Bees May be in Decline Partly Due to a Poor, Protein-Lacking Diet

While pesticides are a huge issue for bees, a poor diet may also be contributing to their decline. Scientists have found that a changing landscape could be contributing to the downfall of bees.

Bees depend on pollen and nectar for their food, which they acquire from a range of flower species. While nectar is converted to honey in the hive, pollen is converted to "beebread." This, in turn, is eaten by the growing young brood.

In order to see how a changing landscape might be impacting bees, the researchers regularly analyzed the composition of "beebread" in different hives. They tested its nutritional value throughout the summers of 2012 and 2013.

The scientists then combined this data with extensive land-use data generated by Coutryside Survey 2007. In the end, they found that beebread protein content was lower in areas where arable land and horticultural farmland surrounded the hives. However, beebread found in hives near natural grasslands and broadleaf woodlands had higher protein levels.

So what does this mean? Protein levels are important for bees. In fact, bees consuming less protein early in life may be left vulnerable to other factors such as pesticides, disease or harsh winters. Poorer quality diets could, in theory, explain why honeybee populations are in decline.

"Honeybees have different nutritional requirements at different stages of their lives, with larvae primarily requiring protein," said Philip Donkersley, the lead researcher, in a news release. "We already know from previous studies that larvae with lower dietary protein intake may not live as long and may have reduced immune function. This study shows a clear link between landscape and the nutritional ecology of insects."

That said, it isn't all bad news. By modifying the food sources available to bees in agricultural areas, we could potentially improve the diet of bees. This is especially important to note as populations continue to decline.

The findings are published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

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