Research out of York University has found that honey bees are exposed to a complex network of multiple interacting stressors that affect their health while pollinating crops. Previous studies focusing on specific pesticides, parasitic mites, viruses, or genetics have been unable to explain the increasing colony mortality observed in honey bees. This new study employs systems level or network analyses to understand the interplay of stressors and their effects on bee colonies, which represents a paradigm shift in the field.
The study, published in Current Biology, reveals that not all stressors are equal, with some being more influential than others in impacting honey bee health. These influential stressors, termed social media influencers of the bee world, have a significant impact on the network of stressors and their co-stressors. Most influencer stressors are viruses and pesticides that often appear in combination with other stressors, compounding negative effects through their interactions. Understanding these interactions is essential for unraveling the impact on honey bee colony health and mortality.
From Québec to British Columbia, honey bee colonies play a crucial role in pollinating Canada’s valuable crops, including apples, canola oil, highbush and lowbush blueberry, soybean, cranberry, and corn. The study found that honey bees are simultaneously exposed to an average of 23 stressors that create 307 interactions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the complex web of stressors affecting honey bee health. This research sheds light on the challenges faced by beekeepers and the importance of managing stressors to promote healthy bee colonies.
The economic value of honey bees is significant, with the industry contributing approximately $7 billion in economic value in 2021. Honey bees play a vital role in pollinating orchards, vegetables, berries, and oil seeds like canola, and produce millions of pounds of honey. Identifying which stressors have the most significant impact on bee health can help develop tools to effectively manage these stressors, benefiting both beekeepers and the agriculture industry.
The research is part of the BEECSI project funded by Genome Canada to develop a new health assessment and diagnosis platform for bees using genomic tools. Further research is needed to understand how stressors interact and impact honey bee mortality and colony health. The study suggests that certain combinations of stressors occur frequently, highlighting the need for further experiments to determine their effects on bee health and prioritize research efforts to address these interactions.
Overall, the study underscores the complexity of stressors affecting honey bee colonies and the need for a comprehensive approach to managing these stressors to promote bee health and reduce colony mortality. By understanding the network of stressors and their interactions, researchers can identify key influencers and prioritize research efforts to develop effective strategies for protecting honey bee populations and ensuring their crucial role in pollination and agriculture.
