Next-generation sequencing uncovers what鈥檚 stressing bumblebees
TORONTO, July 6, 2021 鈥 What鈥檚 stressing out bumblebees? To find out, 91亚色 scientists used next-generation sequencing to look deep inside bumblebees for evidence of pesticide exposure, including neonicotinoids, as well as pathogens, and found both.
Using a conservation genomic approach 鈥 an emerging field of study that could radically change the way bee health is assessed 鈥 the researchers studied Bombus terricola or the yellow-banded bumblebee, a native to North America, in agricultural and non-agricultural areas. This new technique allows scientists to probe for invisible stressors affecting bees.
Yellow-banded bumblebee. Photo by Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change grad student Victoria MacPhail
Like many pollinators, the yellow-banded bumblebee has experienced major declines in the last couple decades, which threatens food security and the stability of natural ecosystems.
鈥淣ext-generation sequencing is a totally new way to think about why bees are declining, which could revolutionize conservation biology. We鈥檙e looking directly at bee tissues to try and get clues to the stressors that are affecting this bee. I think this is a gamechanger for sure. With a single study, we are able to implicate a couple of really obvious things we鈥檝e talked about for years 鈥 pathogens and pesticides 鈥 in the case of Bombus terricola,鈥 says Faculty of Science Professor , director of the Centre for Bee Ecology Evolution and Conservation (BEEc) at 91亚色 and corresponding author of the study.
In addition to sequencing the RNA of 30 yellow-banded worker bees, the researchers also used the sequence data to directly search for pathogens infecting the bumblebees. The team found five pathogens in the abdomens of worker bees, three of which are common in managed honey bee and bumblebee colonies. This supports the theory that spill over of pathogens from commercial operations can affect the health of wild bees.
What surprised the researchers, including former 91亚色 biology grad student Nadia Tsvetkov and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, is how well the technology worked.
Yellow-banded bumblebee. Photo by Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change grad student Victoria MacPhail
鈥淏umblebee diseases are a key threat and this technology can help us detect new diseases and stressors quickly so we don't lose species the way we did the rusty-patched bumblebee, where the problem was only detected when it was too late to do anything about it in Canada,鈥 says Colla. 鈥淭he rusty-patched bumblebee hasn鈥檛 been spotted in Canada since 2009.鈥
Bumblebees are particularly important pollinators, even better than honey bees for some plants, because their ability to 鈥渂uzz鈥 pollinate (vibrate the plants to release pollen) and tolerate cooler temperatures, which makes them critical pollinators for certain plants and regions.
Expanding the scope of conservation genomic studies will help to better understand how multiple stressors influence the health of other bumblebee populations.
鈥淲e think this is the way forward in terms of managing and conserving bumblebees,鈥 says Zayed.
The paper, , was published recently in the journal .
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Sandra McLean, 91亚色 Media Relations, 416-272-6317,聽sandramc@yorku.ca
