The effects of landscape and habitat quality on bumble bee pathogen prevalence and diversity

Monday, November 14, 2022

12:30 PM – 12:42 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 220

Presenting Author(s)

EG

Elena M. Gratton

M.S. Student
Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania

Co-Author(s)

Heather M. Hines

Associate Professor of Biology and Entomology
Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania
Christina M. Grozinger

Publius Vergilius Maro Professor
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

Bumble bees are critical pollinators, but their populations are threatened by pathogens, habitat loss, and climate change. These issues are often intersecting: for example, habitat degradation can lead to increased susceptibility to disease through nutritional deficiency. Better understanding of the role of habitat type and quality on bumble bee health is important for making management decisions for bee conservation. We address the intersecting effects of landscape factors and habitat quality on two metrics of bumble bee health - pathogen and parasite loads and bumble bee diversity – by sampling bees and their pathogens in a range of habitats across North Carolina. Our bumble bee survey data are further compared to historic records across the state. These large-scale landscape analyses support declining diversity with habitat quality and declines in diversity over time. Furthermore, prevalence of pathogens follows habitat-specific trends that vary by pathogen, data which can inform ecosystem enhancement for bees.