Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.jip.2012.02.003
Title (Primary) Factors influencing Nosema bombi infections in natural populations of Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Author Huth-Schwarz, A.; Settele, J.; Moritz, R.F.A.; Kraus, F.B.
Source Titel Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
Year 2012
Department BZF
Volume 110
Issue 1
Page From 48
Page To 53
Language englisch
Keywords Bombus terrestris; bumblebees; Nosema bombi; Microsporidia; host–parasite-interaction
Abstract

Bumblebees are of profound ecological importance because of the pollination services they provide in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Any decline of these pollinators is therefore of great concern for ecosystem functioning. Increased parasite pressures have been discussed as a major factor for the loss of pollinators. One of the main parasites of bumblebees is Nosema bombi, an intracellular microsporidian parasite with considerable impact on the vitality of the host. Here we study the effect of host colony density and host genetic variability on N. bombi infections in natural populations of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. We sampled males and workers from six B. terrestris populations located in an agricultural landscape in Middle Sweden to determine the prevalence and degree of N. bombi infections. All individuals were genotyped with five microsatellite markers to infer the colony densities in the sampled populations and the genetic variability of the host population. We confirmed that genetic variability and sex significantly correlate with the degree of infection with N. bombi. Males and workers with lower genetic variability had significantly higher infection levels than average. Also colony density had a significant impact on the degree of infection, with high density populations having higher infected individuals.


Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=12409
Huth-Schwarz, A., Settele, J., Moritz, R.F.A., Kraus, F.B. (2012):
Factors influencing Nosema bombi infections in natural populations of Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
J. Invertebr. Pathol. 110 (1), 48 - 53 10.1016/j.jip.2012.02.003