Pollen Protein: Lipid Macronutrient Ratios May Guide Broad Patterns of Bee Species Floral Preferences

Anthony  D. Vaudo; John  F. Tooker; Harland  M. Patch; David  J. Biddinger; Michael Coccia; Makaylee  K. Crone; Mark Fiely; Jacob  S. Francis; Heather  M. Hines; Mackenzie Hodges; Stephanie  W. Jackson; Denis Michez; Junpeng Mu; Laura Russo; Maliheh Safari; Erin  D. Treanore; Maryse Vanderplanck; Eric Yip; Anne  S. Leonard; Christina  M. Grozinger

doi:10.3390/insects11020132

Insects (Feb 2020)

Pollen Protein: Lipid Macronutrient Ratios May Guide Broad Patterns of Bee Species Floral Preferences

Anthony D. Vaudo,
John F. Tooker,
Harland M. Patch,
David J. Biddinger,
Michael Coccia,
Makaylee K. Crone,
Mark Fiely,
Jacob S. Francis,
Heather M. Hines,
Mackenzie Hodges,
Stephanie W. Jackson,
Denis Michez,
Junpeng Mu,
Laura Russo,
Maliheh Safari,
Erin D. Treanore,
Maryse Vanderplanck,
Eric Yip,
Anne S. Leonard,
Christina M. Grozinger

Affiliations

Anthony D. Vaudo: Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
John F. Tooker: Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Harland M. Patch: Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
David J. Biddinger: Fruit Research and Extension Center, Pennsylvania State University, Biglerville, PA 17307, USA
Michael Coccia: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Makaylee K. Crone: Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Mark Fiely: Ernst Conservation Seeds, Inc., Meadville, PA 16335, USA
Jacob S. Francis: Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Heather M. Hines: Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Mackenzie Hodges: Museum of Life and Science, Durham, NC 27704, USA
Stephanie W. Jackson: Ernst Conservation Seeds, Inc., Meadville, PA 16335, USA
Denis Michez: Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons, Mons B-7000, Belgium
Junpeng Mu: Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China
Laura Russo: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Maliheh Safari: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
Erin D. Treanore: Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Maryse Vanderplanck: Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons, Mons B-7000, Belgium
Eric Yip: Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Anne S. Leonard: Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Christina M. Grozinger: Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11020132
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 2
p. 132

Abstract

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Pollinator nutritional ecology provides insights into plant−pollinator interactions, coevolution, and the restoration of declining pollinator populations. Bees obtain their protein and lipid nutrient intake from pollen, which is essential for larval growth and development as well as adult health and reproduction. Our previous research revealed that pollen protein to lipid ratios (P:L) shape bumble bee foraging preferences among pollen host-plant species, and these preferred ratios link to bumble bee colony health and fitness. Yet, we are still in the early stages of integrating data on P:L ratios across plant and bee species. Here, using a standard laboratory protocol, we present over 80 plant species’ protein and lipid concentrations and P:L values, and we evaluate the P:L ratios of pollen collected by three bee species. We discuss the general phylogenetic, phenotypic, behavioral, and ecological trends observed in these P:L ratios that may drive plant−pollinator interactions; we also present future research questions to further strengthen the field of pollination nutritional ecology. This dataset provides a foundation for researchers studying the nutritional drivers of plant−pollinator interactions as well as for stakeholders developing planting schemes to best support pollinators.

Published in Insects

ISSN: 2075-4450 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/insects/

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