1
|
Glass JR, Harrison JF. A thermal performance curve perspective explains decades of disagreements over how air temperature affects the flight metabolism of honey bees. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246926. [PMID: 38487901 PMCID: PMC11058628 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
While multiple studies have shown that honey bees and some other flying insects lower their flight metabolic rates when flying at high air temperatures, critics have suggested such patterns result from poor experimental methods as, theoretically, air temperature should not appreciably affect aerodynamic force requirements. Here, we show that apparently contradictory studies can be reconciled by considering the thermal performance curve of flight muscle. We show that prior studies that found no effects of air temperature on flight metabolism of honey bees achieved flight muscle temperatures that were near or on equal, opposite sides of the thermal performance curve. Honey bees vary their wing kinematics and metabolic heat production to thermoregulate, and how air temperature affects the flight metabolic rate of honey bees is predictable using a non-linear thermal performance perspective of honey bee flight muscle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan R. Glass
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Jon F. Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, AZ 85281, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Encerrado-Manriquez AM, Pouv AK, Fine JD, Nicklisch SCT. Enhancing knowledge of chemical exposures and fate in honey bee hives: Insights from colony structure and interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170193. [PMID: 38278225 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees are unintentionally exposed to a wide range of chemicals through various routes in their natural environment, yet research on the cumulative effects of multi-chemical and sublethal exposures on important caste members, including the queen bee and brood, is still in its infancy. The hive's social structure and food-sharing (trophallaxis) practices are important aspects to consider when identifying primary and secondary exposure pathways for residential hive members and possible chemical reservoirs within the colony. Secondary exposures may also occur through chemical transfer (maternal offloading) to the brood and by contact through possible chemical diffusion from wax cells to all hive members. The lack of research on peer-to-peer exposures to contaminants and their metabolites may be in part due to the limitations in sensitive analytical techniques for monitoring chemical fate and dispersion. Combined application of automated honey bee monitoring and modern chemical trace analysis techniques could offer rapid progress in quantifying chemical transfer and accumulation within the hive environment and developing effective mitigation strategies for toxic chemical co-exposures. To enhance the understanding of chemical fate and toxicity within the entire colony, it is crucial to consider both the intricate interactions among hive members and the potential synergistic effects arising from combinations of chemical and their metabolites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Amara K Pouv
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Julia D Fine
- Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3026 Bee Biology Rd., Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sascha C T Nicklisch
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Duan X, Wang L, Wang R, Xiong M, Qin G, Huang S, Li J. Variation in the physiological response of adult worker bees of different ages (Apis mellifera L.) to pyraclostrobin stress. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 269:115754. [PMID: 38043416 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The social division of labor within the honeybee colony is closely related to the age of the bees, and the age structure is essential to the development and survival of the colony. Differences in tolerance to pesticides and other external stresses among worker bees of different ages may be related to their social division of labor and corresponding physiological states. Pyraclostrobin was widely used to control the fungal diseases of nectar and pollen plants, though it was not friend to honey bees and other pollinators. This work aimed to determine the effects of field recommended concentrations of pyraclostrobin on the activities of protective and detoxifying enzymes, on the expression of genes involved in nutrient metabolism, and immune response in worker bees of different ages determined to investigate the physiological and biochemical differences in sensitivity to pyraclostrobin among different age of worker bees. The result demonstrates that the tolerance of adult worker bees to pyraclostrobin was negatively correlated with their age, and the significantly reduced survival rate of forager bees (21 day-old) with continued fungicide exposure. The activities of protective enzymes (CAT and SOD) and detoxifying enzymes (CarE, GSTs and CYP450) in different ages of adult worker bees were significantly altered, indicating the physiological response and the regulatory capacity of worker bees of different ages to fungicide stress was variation. Compared with 1 and 8 day-old worker bees, the expression of nutrient-related genes (ilp1 and ilp2) and immunity-related genes (apidaecin and defensin1) in forager bees (21 day-old) was gradually downregulated with increasing pyraclostrobin concentrations. Moreover, the expression of vitellogenin and hymenoptaecin in forager bees (21 day-old) was also decreased in high concentration treatment groups (250 and 313 mg/L). The present study confirmed the findings of the chronic toxicity of pyraclostrobin on the physiology and biochemistry of worker bees of different ages, especially to forager bees (21 day-old). These results would provide important physiological and biochemical insight for better understanding the potential risks of pyraclostrobin on honeybees and other non-target pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinle Duan
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Fujian Honey Bee Biology Observation Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fuzhou 350002, China.
| | - Lizhu Wang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ruyi Wang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Manqiong Xiong
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Gan Qin
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shaokang Huang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Fujian Honey Bee Biology Observation Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jianghong Li
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Fujian Honey Bee Biology Observation Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fuzhou 350002, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
DesJardins NS, Macias J, Soto Soto D, Harrison JF, Smith BH. 'Inert' co-formulants of a fungicide mediate acute effects on honey bee learning performance. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19458. [PMID: 37945797 PMCID: PMC10636155 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46948-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Managed honey bees have experienced high rates of colony loss recently, with pesticide exposure as a major cause. While pesticides can be lethal at high doses, lower doses can produce sublethal effects, which may substantially weaken colonies. Impaired learning performance is a behavioral sublethal effect, and is often present in bees exposed to insecticides. However, the effects of other pesticides (such as fungicides) on honey bee learning are understudied, as are the effects of pesticide formulations versus active ingredients. Here, we investigated the effects of acute exposure to the fungicide formulation Pristine (active ingredients: 25.2% boscalid, 12.8% pyraclostrobin) on honey bee olfactory learning performance in the proboscis extension reflex (PER) assay. We also exposed a subset of bees to only the active ingredients to test which formulation component(s) were driving the learning effects. We found that the formulation produced negative effects on memory, but this effect was not present in bees fed only boscalid and pyraclostrobin. This suggests that the trade secret "other ingredients" in the formulation mediated the learning effects, either through exerting their own toxic effects or by increasing the toxicities of the active ingredients. These results show that pesticide co-formulants should not be assumed inert and should instead be included when assessing pesticide risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessalynn Macias
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - Jon F Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Brian H Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Huang M, Dong J, Yang S, Xiao M, Guo H, Zhang J, Wang D. Ecotoxicological effects of common fungicides on the eastern honeybee Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161637. [PMID: 36649770 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of fungicides for plant protection has increased the potential for pollinator exposure. This study therefore aimed at assessing the acute and chronic effects of fungicides on pollinators. For this purpose, the acute oral toxicity of the common fungicides azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, and boscalid to Eastern honeybee Apis cerana cerena was first evaluated, and the chronic effects on multiple aspects were investigated after exposure to a one-tenth medium lethal dose (LD50) for 10 days. This study revealed that the LD50 values of azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin and boscalid for adult Eastern honeybees were 12.7 μg/bee, 36.6 μg/bee, and >119 μg/bee, respectively. Midgut epithelial cells revealed that fungicide exposure caused increased intercellular spaces and varying degrees of vacuolization. Exposure to these three fungicides and their binary mixtures significantly affected glycerophospholipid, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism in Eastern honeybee midguts. Additionally, the relative composition of Lactobacillus, the dominant functional genus in Eastern honeybee guts decreased and microbial balance was disrupted. All fungicides and their mixtures induced strong transcriptional upregulation of genes associated with the immune response and encoding enzymes related to oxidative phosphorylation and metabolism, including abaecin, apidaecin, hymenotaecin, cyp4c3, cyp6a2 and hbg3. Our study provides important insight for understanding the effects of commonly used fungicides on nontarget pollinator and contributes to a more comprehensive assessment of fungicide effects on ecological and environmental safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minjie Huang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 145 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jie Dong
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 145 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Shuyuan Yang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 145 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou 310021, China; State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu Street, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Minghui Xiao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 145 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou 310021, China; State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu Street, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Haikun Guo
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 198 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 145 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Deqian Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 145 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou 310021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang S, Wang X, He Q, Lin H, Chang H, Liu Y, Sun H, Song X. Analysis of the fungicidal efficacy, environmental fate, and safety of the application of a mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin mixture to control mango anthracnose. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2023; 103:400-410. [PMID: 36373789 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mango anthracnose is among the most severe diseases impacting mango yields and quality. While this disease can be effectively controlled through chemical means, it is vital that appropriate field efficacy and fate determination studies be conducted when applying pesticides to crops in order to appropriately gauge the ecological and health risks associated with the use of these agents. RESULTS GAP field trials were conducted to explore the efficacy, dissipation, and terminal residues associated with the application of mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin to mango crops in six locations throughout China. These analyses revealed that three applications of mefentrifluconazole [160 mg active ingredient (a.i.) kg-1 ] in combination with pyraclostrobin mixture achieved satisfactory disease control efficacy. To simultaneously detect mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin residues on mangoes, a 'quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe' (QuEChERS) high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)-based approach was established. The initial mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 0.34 mg kg-1 , and these two compounds exhibited respective half-lives of 5.6 to 10.8 days and 5.5 to 9.0 days. At 21 days following foliage application, the terminal mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin residue concentrations were 0.02-0.04 and 0.01-0.04 mg kg-1 , with these concentrations being below the maximum residue limit (MRL) established for pyraclostrobin. Both short-term [acute reference dose percent (ARfD%) 0.78-2.36% and 2.0-6.08%] and chronic [acceptable daily intake percent (ADI%) 0.08-0.47% and 0.09-0.55%] dietary intake risk assessments for mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin indicated that these terminal residue concentrations are acceptable for the general population. CONCLUSION Mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin in mango was rapidly degraded following first-order kinetics models. The dietary risk of mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin through mango was negligible to consumers. The application of a 400 g L-1 mefentrifluconazole-pyraclostrobin suspension concentrate mixture represents a highly efficacious fungicidal approach to controlling mango anthracnose that exhibits significant potential for development as it is easily degraded and associated with low residual concentrations after application. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Wang
- Plant Protection Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Insect Behavior Regulation, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- Plant Protection Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Qiang He
- Guangdong Quality Safety Center of Agricultural Products, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Haidan Lin
- Guangdong Quality Safety Center of Agricultural Products, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Hong Chang
- Plant Protection Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yanping Liu
- Plant Protection Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Haibin Sun
- Plant Protection Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaobing Song
- Plant Protection Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Brodschneider R, Omar E, Crailsheim K. Flight performance of pollen starved honey bees and incomplete compensation through ingestion after early life pollen deprivation. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1004150. [PMID: 36569746 PMCID: PMC9780383 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1004150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effect of adult honey bee pollen nutrition on the flight performance of honey bees. Therefore, caged bees were allowed to perform 30 min of defecation/training flights every second day before flight performance of pollen-fed bees and pollen-deprived bees older than 16 days were compared in a flight mill. We first fed 10 µL of 1 M glucose solution to bees, and after they metabolized this during flight, they were fed 10 µL of 2 M glucose solution for a second flight test. Pollen-deprived bees flew longer and further than pollen-fed bees in both flights. Pollen-fed bees flew faster in the early period at the beginning of flights, whereas pollen-deprived bees were faster in the final phases. Pollen-fed bees were able to raise their maximum flight speed in 2 M glucose solution flights, whereas pollen-constraint bees were not. The two groups did not differ in abdomen fresh weight, but the fresh weight of the head and thorax and dry weight of the head, thorax and abdomen were higher in pollen-fed bees. In a second experiment, we constrained pollen consumption of caged bees during the first 7 days and compared daily consumption of bees from day 8-16 to consumption of bees unrestricted in pollen. We found that pollen-deprived bees perceive the pollen shortage and try to compensate for their needs by consuming significantly more pollen at the later phase of their life than pollen-fed bees of the same age. Still, bees constrained from pollen in the first 7 days did only reach 51.1% of the lifetime consumption of unconstrained bees. This shows that bees can sense the need for essential nutrients from pollen, but their physiological apparatus does not allow them to fully compensate for their early life constraint. Pollen deprivation only in the first 7 days of worker life likewise significantly reduced fresh and dry weights of the body sections (head, thorax, and abdomen) and survival. This underlines the importance of protein consumption in a short critical period early in adult bees' lives for their development and their performance later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Brodschneider
- University of Graz, Institute of Biology, Graz, Austria,*Correspondence: Robert Brodschneider,
| | - Eslam Omar
- University of Graz, Institute of Biology, Graz, Austria,Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fisher Ii A, Glass JR, Ozturk C, DesJardins N, Raka Y, DeGrandi-Hoffman G, Smith BH, Fewell JH, Harrison JF. Seasonal variability in physiology and behavior affect the impact of fungicide exposure on honey bee (Apis mellifera) health. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:120010. [PMID: 36002100 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Honey bee pollination services are of tremendous agricultural and economic importance. Despite this, honey bees and other pollinators face ongoing perils, including population declines due to a variety of environmental stressors. Fungicides may be particularly insidious stressors for pollinators due to their environmental ubiquity and widespread approval for application during crop bloom. The mechanisms by which fungicides affect honey bees are poorly understood and any seasonal variations in their impact are unknown. Here we assess the effects on honey bee colonies of four-week exposure (the approximate duration of the almond pollination season) of a fungicide, Pristine® (25.2% boscalid, 12.8% pyraclostrobin), that has been commonly used for almonds. We exposed colonies to Pristine® in pollen patties placed into the hive, in either summer or fall, and assessed colony brood and worker populations, colony pollen collection and consumption, and worker age of first foraging and longevity. During the summer, Pristine® exposure induced precocious foraging, and reduced worker longevity resulting in smaller colonies. During the fall, Pristine® exposure induced precocious foraging but otherwise had no significant measured effects. During the fall, adult and brood population levels, and pollen consumption and collection, were all much lower, likely due to preparations for winter. Fungicides and other pesticides may often have reduced effects on honey bees during seasons of suppressed colony growth due to bees consuming less pollen and pesticide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Fisher Ii
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA.
| | - Jordan R Glass
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Cahit Ozturk
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Nicole DesJardins
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Yash Raka
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E Allen Rd., Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Brian H Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Jennifer H Fewell
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Jon F Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Glass JR, Harrison JF. The thermal performance curve for aerobic metabolism of a flying endotherm. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220298. [PMID: 35975442 PMCID: PMC9382204 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Performance benefits of stable, warm muscles are believed to be important for the evolution of endothermy in mammals, birds and flying insects. However, thermal performance curves have never been measured for a free-flying endotherm, as it is challenging to vary body temperatures of these animals, and maximal flight performance is difficult to elicit. We varied air temperatures and gas densities to manipulate thoracic temperatures of flying honeybees from 29°C to 44°C, with low air densities used to increase flight metabolic rates to maximal values. Honeybees showed a clear thermal performance curve with an optimal temperature of 39°C. Maximal flight metabolic rates increased by approximately 2% per 1°C increase in thoracic temperature at suboptimal thoracic temperatures, but decreased approximately 5% per 1°C increase as the bees continued to heat up. This study provides the first quantification of the maximal metabolic performance benefit of thermoregulation in an endotherm. These data directly support aerobic capacity models for benefits of thermoregulation in honeybees, and suggest that improved aerobic capacity probably contributes to the multiple origins of endothermic heterothermy in bees and other insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan R. Glass
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jon F. Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
DesJardins NS, Fisher A, Ozturk C, Fewell JH, DeGrandi-Hoffman G, Harrison JF, Smith BH. A common fungicide, Pristine®, impairs olfactory associative learning performance in honey bees (Apis mellifera). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 288:117720. [PMID: 34252716 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although fungicides were previously considered to be safe for important agricultural pollinators such as honey bees, recent evidence has shown that they can cause a number of behavioral and physiological sublethal effects. Here, we focus on the fungicide Pristine® (active ingredients: 25.2% boscalid, 12.8% pyraclostrobin), which is sprayed during the blooming period on a variety of crops and is known to affect honey bee mitochondria at field-relevant levels. To date, no study has tested the effects of a field-relevant concentration of a fungicide on associative learning ability in honey bees. We tested whether chronic, colony-level exposure at field-relevant and higher concentrations of Pristine® impairs performance on the proboscis extension reflex (PER) paradigm, an associative learning task. Learning performance was reduced at higher field-relevant concentrations of Pristine®. The reductions in learning performance could not be explained by effects on hunger or motivation, as sucrose responsiveness was not affected by Pristine® exposure. To determine whether Pristine®'s negative effects on learning performance were mediated at a specific life stage, we conducted a cross-fostering experiment that exposed bees to the fungicide either only as larvae, only as adults, or during both stages. We found that exposure across the entire life was necessary to significantly reduce learning performance, although non-significant reductions occurred when bees were exposed during just one stage. Our study provides strong evidence that Pristine® has significant sublethal effects on learning performance. As associative learning is a necessary ability for foraging, our results raise concerns that Pristine® could impair foraging abilities and substantially weaken colony health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S DesJardins
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
| | - Adrian Fisher
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Cahit Ozturk
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Jennifer H Fewell
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | | | - Jon F Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Brian H Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| |
Collapse
|