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Honey bee associated viruses are unlikely to impact bumble bee colonies while habitat heterogeneity supports their resilience
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  • Laura Bosco,
  • Orlando Yañez,
  • Alexandria Schauer,
  • Corina Maurer,
  • Samuel Cushman,
  • Raphaël Arlettaz,
  • Alain Jacot,
  • Torsten Seuberlich,
  • Peter Neumann,
  • Daniel Schläppi
Laura Bosco
Finnish Museum of Natural History

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Orlando Yañez
University of Bern Institute of Bee Health
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Alexandria Schauer
University of Bern Institute of Bee Health
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Corina Maurer
University of Bern Faculty of Natural Sciences
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Samuel Cushman
University of Oxford
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Raphaël Arlettaz
University of Bern Faculty of Natural Sciences
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Alain Jacot
Swiss Ornithological Institute
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Torsten Seuberlich
University of Bern
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Peter Neumann
University of Bern
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Daniel Schläppi
University of Bern Institute of Bee Health
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Abstract

Virus host shifts from managed honey bees, Apis mellifera, are thought to contribute to the decline of wild pollinators. However, data on the impact of such viruses on wild pollinators remain scarce, and how landscape structure may affect virus transmission is poorly understood. We experimentally deployed bumble bee colonies in an agricultural landscape to study changes in the bumble bee virome under varying habitat composition and configuration. The results show a decline in prevalence and viral loads of honey bee associated viruses, while viruses common in Bombus spp. increased during field exposure. Honey bee associated viruses had no effect on colony development, suggesting that immediate impacts are unlikely in the field. Notably, we further demonstrate that increased habitat diversity results in fewer viruses in Bombus colonies. To mitigate the decline of bumble bees and other wild pollinators, we suggest focusing conservation efforts on habitat diversification and restoration.
02 Sep 2023Submitted to Ecology Letters
04 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
04 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
04 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major