One of the authors of this paper kindly sent us a copy...look forward to reading it carefully.
deknow
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues, 76:10, 587-600,
DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2013.798846
FUNGICIDE CONTAMINATION REDUCES BENEFICIAL FUNGI IN BEE BREAD BASED
ON AN AREA-WIDE FIELD STUDY IN HONEY BEE, Apis mellifera, COLONIES
Jay A. Yoder1, Andrew J. Jajack1, Andrew E. Rosselot1, Terrance J. Smith1, Mary Clare Yerke1,
Diana Sammataro2
1Department of Biology, Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, USA
2Carl Hayden Honey Bee Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Service, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Fermentation by fungi converts stored pollen into bee bread that is fed to honey bee larvae,
Apis mellifera, so the diversity of fungi in bee bread may be related to its food value.
To explore the relationship between fungicide exposure and bee bread fungi, samples of
bee bread collected from bee colonies pollinating orchards from 7 locations over 2 years
were analyzed for fungicide residues and fungus composition. There were detectable levels of
fungicides from regions that were sprayed before bloom. An organic orchard had the highest
quantity and variety of fungicides, likely due to the presence of treated orchards within bees’
flight range. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Cladosporium (beneficial fungi) were the
primary fungal isolates found, regardless of habitat differences. There was some variation
in fungal components amongst colonies, even within the same apiary. The variable components
were Absidia, Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Bipolaris, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Mucor,
Nigrospora, Paecilomyces, Scopulariopsis, and Trichoderma. The number of fungal isolates
was reduced as an effect of fungicide contamination. Aspergillus abundance was particularly
affected by increased fungicide levels, as indicated by Simpson’s diversity index. Bee bread
showing fungicide contamination originated from colonies,many of which showed chalkbrood
symptoms.
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|