Digital-Bridges
Digital-Bridges t1_iwg7nu5 wrote
Reply to comment by sillypicture in The lifespans of honey bees living in laboratory environments has dropped about 50% over the last 50 years, hinting at possible causes for the worrisome trends across the beekeeping industry, according to new research by University of Maryland entomologists. by Wagamaga
I do not study nutrition directly. My major focus is epidemiology. I have a background in genetics though and have just accepted a bioinformatics position.
Bee researchers are working very closely with beekeepers, farmers, and ecologists so we can improve food security and support the livelihoods of so many who work in agriculture. Progress is slow but certainly moving!
Digital-Bridges t1_iweo9bl wrote
Reply to comment by AcrobaticApricot in The lifespans of honey bees living in laboratory environments has dropped about 50% over the last 50 years, hinting at possible causes for the worrisome trends across the beekeeping industry, according to new research by University of Maryland entomologists. by Wagamaga
Certainly. Access to adequate nutrition is one of the major drivers of colony loss, along with pesticides and parasites/viruses. We address these possibilities in the study but this work is the first to suggest a plausible genetic source, which the media seems to have focused on. While I can't say if the article you linked is affecting bees, if it's true I don't see why not. Bee lifespans are short no matter what and they can only eat so much during that time. Sounds like a great research project for a new grad student!
Digital-Bridges t1_iwdy495 wrote
Reply to The lifespans of honey bees living in laboratory environments has dropped about 50% over the last 50 years, hinting at possible causes for the worrisome trends across the beekeeping industry, according to new research by University of Maryland entomologists. by Wagamaga
I'm the author of this article. A.M.A. Though I might be too late to the reddit game on this one.
Digital-Bridges t1_iwg8gvu wrote
Reply to comment by stayingstillwhenlost in The lifespans of honey bees living in laboratory environments has dropped about 50% over the last 50 years, hinting at possible causes for the worrisome trends across the beekeeping industry, according to new research by University of Maryland entomologists. by Wagamaga
There are definitely Apis-specific bacteria. Microbiome research is still in its infancy but will be one of the "next big things" in bee research. I don't think we can say that Honey bees have lost good bacteria on any global scale as of yet. Most of the current research suggests that gut populations can change in various situations, like starvation or disease exposure. We have yet to make a solid link to how shifts in the microbiome can affect whole colonies, though.