Mass-flowering monoculture attracts bees, amplifying parasite prevalence. Issue 1960 (13th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cohen, Hamutahl; Smith, Gordon P.; Sardiñas, Hillary; Zorn, Jocelyn F.; McFrederick, Quinn S.; Woodard, S. Hollis; Ponisio, Lauren C.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 288:Issue 1960(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-13
• Subjects: wild bees -- parasitism -- agriculture -- mass-flowering crop -- Apismellifera -- hedgerow; Biology -- Periodicals; 570.5
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-8452

Abstract

Abstract : As the global agricultural footprint expands, it is increasingly important to address the link between the resource pulses characteristic of monoculture farming and wildlife epidemiology. To understand how mass-flowering crops impact host communities and subsequently amplify or dilute parasitism, we surveyed wild and managed bees in a monoculture landscape with varying degrees of floral diversification. We screened 1509 bees from 16 genera in sunflower fields and in non-crop flowering habitat across 200 km 2 of the California Central Valley. We found that mass-flowering crops increase bee abundance. Wild bee abundance was subsequently associated with higher parasite presence, but only in sites with a low abundance of non-crop flowers. Bee traits related to higher dispersal ability (body size) and diet breadth (pollen lecty) were also positively related to parasite presence. Our results highlight the importance of non-crop flowering habitat for supporting bee communities. We suggest monoculture alone cannot support healthy bees.