Bees, including managed bees, are essential pollinators for crops production. If the population of bees declines, the subsequent negative effects on crop yield and quality can affect human health and well-being. In recent years, it has become apparent that nutritional stress is one of the major factors contributing to the declining bee population (amongst other factors like habitat loss, pathogen load, competition with invasive species, etc.). Therefore, in the context of the changing paradigm of agriculture (mono-cropping, over-use of pesticides, changing landscapes, etc.) compounded with climate change, it is of utmost importance to investigate the effects of these anthropogenic activities on bee foraging behaviour, food collection, and related physiological events. To overcome the problem of nutritional stress in bees, a thorough understanding of bee nutrition and related issues is necessary. In particular, recent advances in molecular physiology and microbiome interactions will provide critical insight into the nutritional ecology of bees.
Nutritional stress due to habitat loss, changing paradigms of agriculture, and climate change are major factors contributing to the declining bee population, including honey bees. Although bees forage nectar (carbohydrate source) and pollen (source for protein, essential fatty acids, sterols, and micro-nutrients) as their nutritional sources, their foraging behaviours differ in regard to food collection. Understanding their foraging behavioural patterns, nutritional requirements, metabolism, and the role of the microbiome in response to the metabolism are essential to addressing the issue of nutritional stress. For managed bees, the use of feed supplements, particularly in times of dearth of nectar and pollen, has proven a useful strategy to enforce colony strength. However, the use of feed supplements like micro-algae, etc. is an emerging area of research.
This Research Topic will showcase recent advances in the nutritional ecology of bees, covering the emerging issues of the role of the microbiome in nutrition, alternative feed supplement, landscape ecology for better nutrition, etc. Submissions on the following topics are especially welcome:
1. Nutritional requirements of bees (honey bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, etc.)
2. Honey bee feed and physiology
3. Foraging behaviour of bees in response to nutritional rewards
4. Effects of feeding supplements (e.g. micro-algae) on bee colony health
5. Bee-microbiome interaction in response to metabolism
Bees, including managed bees, are essential pollinators for crops production. If the population of bees declines, the subsequent negative effects on crop yield and quality can affect human health and well-being. In recent years, it has become apparent that nutritional stress is one of the major factors contributing to the declining bee population (amongst other factors like habitat loss, pathogen load, competition with invasive species, etc.). Therefore, in the context of the changing paradigm of agriculture (mono-cropping, over-use of pesticides, changing landscapes, etc.) compounded with climate change, it is of utmost importance to investigate the effects of these anthropogenic activities on bee foraging behaviour, food collection, and related physiological events. To overcome the problem of nutritional stress in bees, a thorough understanding of bee nutrition and related issues is necessary. In particular, recent advances in molecular physiology and microbiome interactions will provide critical insight into the nutritional ecology of bees.
Nutritional stress due to habitat loss, changing paradigms of agriculture, and climate change are major factors contributing to the declining bee population, including honey bees. Although bees forage nectar (carbohydrate source) and pollen (source for protein, essential fatty acids, sterols, and micro-nutrients) as their nutritional sources, their foraging behaviours differ in regard to food collection. Understanding their foraging behavioural patterns, nutritional requirements, metabolism, and the role of the microbiome in response to the metabolism are essential to addressing the issue of nutritional stress. For managed bees, the use of feed supplements, particularly in times of dearth of nectar and pollen, has proven a useful strategy to enforce colony strength. However, the use of feed supplements like micro-algae, etc. is an emerging area of research.
This Research Topic will showcase recent advances in the nutritional ecology of bees, covering the emerging issues of the role of the microbiome in nutrition, alternative feed supplement, landscape ecology for better nutrition, etc. Submissions on the following topics are especially welcome:
1. Nutritional requirements of bees (honey bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, etc.)
2. Honey bee feed and physiology
3. Foraging behaviour of bees in response to nutritional rewards
4. Effects of feeding supplements (e.g. micro-algae) on bee colony health
5. Bee-microbiome interaction in response to metabolism