scholarly journals Lower pollen nutritional quality delays nest building and egg laying in Bombus terrestris audax micro-colonies leading to reduced biomass gain

Apidologie ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan T. Ryder ◽  
Andrew Cherrill ◽  
Helen M. Thompson ◽  
Keith F. A. Walters
Keyword(s):  
Bombus Terrestris ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Brood Production ◽  
Pollen Species ◽  
Colony Performance ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractThe performance of Bombus terrestris micro-colonies fed five diets differing in pollen species composition and level of nine essential amino acids (EAA; leucine, lysine, valine, arginine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, histidine, methionine) was assessed for 37 days by recording total biomass gain, nest building initiation, brood production (eggs, small and large larvae, pupae, drones), nectar, and pollen collection. Stronger colony performance was linked to higher amino acid levels but no consistent differences in biomass gain were recorded between mono- and poly-species diets. Poorest performance occurred in micro-colonies offered pure oilseed rape (OSR) pollen which contained the lowest EAA levels. Reduced micro-colony development (delayed nest initiation and lower brood production) was related to OSR proportion in the diet and lower EAA levels. Results are discussed in relation to selection of plant species in the design of habitats to promote bee populations.

scholarly journals Experience in Rearing Common Carder Bees (Bombus pascuorum Scop.), with Some Notes on Three Similar Species: Shrill Carder Bee (B. sylvarum L.), Red-shanked Carder Bee (B. ruderarius Müll.), and Brown-banded Carder Bee (B. humilis Ill.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1535-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Ptáček ◽  
Alena Votavová ◽  
Olga Komzáková
Keyword(s):  
Bombus Terrestris ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Sugar Solution ◽  
Rearing Method ◽  
Small Plastic ◽  
Fresh Pollen ◽  
New Generation

The rearing method under controlled conditions known for Bombus terrestris was successful in initiating egg-laying for 83% of B. pascuorum queens. After larvae had hatched, fresh pollen pellets needed to be inserted into brood pockets daily. After the first workers had emerged, colony development was advanced by placing them outdoors and supplying them with a sugar solution and pollen. The bees were able to use tightly pressed pollen from small plastic pots inserted near the brood. This feeding resulted in large colonies that produced dozens of young queens. In contrast, colonies managed in the laboratory were unable to utilize pollen in a similar manner. They raised only a few workers and several queens. Mating young queens was easy. It was stimulated by daylight, but in the case of B. humilis by direct sunshine. Several B. pascuorum and B. sylvarum queens were overwintered and began the new generation under artificial conditions. However, a lack of fresh pollen limited the development of colonies outside of the vegetation period.

scholarly journals Worker-Born Males Are Smaller but Have Similar Reproduction Ability to Queen-Born Males in Bumblebees

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1008
Author(s):  
Huiyue Zhao ◽  
Yanjie Liu ◽  
Hong Zhang ◽  
Tom D. Breeze ◽  
Jiandong An
Keyword(s):  
Bombus Terrestris ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Worker Reproduction ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Eusocial Insects ◽  
Reproductive Ability ◽  
Evolution Of Sociality ◽  
Sperm Counts ◽  
Virgin Queens

Queen-worker conflict over the reproduction of males exists in the majority of haplodiplioidy hymenpteran species such as bees, wasps, and ants, whose workers lose mating ability but can produce haploid males in colony. Bumblebee is one of the representatives of primitively eusocial insects with plastic division labor and belongs to monandrous and facultative low polyandry species that have reproductive totipotent workers, which are capable of competing with mother queen to produce haploid males in the queenright colony compared to higher eusocial species, e.g., honeybees. So, bumblebees should be a better material to study worker reproduction, but the reproductive characteristics of worker-born males (WMs) remain unclear. Here, we choose the best-studied bumblebee Bombus terrestris to evaluate the morphological characteristics and reproductive ability of WMs from the queenless micro-colonies. The sexually matured WMs showed smaller in forewing length and weight, relatively less sperm counts but equally high sperm viability in comparison with the queen-born males (QMs) of the queenright colony. Despite with smaller size, the WMs are able to successfully mate with the virgin queens in competition with the QMs under laboratory conditions, which is quite different from the honeybees reported. In addition, there was no difference in the colony development, including the traits such as egg-laying rate, colony establishment rate, and populations of offspring, between the WM- and the QM-mated queens. Our study highlights the equivalent reproductive ability of worker-born males compared to that of queens, which might exhibit a positive application or special use of bumblebee rearing, especially for species whose males are not enough for copulation. Further, our finding contributes new evidence to the kin selection theory and suggests worker reproduction might relate to the evolution of sociality in bees.

Development and Reproductive Strategies in Bombus Terrestris Colonies

Behaviour ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 107 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 186-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Duchateau ◽  
H.H.W. Velthuis
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Bombus Terrestris ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Slow Phase ◽  
Switch Point ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Queen Production

The development and the reproductive output of 26 Bombus terrestris colonies were investigated. Four important points in colony development are distinguished. These are: a) the start of egg laying by the queen, leading to the beginning of the eusocial phase, the emergence of the first workers; b) the moment which we term the switch point, at which the queen switches from laying diploid eggs (producing workers or queens) to the laying of haploid eggs (producing males); c) the onset of queen production reared from diploid eggs; d) the loss of dominance by the queen, expressed by the beginning of aggression on the part of queen and workers, worker oviposition, oophagy and the functional elimination of the queen. This we call the competition point. The onset of queen production is highly correlated with the competition point but not correlated with the switch point. The pattern in time of the egg laying by a queen differed from the rate of increase of worker numbers published by previous authors. After an initial and slow phase, in which two broods of egg cells are produced, the rate of egg laying of a queen becomes constant, whether or not the eggs are fertilized. The transformation from this rate of egg laying to the earlier descriptions of increase in number is only possible if one neglects differences between colonies in time spent in the production of the two broods as well as the highly variable time needed for development into adults. The time at which the competition point occurs is much more predictable (at day 30.8 ± 4.9 after the emergence of the first worker) than the switch point. The latter ranges from day 6 to day 32. In our colonies two groups can be discerned, one of early switching colonies (at day 9.8 ± 2.4), the other of late switching colonies (at day 23.4 ± 4.6). The occurrence of the switch cannot be predicted from preceding behavioural or demographic data. As a consequence of the early switch such colonies produce mainly males. Partly due to the unfavourable larva/worker ratio only a few queens were reared from the last laid diploid eggs. In contradiction the late switching colonies produce on average sexuals at a 1.3:1 sex ratio (1:1.7 investment ratio). Remarkable however, biomass of sexuals is equal in both types of colonies. Males are about half the weight of queens. Certain colonies invest in males only ("3 males : 0 queens"). Since the two types of colonies occurred in about equal numbers, our local population is characterized by a 4:1 1(♂:♀) sex ratio. This male biased sex ratio, also observed for other bumblebees species (B. terricola and B. melanopygus, OWEN et al., 1980; OWEN & PLOWRIGHT, 1982), contrasts with existing theoretical models based on kin selection (TRIVERS & HARE, 1976) or local mate competition (ALEXANDER & SHERMAN, 1977) arguments. A model is proposed in which the males of the early switching colonies monopolize the matings due to their early appearance in the field. In fact, the early switching colonies, by investing mainly in males, parasitize on the reproductive strategy of the late switching colonies, which are characterized by a 1:1 sex ratio. At population level the two reproductive strategies are in equilibrium at a 1:1 frequency.

scholarly journals Effects of Three Kinds of Sugar Syrups on Colony Development of Bumble Bee (Bombus terrestris L.)

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fehmi Gurel ◽  
Bahar A. Karsli ◽  
Ayhan Gosterit
Keyword(s):  
Production Rate ◽  
Bombus Terrestris ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Sugar Syrup ◽  
High Fructose ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Total Pollen ◽  
Fresh Pollen

Abstract The effects of three kinds of sugar syrups on colony development were studied. Weekly sugar syrup consumption of the Bombus terrestris dalmatinus colonies were investigated. A total of 60 queens were separately placed in standard nest boxes and randomly divided into three groups. We tested high fructose corn syrup (HFCS - fructose 42-45%, glucose 50-54%), sucrose syrup (SS - sucrose 99%), and industrial bee feeding sugar syrup (BFSS - fructose 37-40%, glucose 27-30%, sucrose 30-36%). All queens and colonies were fed with the same fresh pollen and reared under standard laboratory conditions (28 ± 1oC, 60 ± 5% RH). Pollen and sugar syrups (approximately 1:1 water:sugar) were provided ad libitum. Colony development traits, weekly syrup consumption, total syrup consumption, and total pollen consumption of each colony were recorded during periodic observations. The highest egg laying rate, colony production rate and saleable colony production rate (90, 75, and 50%, respectively) were found in the BFSS treatment. However, no significant difference was found among treatments in terms of examined colony characteristics. Until the colonies were large enough for sale (50-60 workers), the consumption of sugar syrup and pollen per one colony varied from 461 to 546 ml and from 164 to 190 g, respectively.

scholarly journals Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
KHWANRUTAI CHARASPET ◽  
Ronglarp - Sukmasuang ◽  
NORASET KHOEWSREE ◽  
MANANYA PLA-ARD ◽  
YUWALUK CHANACHAI
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Khao Yai National Park ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-ard M, Chanachai Y. 2020. Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 5248-5262. The study of prey species and prey selection of Dholes at 3 different sites was conducted at Khao Yai National Park, Salak Pra, and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries from 2013 to 2020. Information on Dhole prey at the sites was collected from the residues of dhole scats, from which the selection index, the relative biomass of the prey, and the relative amounts of the consumed prey were calculated. The data were collected simultaneously with the use of camera traps at each site. The study revealed that there were 13 species of Dhole prey with body weight over 5 kg. The result indicated that there were 7 species of even-toed ungulates. The relative biomass of even-toed ungulates ranged between 76.78 - 90.50% of the total biomass of all the Dholes’ consumed prey for all study sites. The dietary diversity index unveiled a similar index in all areas, which proved the adequacy of the analyzed scats. However, the Niche breadth index, which indicates the relevance of prey selection and prey species to the appearances of the prey at each site, was found to be high at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Yai National Park, while the index was found to be low at Salak Pra Wildlife Sanctuary. The results revealed that Dholes consumed viverrid species and Malayan porcupine more often at the site where there were large carnivores. The recommendation from this study was the conservation and restoration of the ungulate populations, the main prey, as it greatly affects the conservation of the Dhole populations in Thailand.  Grassland and salt lick sites, water sources improvements are also important to promote prey population. The conservation of wildlife prey by releasing them to nature, as currently conducted, has an effect on the increase of Dholes’ prey species.

scholarly journals Landscape structure and climate seasonality affect the amount, richness and diversity of pollen collected by honeybees in a Neotropical region of Colombia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula María Montoya-Pfeiffer ◽  
Guiomar Nates-Parra
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Monthly Precipitation ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Pollen Species

AbstractPollen is the main food for honeybee broods and young workers and so colony development and reproduction rely heavily on pollen availability, both spatially and temporally, in the environment. Intensification of agriculture and climate seasonality are known to alter honeybee foraging patterns and pollen intake through changes in resource availability in temperate regions; however, little is known about how honeybees respond to such environmental factors in tropical regions.Pollen species collected by honeybees in a Neotropical agricultural region of Colombia were identified. The effects of landscape structure (landscape Shannon Diversity Index, forest area in 1000 m around the apiary) and climate seasonality (mean monthly precipitation) on the amount, richness and diversity of pollen collected by the honeybees were evaluated for all pollen species together and pollen species segregated according to forest and anthropic areas (croplands, grasslands, woodlands, urban areas).Honeybees were found to be much more associated with anthropic than forest pollen species regardless of landscape structure or precipitation. However, the amount, richness and diversity of pollen from all species and forest species responded positively to landscape diversity and forest area, suggesting an advantage for honeybees in obtaining small quantities of pollen from forest species, in spite of being well-adapted to forage in anthropic areas. Precipitation was found not to be related to the overall amount and overall richness of pollen collected by honeybees, suggesting that climate seasonality was not an important factor for pollen foraging. Nonetheless, overall pollen diversity was negatively affected by precipitation in less diverse landscapes, while anthropic pollen diversity was negatively affected in more forested landscapes. These findings are compared with those from temperate regions, and the implications for honeybee productivity and survival, and their interactions with Neotropical native species, are discussed.

Target of Rapamycin drives unequal responses to essential amino acid depletion in egg laying

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Nogueira Alves ◽  
Carla M Sgrò ◽  
Matthew D Piper ◽  
Christen K Mirth
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Depletion ◽  
Holidic Diet ◽  
Related Trait

Nutrition shapes a broad range of life history traits, ultimately impacting animal fitness. A key fitness-related trait, female fecundity is well known to change as a function of diet. In particular, the availability of dietary protein is one of the main drivers of egg production, and in the absence of essential amino acids egg laying declines. However, it is unclear whether all essential amino acids have the same impact on phenotypes like fecundity. Using a holidic diet, we fed adult female D. melanogaster diets that contain all necessary nutrients except one of the 10 essential amino acids and assessed the effects on egg production. For most essential amino acids, depleting a single amino acid induced as rapid a decline in egg production as when there were no amino acids in the diet. However, when either methionine or histidine were excluded from the diet, egg production declined more slowly. Next, we tested whether GCN2 and TOR were involved in this difference in response across amino acids. While mutations in GCN2 did not eliminate the differences in the rates of decline in egg laying among amino acid drop-out diets, we found that inhibiting TOR signalling caused egg laying to decline rapidly for all drop-out diets. TOR signalling does this by regulating the yolk-forming stages of egg chamber development. Our results suggest that amino acids differ in their ability to induce signalling via the TOR pathway. This is important because if phenotypes differ in sensitivity to individual amino acids, this generates the potential for mismatches between the output of a pathway and the animal's true nutritional status.

Social Behaviour in an Australian Allodapine Bee Exoneura (Brevineura) xanthoclypeata (Hymenoptera : Apidae)

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon M. Tierney ◽  
Michael P. Schwarz ◽  
M. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Brood Production ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Reproductive Differentiation ◽  
Two Factors

The allodapine bees are well suited for comparative studies of social evolution because of the wide variation in social behaviour within and between genera. There are three main clades in the endemic Australian genus Exoneura. Two groups (Exoneura sensu stricto and Exoneurella) have received extensive study. In this paper we provide the first detailed study of social behaviour in the third group, Brevineura, based on a heathland population of Exoneura (B.) xanthoclypeata Rayment. This species has two seasonal pulses of egg-laying and brood rearing occurs throughout most of the year, including winter. This extended period of egg-laying and brood development differs from the two other Australian Exoneura subgenera and provides extensive opportunities for eusocial-like sib-rearing. Dissection data indicate that reproductive differentiation among adult nestmates is well developed and dependent on body size, with smaller females being mostly or entirely non-reproductive. Per capita brood production is dramatically higher in multi-female nests than in single-female nests and relatedness between adult nestmates is moderately high (r ≈ 0·5). These two factors suggest that local fitness enhancement may be occurring and our limited sex allocation data suggest female-biased ratios. Because of the opportunities for sib-rearing in this species, local fitness enhancement has the potential to lower selective thresholds for eusociality.

scholarly journals Non-Invasive Human Embryo Metabolic Assessment as a Developmental Criterion

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 4094
Author(s):  
Marjan Motiei ◽  
Katerina Vaculikova ◽  
Andrea Cela ◽  
Katerina Tvrdonova ◽  
Reza Khalili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Pregnancy ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Metabolomic Profiling ◽  
Mechanistic Insight ◽  
Qualitative Technique ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Multiple Pregnancy Rate

The selection of a highly-viable single embryo in assisted reproductive technology requires an acceptable predictive method in order to reduce the multiple pregnancy rate and increase the success rate. In this study, the metabolomic profiling of growing and impaired embryos was assessed on the fifth day of fertilization using capillary electrophoresis in order to find a relationship between the profiling and embryo development, and then to provide a mechanistic insight into the appearance/depletion of the metabolites. This unique qualitative technique exhibited the appearance of most non-essential amino acids and lactate, and depleting the serine, alanyl-glutamine and pyruvate in such a manner that the embryos impaired in their development secreted a considerably higher level of lactate and consumed a significantly higher amount of alanyl-glutamine. The different significant ratios of metabolomic depletion/appearance between the embryos confirm their potential for the improvement of the prospective selection of the developed single embryos, and also suggest the fact that pyruvate and alanyl-glutamine are the most critical ATP suppliers on the fifth day of blastocyst development.

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