The macronutrient regulation of adult worker honeybees
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Botanic Gardens
Department Name: Natural Capital and Plant Health
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
World agriculture relies on pollinators for the production of soft fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. In large scale agriculture such as almond orchards in California, pollination services are primarily accomplished by honeybee colonies that are transported to orchards and fields by the millions during flowering. Commercial beekeepers are paid for each colony they bring to a field site. Prior to flowering, these colonies may not have access to much pollen, which means it is difficult to build up the colony's size and strengthen health. To overcome pollen dearth, beekeepers in the past 30 years have started to use bee feeds made from grains like soya beans: products that are inexpensive and easy to obtain. The base products are purchased from beekeeping suppliers, mixed with sugar solutions (e.g. high fructose corn syrup) in the field, and then provided to the bees as a patty or a liquid food within the colony. Beekeepers sometimes make and mix their own formulations. A major problem with these feeds is the fact that they do not provide essential nutrients (e.g. correct fatty acids and sterols). These base materials (e.g. soy) are also difficult for bees to digest and have been reported to cause dysentery. They are also not formulated in a way that optimizes combinations of macronutrients for honeybees. In fact, to make these substances palatable to bees, beekeepers add ~5-20% honeybee collected pollen to the mix, but this is very expensive and has the potential to spread disease and expose bees to pesticides.
Our proposed research will have a large impact on the beekeeping industry and agriculture. At present, there is a pressing need in the commercial beekeeping industry for bee foods that are substitutes for pollen. To obtain natural forage for their bees, beekeepers also transport their colonies to places where forage is available. This is expensive and stressful for bees. Having a substitute for pollen that did not require the addition of bee collected pollen would reduce the need to transport bees to forage and reduce risk associated with exposure to pathogens from bee collected pollen. Native bees compete with honeybees for access to natural pollen and nectar; a pollen substitute for honeybees would also reduce competition for floral resources in natural habitats and improve wild bee populations.
Presenting our research at international beekeeping conferences and local meetings, we have realized that beekeepers worldwide are very keen to find a way to improve the nutrition of their colonies. This need motivated us to focus our nutrition work towards the goal of producing food that could be used when pollen was unavailable. The research described in our proposal will provide the following: 1) specific information about the nutritional needs of honeybees; 2) information about raw materials that can be used as food in bee colonies; 3) insight into nutrient balancing by social insects, especially for proteins, fats, and sterols. As part of our impact plan, we will begin the process of commercialization of the information we obtain here by applying for BBSRC Follow on Funding and starting a spin-out company that will develop and orchestrate the production of bee feeds. The research described in this proposal will guide our potential future commercialization of this information. The data we produce from this work will also be published in scientific journals and interpreted and made available to beekeepers via a website managed in association with the British Beekeeping Association. This information will permit beekeepers to improve upon their methods of feeding and will improve pollination services for agricultural crops worldwide.
Our proposed research will have a large impact on the beekeeping industry and agriculture. At present, there is a pressing need in the commercial beekeeping industry for bee foods that are substitutes for pollen. To obtain natural forage for their bees, beekeepers also transport their colonies to places where forage is available. This is expensive and stressful for bees. Having a substitute for pollen that did not require the addition of bee collected pollen would reduce the need to transport bees to forage and reduce risk associated with exposure to pathogens from bee collected pollen. Native bees compete with honeybees for access to natural pollen and nectar; a pollen substitute for honeybees would also reduce competition for floral resources in natural habitats and improve wild bee populations.
Presenting our research at international beekeeping conferences and local meetings, we have realized that beekeepers worldwide are very keen to find a way to improve the nutrition of their colonies. This need motivated us to focus our nutrition work towards the goal of producing food that could be used when pollen was unavailable. The research described in our proposal will provide the following: 1) specific information about the nutritional needs of honeybees; 2) information about raw materials that can be used as food in bee colonies; 3) insight into nutrient balancing by social insects, especially for proteins, fats, and sterols. As part of our impact plan, we will begin the process of commercialization of the information we obtain here by applying for BBSRC Follow on Funding and starting a spin-out company that will develop and orchestrate the production of bee feeds. The research described in this proposal will guide our potential future commercialization of this information. The data we produce from this work will also be published in scientific journals and interpreted and made available to beekeepers via a website managed in association with the British Beekeeping Association. This information will permit beekeepers to improve upon their methods of feeding and will improve pollination services for agricultural crops worldwide.
Publications
Koch H
(2017)
Do linden trees kill bees? Reviewing the causes of bee deaths on silver linden (Tilia tomentosa).
in Biology letters
Barlow SE
(2017)
Distasteful Nectar Deters Floral Robbery.
in Current biology : CB
Koch H
(2017)
The role of disease in bee foraging ecology.
in Current opinion in insect science
Palmer-Young EC
(2019)
Secondary metabolites from nectar and pollen: a resource for ecological and evolutionary studies.
in Ecology
Stevenson P
(2016)
Plant secondary metabolites in nectar: impacts on pollinators and ecological functions
in Functional Ecology
Zu P
(2021)
Pollen sterols are associated with phylogeny and environment but not with pollinator guilds.
in The New phytologist
Description | Sterol chemistry of floral resources differs across plant species and is phylogenetically linked across substitution at the 24 position - 24 methyl and 24 ethyl. Furthermore the sterols composition of bees is unique across different life stages (eggs to queen) with different sterols showing greater prevalence at different growth stages showing potential importance of sterol diversity in diet. We have identified 25 different sterol structures across more than 100 plant species from 50 plant families that show striking variation and could impose landscape limitations on pollen feeding insects if they require specific sterols and these are absent from the flower sin the environment. |
Exploitation Route | Commercial development of a supplementary bee food for bee farmers. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
Description | They have underpinned the development of a business to develop a commercial bee food supplement which is built on a patent and is drawing interest for investors Patent: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017085477A1/en Wright, G.A., Shafir, S., Nicolson, S.W. and Stevenson, P.C. (2017) Bee Nutrition. GB Patent Application 2016/053573 Filed 16.11.2016 Issued 25/05/17 |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Are sterols landscape limiting nutrients for wild bees in the UK? |
Amount | £650,280 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/V012282/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2021 |
End | 07/2024 |
Description | Can flowering plants produce addictive behaviours in bee pollinators? |
Amount | £469,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RPG-2020-393 |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 03/2025 |
Description | Collaborative Research: Integrating molecular, cellular, organismal and community scales to understand how plants structure pollinator-pathogen dynamics |
Amount | $1,400,000 (USD) |
Funding ID | 2128221 |
Organisation | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 12/2026 |
Description | INNOVATION FOR IMPROVED STRAWBERRY POLLINATION BY COMMERCIAL BUMBLEBEES USING CAFFEINE |
Amount | £224,560 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/P007589/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2017 |
End | 04/2019 |
Description | The influence of diet on the honeybee lipidome |
Amount | £323,690 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/T014210/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2020 |
End | 05/2024 |
Description | Wild plants for pollinator health and the role of nectar and pollen chemistry |
Amount | £220,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Peter Sowerby Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2018 |
End | 06/2021 |
Description | Improved soft fruit pollination by bumblebees with caffeine BB/P007589/1 IPA Grant Awarded December 2016 Starts April 1st 2017 |
Organisation | National Institute of Agronomy and Botany (NIAB) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | PI with Natural Resources Institute University of Greenwich. Leading on laboratory behaviour assessment of the role of caffeine in the behaviour of commercial bumblebees |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-I (co authors and research collaborators). Undertaking field based work evaluating nest box adaptations on bees infield. |
Impact | None yet from the specific collaboration around improving pollination in strawberry but these are in preparation for submission. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Improved soft fruit pollination by bumblebees with caffeine BB/P007589/1 IPA Grant Awarded December 2016 Starts April 1st 2017 |
Organisation | University of Greenwich |
Department | Department of Pharmaceutical, Chemical & Environmental Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | PI with Natural Resources Institute University of Greenwich. Leading on laboratory behaviour assessment of the role of caffeine in the behaviour of commercial bumblebees |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-I (co authors and research collaborators). Undertaking field based work evaluating nest box adaptations on bees infield. |
Impact | None yet from the specific collaboration around improving pollination in strawberry but these are in preparation for submission. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Improving pollination services in protected and controlled environment grown tomatoes in the UK. We have |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have developed a new partnership between NRI at University of Greenwich with University of Oxford and OXFORD BEE OPS LTD with Thanet Earth to develop a funding proposal for BBSRC PACE call. |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-authorship of proposal with was ultimately successful (Grant BB/Z51438X/1). |
Impact | Successful proposal to BBSRC |
Start Year | 2023 |
Title | ??????????????? |
Description | PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small size ion detection device capable of swiftly and easily performing mass spectrometry under atmospheric pressure.SOLUTION: In an ionization region part 5a, which is enclosed by a voltage application electrode 6a, a detection electrode 7a and a material the coefficient of water absorption is zero, a semiconductor alcohol sensor head 3a is disposed on the detection electrode 7a via an electrical insulation material. When an expired air is introduced from a sample introduction port 2a, only water cluster which has a positive electric charge collides with the detection electrode. Thus, detectable signals and an alcohol value detected by the alcohol sensor are measured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1 |
IP Reference | JP2016053573 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | N/A |
Description | Appearance on BBC All Over The Place CBBC TV |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Participated in a programme for CBBC and talked about Kew's and NRIs work on pollinators and bee diversity. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Australian Entomological Society Brisbane 1-4th Dec 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited plenary talk at Australian Entomological Society Brisbane 1-4th Dec 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Bees Needs Week outreach event in Carnaby Street with Defra |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | Outreach activity for Defras bees needs week showcasing UKRI funded work on nectar and pollen chemistry and pollaintor health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Conference: Influence of natural processes on pollinator health. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Evidence from the last few decades indicates that pollinator abundance and diversity are at risk, with many species in decline. Anthropogenic impacts have been the focus of much recent work on the causes of these declines. However, natural processes, from plant chemistry, nutrition and microbial associations to landscape and habitat change, can also profoundly influence pollinator health. Here, we argue that these natural processes require greater attention and may even provide solutions to the deteriorating outlook for pollinators. Existing studies also focus on the decline of individuals and colonies and only occasionally at population levels. In the light of this we redefine pollinator health and argue that a top-down approach is required focusing at the ecological level of communities. A conference was hosted at Kew Gardens over two days with 20 speakers each contributing a paper to a special issue of Phil Trans B and with 400+ registered participants from around the world. We use examples from the primary research, opinion and review articles published in this special issue to illustrate how natural processes influence pollinator health, from community to individuals, and highlight where some of these processes could mitigate the challenges of anthropogenic and natural drivers of change. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2021.0154 |
Description | European Research Night at Natural History Museum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Controbution to NHM european research night talking about UKRI funded work on nectar chemistry and pollaintor health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | GOScience visit to Kew for away day. Presentation of Kew work . |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The group were led by Sir Patrick Vallance, who was the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), and National Technology Adviser (NTA). Their role was to advise the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet to ensure that government policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. This group have an influential role in coordinating science across government, can help navigate departments and potentially support our long-term infrastructure ambitions. Sir Patrick Vallance is also the future Chair of the Natural History Museum. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | HRH Prince CHarles patron of Kew visit and engagement. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | I met with Prince Charles to discuss Kew's work on pollinators and discuss rewilding schemes and the importance of pollinator diversity for food security covering all UKRI projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Interview with NBC News |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with NBC News for broadcast on US TV |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Interviewed for an article in Financial Times |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Discussed future for food and sustainable agriculture. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Interviewed for article in New Scientist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed to comment on the challenges of keeping bees in urban landscapes and the impact of this practice on wild native populations and communities of pollinators. This was specifically in response to a recent paper published in Canada on this topic and I was asked owing to my own recent work in this research field. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2359738-rise-in-urban-beekeeping-may-be-crowding-out-native-bee... |
Description | Invited lecture to Imperial College London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk to Imperial College London (Silwood Park) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Kew Science Festival 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Kew science festival using various engagement tools to inform the public about the project and the conservation of pollinators for food security. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.kew.org/about-us/press-media/kew-science-festival-returns-for-2019 |
Description | Kew Science festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Open day with display of pollinator oriented research and activities from Kew Gardens to draw attention to the challenges facing pollinators and the research being undertaken by Kew to address pollinator declines. Also drawing attention to pollaintor diversity |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.kew.org/about-our-organisation/press-media/press-releases/press-release-kew-science-fest... |
Description | Pollinator Outreach Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | Open day with display of pollinator oriented research and activities in collaboration with Reading University to draw attention to the challenges facing pollinators and the research being undertaken by Kew and Reading to address pollinator declines. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Pollinator Outreach Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Open day with display of pollinator oriented research and activities in collaboration with Reading University to draw attention to the challenges facing pollinators and the research being undertaken by Kew and Reading to address pollinator declines. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HM4dQuaMSs |
Description | Presentation at Assoc of Appl. Biologists Innovations in Farmed Landscapes. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Association of Applied Biologists teamed up with the British Ecological Society and Royal Entomological Society to deliver a 3-day conference "Shaping the Future for Pollinators: Innovations in Farmed Landscapes". Pollinators play a vital role in maintaining both semi-natural and agricultural ecosystems and healthy populations bolster food security, livelihoods and social wellbeing. With evidence that many species of pollinators are in decline, their conservation and management is of great public, economic and political interest. As a result, the ecology and conservation of managed and wild pollinators is a rapidly growing field of research, alongside the study of their associated ecosystem services. This conference aimed to determine how we can shape farmed landscapes to make them resilient to future challenges such as climate change. Delegates will explore the impact of agricultural practices at the farm and landscape scale on pollinator behaviour, ecology and the delivery of ecosystem services. Talks and discussions not only to share current best practices on the sustainable management of pollination services, but explore how novel innovations can create new opportunities and address future risks. This conference brought together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to debate recent advancements in the field of pollinator research; and also to go beyond ecological research to explore emerging technologies within the field. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.aab.org.uk/event/shaping-the-future-for-pollinators-innovations-in-farmed-landscapes/ |
Description | Presentation on Urban Pollinators to the British Ecological Society. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation of talk at British Ecological Society Annual meeting 2020: Urban Ecosystems, what can we learn for trees, fungi and bees presenting work supported but the grant. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Public lecture to the Somerset Beekeepers association |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation via Zoom to an International audience of beekeepers around the world hosted buy the Somerset Beekeepers Association. Primarily presenting our work on pollinators and the new work on NERC grant and BBSRC grants investigating lipids in pollen. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Radio Interview BBCR4 The Food Programme. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with Dan Saladino of BBC Radio 4 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/m00187p5 |
Description | Royal Society Panel debate about Science Matters |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Formal debat with Professor Brian Cox host and the Royal Society infront of >1000 paying guests in Manchetser to debate the issues around food production and the impoortance of ecosystems services. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2016/12/science-matters-feeding-the-future/ |
Description | Talk To Autralian National Radio |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | INterview wqith Professor Tim Entwistle for national public radio in Australia about Kew work on polliantors and the Hive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Talk to Bee Keepers Chalfont |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation of our research to the Chalfont St Peters Beekeepers Asccociation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |