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Vulnerability of honey bee queens to heat-induced loss of fertility

Author

Listed:
  • Alison McAfee

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Abigail Chapman

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Heather Higo

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Robyn Underwood

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Joseph Milone

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Leonard J. Foster

    (University of British Columbia)

  • M. Marta Guarna

    (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

  • David R. Tarpy

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Jeffery S. Pettis

    (Pettis and Associates LLC)

Abstract

All species need to reproduce to maintain viable populations, but heat stress kills sperm cells across the animal kingdom and rising frequencies of heat waves are a threat to biodiversity. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are globally distributed microlivestock; therefore, they could serve as environmental biomonitors for fertility losses. Here, we found that queens have two potential routes of temperature-stress exposure: within colonies and during routine shipping. Our data suggest that temperatures of 15–38 °C are safe for queens at a tolerance threshold of 11.5% loss of sperm viability, which is the viability difference associated with queen failure in the field. Heat shock activates expression of specific stress-response proteins in the spermatheca, which could serve as molecular biomarkers (indicators) for heat stress. This protein fingerprint may eventually enable surveys for the prevalence of heat-induced loss of sperm viability in diverse landscapes as part of a biomonitoring programme.

Suggested Citation

  • Alison McAfee & Abigail Chapman & Heather Higo & Robyn Underwood & Joseph Milone & Leonard J. Foster & M. Marta Guarna & David R. Tarpy & Jeffery S. Pettis, 2020. "Vulnerability of honey bee queens to heat-induced loss of fertility," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(5), pages 367-376, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-020-0493-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0493-x
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