Global Warming May Cause Honey Bee Parasites to Spread

A warming world could be bad news for honeybees. Scientists have found that the spread of an exotic bee parasite, now found worldwide, is linked to climate and not just superior competitive ability.

In order to examine the spread of bee parasites, the scientists compared pathogen growth in honeybees that were infected with both the exotic parasite, Nosema ceranae, and its original native relative, Nosema apis. While the researchers found that the parasites inhibited each other's growth, the exotic parasite had a much greater negative impact on the native parasite than vice versa. In other words, the exotic parasite was able to compete better.

The researchers then integrated the effects of competition and climate into a simple mathematical model. This allowed them to better predict the relative occurrence of both parasite species in nature. In the end, they found that the exotic parasite would potentially become more prevalent in the UK in the future.

"Our results reveal not only that the exotic parasite is a better competitor than its original close relative, but that its widespread distribution and patterns of prevalence in nature depend on climatic conditions too," said Myrsini Natsopoulou, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The findings reveal that it's possible that as temperatures warm, this parasite could spread. Because honeybees are crucial pollinators for plant species, it's important to develop new ways to safeguard these insects.

"This emerging parasite is more susceptible to cold than its original close relative, possibly reflecting its presumed origin in east Asia," said Robert Paxton, co-author of the new study. "In the face of rising global temperatures, our findings suggest that it will increase in prevalence and potentially lead to increased honey bee colony losses in Britain."

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).