Source: PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
WILD BEE RESOURCE UTILIZATION IN AGROECOSYSTEMS: MOLECULAR POLLEN IDENTIFICATION & NEST DENSITY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0230244
Grant No.
2012-67011-19916
Cumulative Award Amt.
$74,000.00
Proposal No.
2012-01281
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2012
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2014
Grant Year
2012
Program Code
[A7101]- AFRI Predoctoral Fellowships
Recipient Organization
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
208 MUELLER LABORATORY
UNIVERSITY PARK,PA 16802
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
Bees provide the essential ecosystem service of pollination to crops in agroecosystems, thus they are vital to plant production. Wild bees (also known as native bees) in particular are important pollinators and a valuable resource in agricultural systems. However, unlike managed bees, wild bees require two fundamental resources from the environment in order to sustain viable populations: floral resources and nesting habitat. This project examines pollen utilization and nest density of wild bee communities and populations in vegetable farms within heterogeneous landscapes. This is done by conducting surveys and recording observations in conjunction with established and novel molecular techniques. Understanding wild bee resource utilization is fundamental in developing management plans to promote wild bee populations which contribute to sustainable agricultural by conserving the natural ecosystem service of pollination. The results of this study will be directly applicable for use by growers, land managers and policy-makers for enhancing pollination services by wild bees in agricultural systems.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
40%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2113090113020%
2113090107020%
2113090108020%
2112420113010%
2112420107010%
2112420108010%
2111429107010%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
3090 - Other Pollinators; 1429 - Cucurbits, other; 2420 - Noncrop plant research;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1070 - Ecology; 1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
Gain a better understanding of wild bee communities that provide pollination services to vegetable farms that are in heterogeneous and diversified landscapes. Specifically, this project examines wild bee resource utilization by determining bee nest density and pollen utilization. This knowledge will be directly applicable for use by growers, land managers and policy-makers to develop land management and farming practices that enhance pollination services by wild bees. Objectives: 1-Nest density: Measure nest density by estimating how many bumble bee nests are providing foragers to a specific field by using molecular population genetics, and relate nest density to the surrounding heterogeneous landscape. 2-Pollen utilization: Construct pollen-pollinator networks and compare to plant-pollinator networks of wild bee communities based on molecular identification of pollen collected by wild bees. Outputs: Understanding resource utilization of wild bees with the agroecosystem will contribute to the development of better land management and farming practice, which will ensure sustainability of pollination, which is an ecosystem service. Determining nest density will provide information about bumble bee nesting that has not yet been investigated in North America. Density is an important measure in studying populations and this basic knowledge is required to assess how best to conserve and promote wild bees populations for crop pollination (i.e. plant production). Through determining which pollen is utilized by the wild bee community, we can suggest which resources should be promoted in agricultural land management programs. Since pollen is crucial to offspring production, we can assess which resources would best support and promote wild bee populations. Although our study does not directly calculate the economic affects resulting from promoting wild bee populations, our study could help to reduce costs to growers by enhancing pollination services such that growers do not need to rent or purchase commercial bees. Overall, promoting the ecosystem service of pollination within the agricultural system will promote sustainable agricultural practices by enhancing environmental quality of the farmscape and promoting viability of growers. Information will be presented in extension talks aimed at vegetable growers, and in related outreach events such as field days and pollinator workshops. Results will be presented at scientific meetings and will result in at least two peer-reviewed published articles. The scope of project will include training and professional development of the NIFA fellow by mentors and advisors.
Project Methods
This project will use a combination of traditional field observation and survey methods, in addition to established molecular population genetics techniques and novel metagenomics techniques. To document bee communities and community composition, we will use the traditional visitation observations methods to measure visitation rate of bees to plants of interest. This technique assumes plant-pollinator interaction where the plant is pollinated and the pollinator acquires resources (pollen and nectar). We will improve upon these methods by molecularly identifying the pollen actually acquired by bees. We will collect bees directly off the plant and then molecularly identify the pollen, which is an improvement upon traditional palynology and laborious microscopic pollen identification To do this, we will use novel metagenomic techniques. Traditional Sanger sequencing cannot reliably be used to molecularly identify pollen because pollen will likely be collected from several plant species. Therefore, we will use several plant primers and next generation sequencing to up-scale our identification abilities through a metagenomics approach to analyze mixed samples. Where genomics uses next generation sequencing technologies to determine the complete genetic sequence of an organism, metagenomics uses these powerful technologies to analyze mixed samples. Metagenomics is a relatively new area of study, and at the time we begin this project, we are not aware of other published studies that have used metagenomics to identify plant species in a plant only sample matrix. We will construct plant-pollinator networks to examine the interaction between plants and bees based on traditional observations. We will then construct pollen-pollinator networks based on the identified pollen to examine which pollen is actually being collected and used by bees. We will compare the two networks and be able to examine if traditional observations provide accurate information about plant-pollinator interactions. Further, this will allow us to better understand which pollen is actually being utilized as a resource by bees. We will determine nest density of bumble bees through population genetics using molecular techniques. We will use 11 microsatellite markers in Bombus impatiens (the common eastern bumble bee) genetics to determine relatedness among foragers collected in a field. From this, we will determine how many nests are represented in the sample collection and estimate the number of nests utilizing the field and further, we will estimate the nest density in the surrounding landscape, based on maximum foraging range of B. impatiens. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to measure nest density of a bumble bee species in North America.

Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences reached during this reporting period were both scientists and growers. The scientific audience consisted of researchers that are concurrently studying native bees both domestically and internationally, with similar objectives concerning support of sustainable agriculture, managing ecosystem services, and conserving wild bees. The grower audience consisted primarily of vegetable growers in the mid-Atlantic region. Audiences were reached at extension meetings and events with both presentations and direct discussion. Direct communication with growers allowed us to directly deliver information about our results to an audience which can immediately benefit from this study. Changes/Problems: Final analyses of objective 2 are currently underway, in which we proposed a novel method to molecularly identifying pollen. Because we proposed a novel method, we also explained limitations and risks in our original proposal, which is a reasonable assumption to consider. We have faced some delays in developing the pollen DNA extraction technique and evaluating the bioinformatics. Serendipitously, with this delay, costs for metagenomic processing were also reduced (which is typical after new technology is first introduced, and then cost-reduction methods are implemented). With a slight delay in the timeline, we continue to work on the objective, and expect the project to be completed within a year. NIFA will continue to be acknowledged on all future results, presentations and publications related to this original funding. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project supported the majority of the research and training of pre-doctoral student, Chanpreet Sidhu. The training and skill/professional development include developing and carrying out multiple research projects, writing and communicating results and collaborating with multiple scientists. In addition, the student also learned to manage laboratory and field experiments, and hire and manage technicians. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results have been disseminated to the target audiences, both scientists and growers, and a number of meetings and conferences (see products). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This project is successful in measuring nest density of wild bees on vegetable farms in diversified agricultural systems. This information was shared with the scientific community and growers. Based on work from this project, other labs at different universities are adopting this method to answer the question about nest densities in their specific regions. As more information grows, we will be able to compare nest densities and get a better picture of the nesting resources needed by wild bees in their habitats; this will greatly improve our knowledge and understand of wild bee utilization. Complete analysis of pollen utilization is still underway, but this project was successful in collecting data and developing preliminary methods for molecularly identifying pollen collected by wild bees. Overall, this project was successful in contributing to the growing body of scientific research which aims to support sustainable agriculture, manage ecosystem services (pollination), and conserve wild bees.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: "Wild bee resource utilization on small, diversified farms." C. Sheena Sidhu. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Austin, TX. November 11, 2013
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Broadening the Horizons for Pollination of U.S. Specialty Crops: Pumpkin Pollinators. C. Sheena Sidhu. Entomological Society of America. November 18, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Pollinators and Pollination In-Service for Extension Educators. Co-Presented by Shelby J. Fleischer. Penn State University. July 8-9, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cucurbit Pollinators. Central Susquehanna Vegetable Meeting. Shelby J. Fleischer. Mifflinburg, PA. January 21, 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cucurbit Pollination- who's doing it and how to promote them. Shelby J. Fleischer. Northeast Vegetable Growers' Meeting. Clarks Summit, PA. January 23, 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Conserving pollinators for small-scale farms. Laura Jesse & Donald Lewis. Webinar from Iowa State University. February 18, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Twilight vegetable meeting. John Esslinger, Beth Gugino & Shelby J. Fleischer. Linus Martin Farm & Buffalo Valley Produce Auction. Mifflinburg, PA. July 15, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Twilight vegetable meeting. Tim Butzler, Beth Gugino & Shelby J. Fleischer. Sunnyside Produce. Loganton, PA. July 16, 2014.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Estimation of Bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) nest density on diversified farms. C. Sheena Sidhu, James P. Strange & Shelby J. Fleischer. (submitted)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Insect scouting, ID, and organic management. Tianna Dupont & Shelby J. Fleischer. Pennypack Farm & Education Center. Horsham, PA. August 20, 2013.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: http://extension.psu.edu/plants/vegetable-fruit/news/2014/wild-bees-for-pennsylvania-cucurbits-consider-cover-crops-targeting-critical-life-stages-of-the-common-eastern-bumble-bee


Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The results from objective one (Nest Density) were presented at two scientific meetings and a scientific seminar. The findings were presented at: Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America (March 2013), International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health, and Policy (August 2013), and Department of Entomology, Penn State (October 2013). This reached an audience of entomologists and pollinator biologists, as well as stakeholders interested in agriculture, pollinator conservation and pollination services. Objective one results were also shared at Extension meetings. These meetings reached an audience of growers in Pennsylvania. The graduate student and advisor presented at several extension meetings in January and February 2013. Research samples were collected from farm sites throughout Pennsylvania, so additional scientific outreach was achieved by working closely with growers and sharing information about pollinators and pollination services by wild bees. Finally, the pre-doctoral graduate student was supported in professional development by this grant. This included managing laboratory and field technicians. This grant supported experiential learning opportunities in developing scientific skills, as well as writing, communicating and managing the success of a scientific project. This project also includes collaboration will other scientists at the home institution and outside institutions such Utah State University, USDA- ARS Bee Lab, and Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Pre-doctoral graduate student has developed skills in field ecology and laboratory molecular analysis. The student has also learned how to managed a scientific project, develop writing skills and managed technicians. The student has also developed collaborations with fellow scientists in outside institutions. In particular, molecular skill development and training occurred at the USDA-ARS Bee Lab in Logan, Utah under the supervision of Dr. James Strange and technician Joyce Knoblette. GIS skills to analyze landscape were developed in training by James Whitacre (under the supervision of Dr. John Wenzel) at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Rector, Pennsylvania. The student is supported by mentors from her Ph.D. committee: Drs. Shelby Fleischer, Edwin Rajotte, David Biddinger and David Mortensen. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been shared at scientific meetings to the relevant scientific audience, and at Extension meetings to growers that can benefit from the results. (Presentations listed under "Products" in this report) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? 1. Publish results from Objective one (nest density). 2. Continue research on Objective two (pollen utilization). 3. Present at scientific meetings (Entomological Society of America annual mmeting, Austin TX; International Union of the Study of Social Insects, Cains, Australia). 4. Present at Extension meetings (several meetings in January and February of 2014). 5. Prepare and publish Objective two (pollen utilization)

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The research objectives of objective one (nest density) have been achieved. The paper is currently being prepared for scientific publication. Results have been shared at scientific meetings to the relevant scientific audience, and at Extension meetings to growers that can benefit from the results. Research for objective two (pollen utilization) is currently in progress but still in preliminary stages. We are developing methods and refining protocols for identifying pollen carried by wild bees.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Over 100 bumble bee colonies estimated to forage in pumpkin fields on diversified farms. C. Sheena Sidhu, James P. Strange, Shelby J. Fleischer. International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health and Policy. University Park, PA. August 16, 2013.