饲粮蛋白质水平对蜂群繁殖性能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲料蛋白质水平对蜜蜂产浆期繁殖性能的影响。选择35群群势、蜂王年龄和质量一致的意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera L.,随机分为7组,分别饲喂蛋白质水平为15%、20%、25%、30%、35%及40%的试验饲粮并以油菜花粉作为对照,测定各组蜂群的繁殖性能。结果表明,试验前期,饲粮蛋白质水平对蜂群群势有显著性影响,然而在试验中后期,则无显著影响(P>0.05);随着饲粮蛋白质水平的增加,蜂王产卵力和工蜂初生重呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,与对照组相比差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

围产前期添加山楂和黄芪混合物对奶牛血浆代谢组的影响

旨为研究日粮中添加山楂、黄芪对产前奶牛血浆代谢物的影响。选取年龄、胎次和体况相近围产期健康高产荷斯坦奶牛20头。随机分为2组,对照组A组(n=10):饲喂基础日粮;试验组B组(n=10):饲喂基础日粮添加复方中草药山楂和黄芪(各150 g)。进入围产圈开始饲喂,连续饲喂14 d,晨饲前尾静脉采血10 mL,采用高效液相色谱-质谱(HPLC-MS)技术,结合主成分分析(PCA)和正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析(OPLS-DA)对两组血浆代谢轮廓进行模式识别;以VIP1、P0.05和FC1.3或FC0.77作为标准筛选两组血浆差异代谢物;ROC曲线进一步确定这些差异代谢物对两组血浆分类的识别能力。结果显示:添加山楂和黄芪对D-谷氨酰胺和D-谷氨酸代谢、亚油酸代谢、牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸代谢、丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢、缬氨酸、亮氨酸和异亮氨酸的生物合成有显著的影响,经ROC曲线发现9个显著性上调差异代谢物:肌酐、5,2'-O-甲基胞苷、肉豆蔻酸、亮氨酸、烟酸、3-羟基苯甲酸、次黄嘌呤、γ-谷氨酰缬氨酸和马尿酸。综上表明:产前饲料添加山楂、黄芪影响奶牛的氨基酸代谢,脂肪代谢和糖代谢。     

花蜜中酚类物质对群落中同花期植物传粉的影响

显花植物分泌花蜜以奖励传粉昆虫为其提供的传粉服务.许多植物分泌的花蜜中除了糖和氨基酸等物质外,还含有与植物抗虫有关的次生代谢物质,如生物碱和多酚.饲喂试验表明传粉蜂类偏爱采集含有这些次生代谢物质的花蜜.因此,花蜜中的次生代谢物质对分泌这类花蜜的植物传粉具有进化和生态上的意义.但是,花蜜中的次生代谢物质是否会影响群落中其它同花期植物的传粉尚不清楚.在2009年3-5月份,在西双版纳永久样地就中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana)的传粉行为进行研究,比较了两种饲喂条件下,整个蜂群采集花蜜的花粉种类和单个采集蜂携带的花粉团的花粉种类,以及采集蜂蜜囊中花蜜的含糖量(一组饲喂30％蔗糖糖浆,以下简称“喂纯糖浆组”另一组饲喂同样糖浆但含有0.01％槲皮素,以下简称“喂酚糖浆组”).研究结果表明:饲喂两种不同糖浆的蜂群拜访的植物种类数量上没有明显差异.但是,两组采集工蜂所选择采集植物花粉种类却存在明显差异,它们采集的花粉都包含了一些特有的花粉种类.另外,两组采集工蜂所采集含有2种以上花粉种类花粉团的蜜蜂数量存在明显差异,喂酚糖浆组明显高于饲喂纯糖浆组.两组工蜂蜜囊中花蜜的含糖量也存在显著差异,喂酚糖浆组工蜂蜜囊中花蜜的含糖量明显高于喂纯糖浆组.因此,喂酚糖浆组的工蜂拜访植物的专一性比较低,在一次采集过程中倾向拜访花蜜中含糖量高的植物.花蜜中酚类物质增加了群落中同花期植物之间的花粉传播,从而降低了整个群落的传粉效率.     

亚致死剂量吡虫啉胁迫对意大利蜜蜂内勤蜂与外勤蜂免疫解毒相关基因表达及免疫解毒酶系活力的影响

摘要: 【目的】吡虫啉(imidaclorprid)是广泛使用的新烟碱类杀虫剂之一。大量研究表明亚致死剂量吡虫啉影响意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica(简称“意蜂”)幼虫的发育和成年蜜蜂的采集、学习等行为。本实验旨在探究亚致死剂量吡虫啉对意大利蜜蜂内勤蜂(1日龄成年工蜂)与外勤蜂(21日龄成年工蜂)免疫解毒相关基因表达及免疫解毒酶系活力的影响,进而为蜜蜂健康的维护提供科学依据。【方法】测定饲喂含0.1 ng/μL吡虫啉的50%蔗糖溶液不同时间后意蜂成年工蜂的存活率;利用荧光定量PCR检测饲喂含0.1 ng/μL吡虫啉的50%蔗糖溶液6 d后其体内免疫基因多酚氧化酶基因(PPOA3, GenBank登录号： GB43738), Abaecin类抗菌肽基因(ABA, GenBank登录号： GB18323),葡萄糖脱氢酶基因(GLD, GenBank登录号： GB43007)和解毒基因细胞色素P450基因(CYP450 6a2, GenBank登录号： GB49876)的表达,并采用双抗体一步夹心法酶联免疫吸附试验测定其体内细胞色素P450酶(cytochrome P450, CYP450)含量和多酚氧化酶(polyphenol oxidase,PPO)活力。【结果】1日龄和21日龄意蜂成年工蜂连续饲喂6 d含0.1 ng/μL吡虫啉的50%蔗糖溶液后,其存活率与对照组(饲喂含0.1 ng/μL丙酮的50%蔗糖溶液)无显著差异;连续饲喂9 d含0.1 ng/μL吡虫啉的50%蔗糖溶液后,1日龄意蜂成年工蜂存活率与对照组无显著差异,而21日龄意蜂成年工蜂存活率与对照组有显著差异。1日龄意蜂成年工蜂自由取食含0.1 ng/μL吡虫啉的蔗糖溶液6 d后, PPOA3, CYP450 6a2, ABA和GLD表达水平,细胞色素P450含量以及多酚氧化酶活力与对照组相比均有显著下调趋势;而21日龄意蜂成年工蜂取食该药液6 d后,CYP450 6a2, ABA和GLD表达水平及多酚氧化酶活力与对照组相比均有显著下调趋势,PPOA3表达水平和细胞色素P450含量有显著上调趋势。【结论】亚致死剂量吡虫啉影响意大利蜜蜂内勤蜂与外勤蜂免疫解毒相关基因的表达及免疫解毒酶系活力;吡虫啉短期胁迫对意大利蜜蜂内勤蜂与外勤蜂的存活无显著影响,长期胁迫则会影响意大利蜜蜂内勤蜂与外勤蜂的存活。     

基于代谢组方法筛选蜜蜂副伤寒相关差异代谢物的研究

[目的]蜜蜂副伤寒是西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera越冬期的主要易感疾病.本研究旨在探究蜜蜂副伤寒疾病相关的代谢物和代谢通路.[方法]以越冬末期的西方蜜蜂为研究对象,利用基于高效液相质谱联用的非靶向代谢组学方法检测副伤寒患病群和正常越冬群工蜂肠道中代谢物的变化.[结果]蜜蜂副伤寒患病个体和正常蜜蜂个体在正、负离子模式下分别获得626个和518个差异代谢物,在正、负离子模式下最显著差异的10种代谢物中筛选到镰刀菌氧萘满酮、奎尼丁、褪黑素、去氧紫草素等与蜜蜂物质代谢障碍、细胞凋亡和抗氧化应激相关的差异代谢物.此外,差异代谢物显著富集于与氨基酸代谢密切相关的氨酰-tRNA合成、蛋白质消化吸收、谷胱甘肽代谢、矿物质代谢、多种氨基酸代谢等7个代谢通路.[结论]蜜蜂患副伤寒后肠道中代谢物水平发生显著变化,其中氨基酸和蛋白质的代谢异常可能是蜜蜂副伤寒发病的主要原因.     

蜜蜂人工代用花粉中适宜钙磷水平的初步研究

钙磷是蜜蜂饲粮中必需的常量元素。为了探讨蜜蜂人工代用花粉中适宜的钙磷水平,本试验选取蜂王、群势基本一致的意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola 70群,随机分为14个组,每组5群蜂,前12组饲喂采用均匀设计法配制的不同钙磷水平的人工代用花粉。第13组饲喂不加钙磷的人工代用花粉为负对照,第14组饲喂纯油菜花粉为正对照。试验从春繁开始,到刺槐流蜜期结束为止。试验期间测定蜂群的采食量、蜂群群势、幼蜂初生重,成蜂蜂体组织内钙磷含量。结果表明:当人工代用花粉中钙磷水平分别为0,0.65%时,蜂群的采食量、蜂群群势、幼蜂初生重均取得最大值;成蜂蜂体组织内钙含量与人工代用花粉中钙磷含量成正相关,成蜂蜂体组织内磷含量与人工代用花粉中钙磷含量之间没有相关性。     

基于中肠代谢组学意大利蜜蜂工蜂枣花病的发病机理研究

【目的】利用代谢组学分析患枣花病意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica工蜂中肠内代谢物变化,挖掘出与蜜蜂枣花病相关的重要代谢通路,旨在揭示蜜蜂枣花病发病机制,为枣花病靶向药物的研发提供理论依据。【方法】分别利用液相色谱-质谱联用(liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, LC-MS)和气相色谱-质谱联用(gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, GC-MS)技术对患枣花病和健康意大利蜜蜂工蜂进行中肠非靶向代谢组检测;通过主成分分析(principal component analysis, PCA)和正交偏最小二乘法判别分析(orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, OPLS-DA),以变量投影重要性(variable projection importance, VIP)>1.0,差异倍数(fold change, FC)>2.0和P<0.05为标准筛选差异代谢物,并对其进行KEGG注释和通路富集;利用生...     

长木蜂蜂粮酿制过程中pH值和花粉活力的测定

测定手采新鲜的芍药花粉、芍药长木蜂Xylocopa tranquebarorum（Swederus）花粉和不同酿制时间蜂粮样品的平均pH值,结果分别是6．19、5．92和4．05（40日龄蜂粮）。随着酿制时间的延长,蜂粮的pH值下降,2日龄蜂粮到3日龄蜂粮的pH值从5．57降至4．82,下降速率明显。经测定,紫藤长木蜂花粉和不同日龄蜂粮样品中紫藤花粉的纯度均在98％以上;芍药长木蜂花粉和不同日龄蜂粮样品中芍药花粉的纯度均在93％以上;测定紫藤花粉的长木蜂蜂粮和芍药花粉的长木蜂蜂粮中的花粉活力。结果表明,在1日龄蜂粮中花粉活力基本丧失,3日龄后均失去萌发力,并且不同的花粉蜂粮其花粉活力表现一致。     

蜜蜂春季增长阶段饲料适宜蛋白质水平的研究

早春将群势、蜂王年龄和质量基本一致的30群意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola,随机分为5个处理组和1个对照组。处理组分别饲喂蛋白质水平为20%、25%、30%、35%和40%的5种代用花粉饲料,对照组饲喂油菜花粉,观测饲料蛋白质水平对蜂群群势、取食量、初生重以及蜂体组织蛋白含量的影响。结果表明对照组中蜜蜂对油菜花粉的取食量最高,但仅显著高于蛋白质水平为40%的饲料(P<0.05);蛋白质水平为25%、30%、35%的处理组群势增长差异不显著(P>0.05),但均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);随着饲料蛋白质水平升高,工蜂初生重逐渐升高,在35%到达最高值,随后又下降;饲喂蛋白质水平为20%、25%、30%饲料的蜂体组织蛋白含量与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05),饲喂蛋白质水平为35%、40%饲料的蜜蜂体组织蛋白含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。     

蜜蜂花粉采集器官和采集飞行的线性比例分析

本研究从采粉工蜂飞行中能量消耗相关的几个方面入手,分析了蜜蜂属(Apis) 8个物种的花粉采集器官。结果表明,花粉筐表面积、翅膀表面积、体重及胸部动力容量与蜂种个体的体长呈极显著相关,并且它们随蜂种个体的增大而呈对数线性比例增加。除意大利蜜蜂(A·mellifera ligustica)以外,花粉团重量与花粉筐和基跗节表面积成线性比例。工蜂负重前后重量的变化与花粉筐和翅膀的表面积不成比例[动物学报51 (5) :947 -951 , 2005]。     

Detection of Deformed wing virus, a honey bee viral pathogen, in bumble bees (Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum) with wing deformities

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) productively infected with Deformed wing virus (DWV) through Varroa destructor (V. destructor) during pupal stages develop into adults showing wing and other morphological deformities. Here, we report for the first time the occurrence of bumble bees (Bombus terrestris, Bombus pascuorum) exhibiting wing deformities resembling those seen in clinically DWV-infected honey bees. Using specific RT-PCR protocols for the detection of DWV followed by sequencing of the PCR products we could demonstrate that the bumble bees were indeed infected with DWV. Since such deformed bumble bees are not viable DWV infection may pose a serious threat to bumble bee populations.     

Impact of the introduced honey bee (Apis mellifera) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on native bees: A review

Abstract Interspecific competition for a limited resource can result in the reduction of survival, growth and/or reproduction in one of the species involved. The introduced honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) is an example of a species that can compete with native bees for floral resources. Often, research into honey bee/native bee competition has focused on floral resource overlap, visitation rates or resource harvesting, and any negative interaction has been interpreted as a negative impact. Although this research can be valuable in indicating the potential for competition between honey bees and native bees, to determine if the long‐term survival of a native bee species is threatened, fecundity, survival or population density needs to be assessed. The present review evaluates research that has investigated all these measurements of honey bee/native bee competition and finds that many studies have problems with sample size, confounding factors or data interpretation. Guidelines for future research include increasing replication and using long‐term studies to investigate the impact of both commercial and feral honey bees.     

Larger bees facilitate the deposition of oilseed rape pollen (Brassica napus L.)

Oilseed rape is the third-largest source of vegetable oil and the second-largest source of protein meal in the world. Pollinators are vital in the production of oilseed rape. However, pollination efficiency could be influenced by the morphology and foraging behaviors of pollinators. To evaluate the effect of pollinator size and foraging behavior on pollination efficiency, the intertegular distances (ITDs) of five bumble bees (Bombus pyrosoma, B. lantschouensis, B. melanurus, B. sichelii and B. sibiricus) and two honey bees (Apis mellifera and A. cerana) were evaluated. Their foraging activities and single visit depositions (SVDs) on oilseed rape were observed and counted. The ITDs of bumble bees were significantly larger than honey bees (P < 0.05). The single-visit duration of A. mellifera (2.43 ± 0.06 s) was significantly longer than other bees (P < 0.05). The interval time of the A. cerana was longer than other bees (P < 0.05). Larger bees tended to deposit more pollen on stigmas at each visit than smaller bees. The interspecific ITD of bees had a positive effect on SVD (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between ITD and SVD among individuals of the same species. In conclusion, the size of bees had a positive impact on pollination efficiency. Bees with a greater ITD deposited substantially more pollen and had a significantly shorter interval between flowers. Understanding the foraging behavior and pollination efficiency of these bee species and developing habitats to support them should enable growers to achieve resilient production.     

Pollination of strawberry by the stingless bee,Trigona minangkabau,and the honey bee,Apis mellifera: An experimental study of fertilization efficiency

To know basic information about the stingless bee, Trigona minangkabau, and the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, as pollinator of strawberry, we set three greenhouse areas: the honey bee introduced area, the stingless bee introduced area and the control area. Foraging and pollination efficiencies of the two bee species were studied comparatively. During the experimental period (10 days), the stingless bee foraged well and the nest weight did not change, though the honey bee often foraged inefficiently and the nest weight decreased by 2 kg. The average nectar volume of a flower was lower in the honey bee area (0.02 μl) and nearly the same in the other two areas (0.1 μl). We make a numerical model to describe pollination and fertilization process. This model shows that one visit of the honey bee pollinated 11% of achenes and one visit of the stingless bee did 4.7% on average and that 11 visits of the honey bee or 30 visits of the stingless bee are required per flower to attain normal berry (fertilization rate, 87%). In this study, the rate of deformed berries in the stingless bee area (73%) was lower than that of the control area (90%), but higher than that of the honey bee area (51%). From our numerical model, we conclude the stingless bee could pollinate strawberry as well as the honey bee if we introduced 1.8 times of bees used in this experiment.     

Nesting biology of three Megachile (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) species from Eastern Amazonia,Brazil

Megachile Latreille is a conspicuous genus of solitary bees distributed worldwide. However, the biology of tropical species is still little known. We present data on biology of Megachile brasiliensis Data Torre, Megachile sejuncta Cockerell and Megachile stilbonotaspis Moure found in two remnants of eastern Amazonian forest in northeastern Brazil. The study was conducted using the trap-nest methodology in two different areas during four periods. We collected a total of 24 nests of M. brasiliensis, 26 of M. sejuncta and 28 of M. stilbonotaspis. The differential abundance of collected nests may reflect the population size in each sampled place. The nesting activity was concentrated mainly between July and January and species presented a multivoltine pattern, except for M. sejuncta, which was partly univoltine. Assessed pollen use showed a predominant use of Attalea sp. (Arecaceae) and, for M. stilbonotaspis, Tylesia sp. and Lepidaploa sp. (Asteraceae). Babassu is a very common palm in the studied areas and the studied species seem to have a strong link with it. We also reported change of pollen use by M. sejuncta, probably due to competition with M. brasiliensis, which may have influenced the biased sex ratio observed in M. sejuncta toward males. Parasites reported here were also recorded for other Megachile species, such as Coelioxys, Brachymeria, Meloidae and Pyralidae species. Mites were observed in association with M. stilbonotaspis. The data presented here set up a background that encourages new studies on the ecology of these three Amazonian species, providing tools for proper biodiversity management and conservation.     

Patch utilization and flower visitations by wild bees in a honey bee‐dominated,grassland landscape

Understanding habitat needs and patch utilization of wild and managed bees has been identified as a national research priority in the United States. We used occupancy models to investigate patterns of bee use across 1030 transects spanning a gradient of floral resource abundance and richness and distance from apiaries in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States. Estimates of transect use by honey bees were nearly 1.0 during our 3.5‐month sampling period, suggesting honey bees were nearly ubiquitous across transects. Wild bees more frequently used transects with higher flower richness and more abundant flowers; however, the effect size of the native flower abundance covariate (β^native = 3.90 ± 0.65 [1SE]) was four times greater than the non‐native flower covariate (β^non‐native = 0.99 ± 0.17). We found some evidence that wild bee use was lower at transects near commercial apiaries, but the effect size was imprecise (β^distance = 1.4 ± 0.81). Honey bees were more frequently detected during sampling events with more non‐native flowers and higher species richness but showed an uncertain relationship with native flower abundance. Of the 4039 honey bee and flower interactions, 85% occurred on non‐native flowers, while only 43% of the 738 wild bee observations occurred on non‐native flowers. Our study suggests wild bees and honey bees routinely use the same resource patches in the PPR but often visit different flowering plants. The greatest potential for resource overlap between honey bees and wild bees appears to be for non‐native flowers in the PPR. Our results are valuable to natural resource managers tasked with supporting habitat for managed and wild pollinators in agroecosystems.     

Bee visitation rates to cultivated sunflowers increase with the amount and accessibility of nectar sugars

Pollinators make foraging decisions based on numerous floral traits, including nectar and pollen rewards, and associated visual and olfactory cues. For insect‐pollinated crops, identifying and breeding for attractive floral traits may increase yields. In this study, we examined floral trait variation within cultivated sunflowers and its effects on bee foraging behaviours. Over 2 years, we planted different sunflower inbred lines, including male‐fertile and male‐sterile lines, and measured nectar volume, nectar sugar concentration and composition, and corolla length. During bloom, we recorded visits by both managed honey bees and wild bees. We then examined consistency in relative nectar production by comparing field results to those from a greenhouse experiment. Sunflower inbred lines varied significantly in all floral traits, including the amount and composition of nectar sugars, and in corolla length. Both wild bee and honey bee visits significantly increased with nectar sugar amount and decreased with corolla length, but appeared unaffected by nectar sugar composition. While wild bees made more visits to sunflowers providing pollen (male‐fertile), honey bees preferred plants without pollen (male‐sterile). Differences in nectar quantity among greenhouse‐grown sunflower lines were similar to those measured in the field, and bumble bees preferentially visited lines with more nectar in greenhouse observations. Our results show that sunflowers with greater quantities of nectar sugar and shorter corollas receive greater pollination services from both managed and wild bees. Selecting for these traits could thus increase sunflower crop yields and provide greater floral resources for bees.     

The pollination efficiency of a pollinator depends on its foraging strategy,flowering phenology,and the flower characteristics of a plant species

Honey bees and stingless bees are generalist visitors of several wild and cultivated plants. They forage with a high degree of floral fidelity and thereby help in the pollination services of those plants. We hypothesized that pollination efficiency might be influenced by flowering phenology, floral characteristics, and resource collection modes of the worker bees. In this paper, we surveyed the foraging strategies of honey bees (Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, and Apis florea) and stingless bees (Tetragonula iridipennis) concerning their pollination efficiencies. Bees showed different resource gathering strategies, including legitimate (helping in pollination as mixed foragers and specialized foragers) and illegitimate (serving as nectar robbers and pollen thieves) types of flower visitation patterns. Foraging strategies are influenced by the shape of flowers, the timing of the visitation, floral richness, and bee species. Honey bees and stingless bees mainly acted as legitimate visitors in most plants studied. Sometimes honey bees served as nectar robbers in tubular flowers and stingless bees as pollen thieves in large-sized flowers. Among the legitimate categories, mixed foragers have a comparatively lower flower visitation rate than the specialized nectar and pollen foragers. However, mixed foragers have greater abundance and higher values of the single-visit pollination efficiency index (PEi) than nectar and pollen foragers. The value of the combined parameter ‘importance in pollination (PI)’ was thus higher in mixed foragers than in nectar and pollen foragers.     

Redescription of two East Asian species of the tribe Epeolini (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Nomadinae)

The two Asian species supposedly belonging to the genus or subgenus Triepeolus Robertson, Epeolus tsushimensis Cockerell and Triepeolus ventralis (Meade‐Waldo), are redescribed and illustrated. Epeolus tsushimensis is confirmed to be a member of the genus Epeolus on the basis of the male genitalia and internal sterna.     

The accuracy of morphometric characteristic analysis depends on the type of the assessed traits of honey bees (Apis cerana F. and Apis mellifera L.)

Conservation of honey bees as pollinators and honey producers requires their assessment using convenient general methods. One of the most commonly used methods involves assessment of morphometric characteristics using random traits. The purpose of the study was to determine a set of morphometric characteristics for identifying the local (R, H: Apis cerana koreana) and adapted (A, C, F: Apis melifera ligustica; D: Apis mellifera carpathica; V: Apis mellifera) lines of honey bees bred in Korea. We found traits with significant differences (p < 0.001), high discriminant coefficient (>100), and range of variation (<50 %). The analysis demonstrated that the widths of the abdomen, forewing, and head, and the lengths of the antenna, body, proboscis, tergites 4 and 3, and forewing can be used as the nine main morphological characteristics for distinguishing the bred lines of honey bees. Furthermore, the last two traits and the length of the head can be used for distinguishing the adapted subspecies A. m. ligustica and A. m. carpathica. Our observations can be used for improving the morphometric method for the conservation of honey bees.