Bee competitive: Research reveals the impact of natural selection on
nectar supply and demand

Date:
August 5, 2021
Source:
University of Sussex
Summary:
Theoretical research indicates that natural selection will increase
existing seasonal imbalances between the supply of nectar from
flowers and the demand from bees and other insects.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
New research by the Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI) at
the University of Sussex shows that natural selection will cause flowers
to produce less nectar when pollinators are abundant, and vice versa.


==========================================================================
The research, published in the journal Ecology Letters, explains
that, when pollinators are scarce, natural selection will cause
plants to produce more nectar to outcompete other plants in attracting pollinators. But when pollinators are abundant, plants will be selected
to produce less nectar as pollinators are easy to attract and will work
for "low wages." The research helps explain why bees and other insects
have to work harder to collect nectar in the summer, when there are more pollinators on the wing.

Francis Ratnieks, LASI Director and Professor of Apiculture at the
University of Sussex, said: "Flowers need to attract pollinating
insects to reproduce by making seeds and by exporting pollen to other
flowers. When pollinators are abundant a plant won't have to make
much nectar to do this. But when pollinators are scarce more nectar
will be needed to attract the pollinators in competition with other
flowers." The scenario is similar to high-tech companies and specialist workers. When the specialists are in short supply, companies need to
offer higher salaries to outcompete other companies. But if specialist
workers are abundant, lower pay can be enough.

Professor Ratnieks added: "What is intriguing is that competition among
plants for pollinators combines with natural selection to cause positive feedback that exacerbates imbalances between supply and demand. Our study
shows how complex nature really is." LASI co-author Dr Nick Balfour
noted: "Why, if in spring pollinators are scarce and nectar abundant
with the reverse in summer, don't insects change their flight period
to spring and plants their bloom period to summer? In fact, there are
numerous evolutionary and ecological constraints that prevent or hinder
this. For example, spring blooming plants cannot easily change to summer blooming and the life cycles of honey bee and bumble bee colonies means
there will be more bees in summer than spring." The findings have
interesting implications for bee and pollinator conservation.

For one thing, human interventions could help improve nectar balance,
such as in the UK by the growing of summer blooming agricultural crops
or garden flowers, and by encouraging summer blooming wild flowers.

Professor Ratnieks added: "At LASI, the Sussex Plan for Honey Bee
Health and Well Being investigates the challenges facing honey bees and beekeeping, in particular foraging and food supply, as well as pests and diseases. Previous LASI research has shown that it is July and August
when bees have to work harder to find food so it is in these months when
people can really help bees.

By ensuring there are bee-friendly plants available, such as marjoram,
lavender and borage, in our gardens and greens spaces during the summer,
we can provide additional nectar at a time of shortage." "The Sussex Plan
has been kindly supported by Rowse Honey through their Hives for Lives programme for over a decade, enabling us to study these topics which
are vital for the long- term health of our bees and other pollinators.

Samantha MacNamara, Senior Brand Manager at Rowse Honey, said: "Our Hives
for Lives programme is all about supporting bees and beekeepers. We are
proud to be the lead sponsor of LASI's Sussex Plan for Honey Bee Health
& Well Being and contribute to a better understanding of how to support
these important creatures.

"We also work with two other Hives for Lives partners -- the Bee
Farmers Association (BFA) to run an apprenticeship scheme to inspire,
recruit and train the next generation of young British bee farmers;
and Bees for Development (BFD) to support communities in Ethiopia to
earn an income from honey, offering a sustainable pathway out of poverty." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Sussex. Original written
by Stephanie Allen. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Francis L. W. Ratnieks, Nicholas J. Balfour. Plants and pollinators:
Will
natural selection cause an imbalance between nectar supply and
demand? Ecology Letters, 2021; DOI: 10.1111/ele.13823 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210805115448.htm

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