Abstract
We tested the influence of genetic variation on responses to natural and artificial diets in Varroa-resistant Pol-line and Russian honey bee stocks. Newly emerged workers from six colonies per stock were fed pollen, spirulina (blue-green microalgae), and sucrose-only diets in 144 total cages. Diet type had a strong effect on sugar intake, body weight, fat body lipid content, and vitellogenin (vg) expression. Spirulina consumption was approximately half that of pollen, but led to higher head weights, equivalent thorax weights and vg levels, and marginally reduced fat body lipids. Bee stock and colony had a significant impact on nutritional response. Despite equivalent diet intakes, Pol-line bees accumulated higher lipid levels and consumed less sugar overall than Russian bees. Furthermore, pollen-fed bees sourced from Pol-line colonies had significantly higher vg levels. These differences in nutrient and energy allocation may reflect life history-related physiological tradeoffs. Our results suggest that genotype-dependent nutritional responses are present in honey bees, with promising implications for breeding efforts and tailored approaches to diet and health in a changing global climate.
Highlights
Nutritional health is determined by interactions between environmental variables of supply, bioavailability, and consumption of diet components as well as the genetically controlled variables of digestion, absorption, transformation, and storage
This research has led to investigation of the roles of nutrients in gene and protein expression known as nutrigenomics, and concepts related to genetic variation and dietary response, known as nutrigenetics
Average consumption was significantly higher for the pollen diet (Pol-line: 41.60 mg/bee; Russian: 43.83 mg/bee) relative to the spirulina diet (Pol-line: 22.53 mg/bee; Russian: 24.14 mg/bee) (Figure 2)
Summary
Nutritional health is determined by interactions between environmental variables of supply, bioavailability, and consumption of diet components as well as the genetically controlled variables of digestion, absorption, transformation, and storage. Floral nectar serves as an energy source while pollen provides all amino acids, lipids, and micronutrients necessary for honey bee development and reproduction (Brodschneider and Crailsheim 2010). The protein content of pollen and its relative abundances of essential amino acids are central to brood production and colony growth (De Groot 1953; Crailsheim 1990). To supplement colony nutrition during periods of reduced natural forage, managed honey bee colonies are often fed artificial pollen substitute diets (Nabors 2000). This management practice has become more prevalent as commercial beekeeping has grown in scale, and landscapes increase in agricultural intensity, which reduces floral diversity and consequent nutritional value (Naug 2009). Microalgae have recently emerged as a promising pollen substitute due to their high macronutrient content and bioavailability (Ricigliano 2020)
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