Beyond Pollination: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) as Zootherapy Keystone Species

Nola J. Oner,August Easton-Calabria,Kristian C. Demary

doi:10.3389/fevo.2018.00161

Nola J. Oner, August Easton-Calabria + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2018.00161

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Abstract

The ‘extended phenotype’ expands on the phenotype concept to encompass all effects of a gene, including those that a gene may have on an organism’s surrounding environment. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) can be considered a keystone species that exerts a strong impact on its community through their extended phenotypes that relate to disease resistance. Honey bee extended phenotypes (i.e. honey, propolis, venom, beeswax, bee bread and royal jelly) confer pathogen/pest resistance. Each of these extended phenotypes have been shown to exhibit antipathogenic properties and to act as a colony-level defense mechanism against disease. The phenomenon of a collective immune defense in social insects, termed social immunity, has evolved for defense against pathogens which spread easily in highly dense eusocial systems, such as that of honey bees. Additionally, humans can use the extended phenotypes from honey bees for pathogen resistance. The implication of these phenomena is that honey bees, through their genes, can manipulate their community structure both within and without the hive.

Highlights

Paine (1966, 1969) was first to propose the use of the term “keystone species,” which originally was used to describe how a predator (Pisaster starfish) can have a strong effect on its community structure through its feeding behavior (Paine, 1966, 1969)
Promising research has been done concerning bee bread in its use for treatment of burn wounds (JastrzebskaStojko et al, 2013; Olczyk et al, 2016), prostatitis (Shoskes, 2002), and allergies (Ishikawa et al, 2008; Medeiros et al, 2008). These findings show that the pollen honey bees collect help to protect them from pathogens in the nest
There is debate over labeling a species as a keystone species, because studies have demonstrated that their interaction strengths with the surrounding ecosystem are context dependent and can vary over time and geographic space (Menge et al, 1994)

Summary

Introduction

Paine (1966, 1969) was first to propose the use of the term “keystone species,” which originally was used to describe how a predator (Pisaster starfish) can have a strong effect on its community structure through its feeding behavior (Paine, 1966, 1969). The effects of specific honey bee products on social immunity have been studied (Simone et al, 2009). There are multiple honey bee products, such as nectar and pollen, that bees produce which contribute to social immunity and have a direct impact on colony health.

Results

Conclusion