factors influencing pollinator-mediated selection in native plants vary over time.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rachel T. Yost, Alison E. Fowler, Lynn S. Adler
Summary: This study investigated the effects of sunflower pollen on Crithidia bombi infection and its underlying mechanism, and found that the effects are not mediated by gut microbiota, based on a gut transplant experiment.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhou-Dong Han, You Wu, Peter Bernhardt, Hong Wang, Zong-Xin Ren
Summary: This study reports the role of fungus gnats as pollinators for the orchid species Corybas geminigibbus and C. shanlinshiensis in southwestern Yunnan, China. The fungus gnats were found to carry the pollinia on their thoraces and no eggs were found in the flowers. Fragrance analyses did not suggest that these orchid species were mimicking mushroom brood-sites. This is the first confirmation of fungus gnats dispersing the pollinia of Corybas species in subtropical-temperate Asia.
Article
Biology
Alison E. Fowler, Jonathan J. Giacomini, Sara June Connon, Rebecca E. Irwin, Lynn S. Adler
Summary: Sunflower pollen can effectively reduce the risk of gut parasite infection in certain bee species, with similar effects observed in closely related species. However, using sunflower pollen as a food source may reduce bee reproduction when resources are scarce.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xiao Hu, Jiyao Liu, Guiling Ding, Muhammad Naeem, Jilian Li, Fangzhou Ma, Jiaxing Huang, Jiandong An
Summary: The study assessed the distribution of the endemic bumblebee species Bombus pyrosoma in China using MaxEnt, finding that temperature, precipitation, and radiation were key factors influencing its distribution. The results showed that future climate changes will impact the distribution of B. pyrosoma, requiring conservation strategies in high suitability areas.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Stephen M. Robertson
Summary: Apples are an economically and nutritionally important fruit crop that relies on insect pollination for sustainable production. This study investigated the nocturnal moth community in an apple orchard during bloom, identifying 15 species from five families that visited apple flowers. The data suggests that moths are abundant and diverse pollinators in apples, particularly during the first two hours after sunset.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Benno I. Simmons, Andrew P. Beckerman, Katrine Hansen, Pietro K. Maruyama, Constantinos Televantos, Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni, Bo Dalsgaard
Summary: This study examines the impact of indirect interactions on plant-hummingbird pollination networks and finds that different assembly processes result in significantly different patterns of indirect interactions. Neutral effects tend to produce densely connected motifs, while niche-based processes lead to motifs with a core of interacting generalists and peripheral specialists.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
C. M. McGrady, J. P. Strange, M. M. Lopez-Uribe, S. J. Fleischer
Summary: Using genetic methods and statistical inference, the study estimated the abundance of wild Bombus impatiens colonies providing foragers to 30 commercial pumpkin fields in Pennsylvania, USA. The results showed that the wild colony abundance per field ranged from 291 to 829 colonies, with stability across years, counties, and field sizes. The study documented a predictive relationship between wild colony abundance per hectare and visitation rate, providing valuable information for monitoring wild populations of B. impatiens in the face of environmental stressors.
Article
Entomology
Alison E. Fowler, Elisa Kola, Lynn S. Adler
Summary: Bumble bees are important global pollinators, and consuming sunflower pollen has been shown to reduce infection by the trypanosomatid gut pathogen, Crithidia bombi. This study found that freezer-stored sunflower pollen collected from different years and locations significantly decreased Crithidia infection, suggesting that it can be used as a dietary supplement for managing this pathogen in bumble bee colonies.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Matheus Hansen, Gabriel C. Lanes, Vinicius L. G. Brito, Edson D. Leonel
Summary: Buzz pollination is described using a mathematical model with a billiard approach, applied to the rough morphology of a typical poricidal anther of a tomato flower. The results not only recover observed data but also offer a potential solution to an open problem related to buzz pollination.
Article
Ecology
Karin Gross, Malin Undin, John N. Thompson, Magne Friberg
Summary: Selection leading to adaptation to interactions can enhance the diversification of species interactions. This study focuses on the interactions between Lithophragma plants and Greya moths to understand how the combination of traits of interacting species contributes to local divergence in pollination efficacy. The results suggest that geographic mosaics of coevolution can lead to coevolutionary diversification in species interactions.
Article
Biology
Jeremy Jones, Romina Rader
Summary: Bee and non-bee insect pollinators are crucial for food crop production, but nutritional challenges in agricultural landscapes are reducing pollinator populations. Efforts to enhance crop pollinator health through floral resource plantings have been inconsistent in achieving desired pollination outcomes. Tailored habitat enhancements, based on understanding the needs of specific pollinators, are necessary to support pollinator health and crop pollination outcomes.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Alison E. Fowler, Ben M. Sadd, Toby Bassingthwaite, Rebecca E. Irwin, Lynn S. Adler
Summary: Sunflower pollen does not significantly affect bee immune responses, suggesting that its medicinal effect does not involve these immune parameters in bees.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)