Is non-host pollen suitable for generalist bumblebees?

• 来源期刊: 中国昆虫科学（英文版）
• 关键词: bee-flower interactions generalist bees pollen defences
• 年，卷（期）: 2018,（2）
• 页码范围: 259-272
• 页数: 14页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12410

摘要

Current evidence suggests that pollen is both chemically and structurally protected.Despite increasing interest in studying bee-flower networks,the constraints for bee development related to pollen nutritional content,toxicity and digestibility as well as their role in the shaping of bee-flower interactions have been poorly studied.In this study we combined bioassays of the generalist bee Bombus terrestris on pollen of Cirsium,Trifolium,Salix,and Cistus genera with an assessment of nutritional content,toxicity,and digestibility of pollen.Microcolonies showed significant differences in their development,non-host pollen of Cirsium being the most unfavorable.This pollen was characterized by the presence of quite rare δ7-sterols and a low digestibility.Cirsium consumption seemed increase syrup collection,which is probably related to a detoxification mixing behavior.These results strongly suggest that pollen traits may act as drivers of plant selection by bees and partly explain why Asteraceae pollen is rare in bee generalist diet.